Gotham FC forward Olivia Wingate wasn’t sure which way her career was going to go after several knee injury setbacks interrupted her promising start to life with the North Carolina Courage.
“For a while, I wasn’t sure if we were going to figure it out,” Wingate told South Ward Central in a sit-down interview at Gotham FC’s Whippany, New Jersey training facility. “So that was a low point for me where your career is kind of up in the air. You’ve worked so hard, but you can only control so much, and I didn’t know what direction it was going to go.”
Eventually, the 5-foot-7 forward missed the entire 2025 NWSL season after she underwent lateral collateral ligament (LCL) surgery in her left knee in June of that year.
Wingate Reflects on Nearly Two-Year Period of Uncertainty
Following 11 months of recovery and rehab, Wingate was cleared to play on May 15 of this season.
When she returned to the pitch against the Chicago Stars in front of Courage fans at First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park, there were understandably some doubts inside Wingate’s mind given the nearly two-year process, which included setbacks and uncertain moments.
“After we got it fixed and I came back from the surgery, there were still lingering feelings in my mind,” Wingate explained. “I went through almost two years of kind of we don’t know, we don’t know, we’re kind of just going through and doing what we can, and things just weren’t working out.
“So I think that I was trying to stay very optimistic, and I did. But it was hard at times, and that was definitely the most challenging part for me to get over mentally.”
Defending NWSL Champions Gotham FC Offer Wingate Fresh Start
After navigating an extremely challenging period of her career, Wingate is grateful to be healthy and in a clean slate situation playing a supporting role on a star-powered Gotham squad.
The 26-year-old now has an opportunity to be part of the Bats’ quest for a first NWSL Shield and the chance to help the club repeat as NWSL champions.
“I feel like I am kind of restarting again,” Wingate said. “Of course there’s always going to be pressure because I’m a competitor and I want to play and do what I can at the best level.
“But at the same time, I went through a lot with that injury, and I’m very proud of myself for how I got through it. To be here again is an amazing opportunity, and I’m just grateful every day to be here, which I think takes a lot of pressure off of me because I’m just happy to be playing again.”
Gotham FC teammate Denise O’Sullivan praised Wingate for overcoming a difficult spell in her career. O’Sullivan and Wingate spent just short of three years together as Courage teammates.
“I’m really proud of her, for her to come back from that tough injury,” O’Sullivan told South Ward Central. “While both of us were at the Courage, I could see that she was going through such a tough time. I’ve known Liv for quite a long time now. She’s a great player.”
Notre Dame Head Coach Nate Norman on Wingate: ‘She’s Always Ready When Her Name Is Called’
Nate Norman, who coached Wingate for five collegiate seasons at the University of Notre Dame, isn’t surprised by Wingate’s ability to overcome adversity.
“She’s a player who I think constantly believes in herself with a healthy amount of humility,” Norman told South Ward Central in a phone interview. “She’s always ready to step in when her name is called.
“I can’t imagine there’s many players even at the NWSL level who have the fitness capacity that she has,” Norman stated. “She can make a run then 10 seconds later, she can make another 60-yard sprint and do it again and again. She fits into Gotham’s system and style of play — a group that works extremely hard on both sides of the ball, wants to press people and wants to play with that type of tempo.”
Norman, who is in his ninth season guiding the Fighting Irish, described Wingate as the ultimate teammate.
“I’ve been blessed with a lot of wonderful players and people and she is certainly one of those,” Norman said. “When I describe a great teammate, I think of a teammate that not only wants to push themself hard every single day but is also willing to be selfless and thinks what I can do for the environment, how can I push the environment forward, how can I help my teammates and serve my teammates? That’s what she is. She’ll add to Gotham’s culture.”
Wingate could make her second appearance for Gotham in Sunday’s road meeting at Inter.co Stadium to face the Orlando Pride. The match is scheduled to kick off at 3 p.m. Eastern Time and will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network and NWSL+.
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