Sonnett stretchered off with left knee injury in Gotham-Portland draw
USWNT defender Emily Sonnett suffered a non-contact left knee injury in the 7th minute of Gotham FC's 2-2 draw with Portland Thorns on Friday and was stretchered off the field. Gotham said she would receive further evaluation in New Jersey. The injury threatens her availability for both club and country heading into the 2027 World Cup.
Emily Sonnett, a starting center back for Gotham FC and a 118-cap USWNT veteran, was stretchered off in the 7th minute of Friday's 2-2 draw with Portland Thorns after suffering a non-contact left knee injury, according to ESPN's reporting.
Sonnett planted her left foot into the artificial turf at Providence Park while defending and fell to the ground. Gotham FC said in a statement that she would receive further evaluation in New Jersey, per ESPN. The specific diagnosis and recovery timeline remain unknown.
The injury is a significant blow to Gotham's defensive foundation. The team has conceded only 10 goals in 15 games heading into Friday, the best record in the league halfway through the season. Gotham's acting head coach Shaun Harris said after the match that losing Sonnett early "is a bit shocking for people" and that she is "one of our key players as a leader on and off the pitch." Sonnett signed a new contract with Gotham through the 2028 NWSL season last month, per ESPN.
Sonnett has earned five USWNT caps this year and is expected to be part of the team's 2027 World Cup roster, according to ESPN's reporting. The injury raises questions about her availability for both club and country as she enters the recovery process.
Gotham drew 2-2 despite playing with a numerical advantage late in the match. Midge Purce opened the scoring in the opening seconds, Renee Lyles equalized for Portland in the 21st minute with her first professional goal, and Jessie Fleming gave the Thorns the lead eight minutes after halftime. Sam Kerr scored the equalizer for Gotham in the 62nd minute, extending her league record to 78 regular season goals. Her goal was her first since returning to the team and first in the NWSL since November 2019, per ESPN. Jayden Perry was shown a red card 11 minutes after Kerr's goal for denying her an obvious goal-scoring opportunity.
Kerr said after the match that Gotham "were quite poor today" and that the team was "lucky to get away with the tie." Forward Morgan Weaver entered for Portland in the 76th minute, her first official minutes since November 2024 after suffering a knee injury during 2025 preseason with complications in her recovery, according to ESPN.
Sonnett, a starting center back for the NWSL's best defense and a 118-cap USWNT veteran, was stretchered off in the opening minutes after planting her left foot into artificial turf at Providence Park.
Gotham must evaluate its defensive depth with Sonnett sidelined at an uncertain timeline. What emerges from Sonnett's medical evaluation in New Jersey, and whether any structural complications are discovered, will shape both the defending champion's league campaign and the USWNT's planning for 2027.
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