On Monday, NJ/NY Gotham FC released their highly anticipated preseason roster. The 29-player list did not include many surprises except for a single non-roster invitee, Sinead Farrelly. The 33-year-old midfielder, who played in the National Women’s Soccer League since its inception and left the sport in 2016. Her prolific career began in the Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) league in 2011.
Farrelly’s inclusion as a non-roster invitee on Gotham’s preseason roster comes a year and a half after the explosive report in The Athletic on abuse and institutional failure in the NWSL. Her return to the sport is an indicator of how far the league has come in acknowledging and beginning to correct the failures that led to Farrelly’s initial departure nearly seven years ago.
Gotham’s preseason will start on Monday, February 6th in New Jersey. The team will head down to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida from Feb. 8 to March 3 where they will play two closed-door scrimmages against the Orlando Pride on Feb. 18 and the Chicago Red Stars on March 2.
“The talented group of players that we have assembled are a reflection of the exciting new direction we are moving as a club,” said general manager and head of soccer operations Yael Averbuch. “With the facilities and resources at IMG Academy, as well as the competitive matches against league opponents, we look forward to providing the best preparations for the players of Gotham FC and for the NWSL season ahead.”
In addition to Farrelly, Gotham’s preseason roster also includes draft picks Jenna Nighswonger and Iliana Hocking. This off-season, Gotham secured a number of their free agents, picked up U.S. Women’s National Team stars Lynn Williams and Kelley O’Hara, signed Canadian international Victoria Pickett to a contract extension, and brought in new players such as Yazmeen Ryan, Abby Smith, and Icelandic international Svava Rós Guðmundsdóttir.
The full Gotham FC preseason roster is available below.
2023 Gotham FC Pre-Season Roster (29 players)
Goalkeepers (4): Michelle Betos, Hensley Hancuff (NYR), Abby Smith, Mandy Haught
Defenders (9): Bruninha (INTL), Imani Dorsey, Kristen Edmonds, Sabrina Flores, Mandy Freeman, Ellie Jean, Ali Krieger, Nealy Martin, Kelley O’Hara
Midfielders (10): Iliana Hocking (DRAFT), Nahomi Kawasumi (INTL), Allie Long, Kristie Mewis, Victoria Pickett (INTL), Yazmeen Ryan, Delanie Sheehan, Taryn Torres, McCall Zerboni, Sinead Farrelly (NRI)
Forwards (6): Svava Rós Guðmundsdóttir (INTL), Jenna Nighswonger (DRAFT), Midge Purce, Ifeoma Onumonu, Taylor Smith, Lynn Williams
INTL: Denotes International Player
NRI: Non-Roster Invitee
NYR: Not Yet Reported
DRAFT: 2023 NWSL Draft Pick
