NJ/NY Gotham FC signed two USWNT superstars

The GIST: Defending champions NJ/NY Gotham FC are making all the money moves this offseason, signing two USWNT superstars, with two more reportedly on the horizon. NY can’t get enough of their superteams.

The official signings: On New Year’s Eve, versatile midfielder/defender (and Long Island’s own) Crystal Dunn officially joined Gotham from the Portland Thorns. That first Big Apple power move was shortly followed by yesterday’s signing of former Chicago Red Stars defender Tierna Davidson.

• Dunn and Davidson anchored the USWNT’s 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup–winning defense and are no strangers to new challenges: less than four months after giving birth, Dunn returned to the pitch in September 2022, while Davidson recently made a full recovery from a 2022 ACL tear.

The rumors: But that’s not all. The Athletic’s Meg Linehan reports that USWNT midfielders Rose Lavelle and Emily Sonnett could also join Gotham by the end of the week. The Bats would then boast seven active players in the USWNT pool following Kristie Mewis’ recent departure to play in the English Women’s Super League. Stacked is an understatement.

Zooming out: With the 2024 NWSL salary cap still undecided, it begs the question of how Gotham can afford to roster all of these major names. But it also underscores the importance of the league’s second-ever free agency period, giving athletes all the power to decide their playing destinations.