United States women’s national team legend and icon Kelley O’Hara had a bittersweet conclusion to her career as injuries ended her final season early.
She had planned to retire after the 2024 NWSL season, but was forced to hang up her boots in September.
Her club, Gotham FC, announced she was on the season-ending injury list meaning the Bats’ 2-1 victory vs. Houston Dash on Sept. 8 was her O'Hara's final appearance.
Kelley O’Hara made her grand return to the pitch Sunday night for Gotham FC after missing the previous five months battling a knee injury. The home crowd gave the 36-year-old United States women’s national team icon a roaring ovation when she entered the game in the 85th minute during a friendly against Chelsea.
O’Hara is playing in her final NWSL season as she’s announced she will retire at the end of the year. Her last season with Gotham FC hasn’t been a dream final chapter of her career as she’s been sidelined since March.
Thirteen-year-old McKenna Whitham signed a professional contract with the NJ/NY Gotham FC on Friday, making her the youngest player in NWSL history.
Whitham, who turns 14 on Saturday, reportedly signed a guaranteed contract that becomes effective Jan. 1, 2025, and runs through 2028. She also signed a signed a national team replacement player contract, which makes her available to play in upcoming NWSL x Liga MX Summer Cup matches.
Gotham FC sign McKenna Whitham
Something is in the air this summer as soccer players around the world keep scoring outside of the box screamers. We’ve seen amazing goals in the Euros, MLS and now a spectacular Rose Lavelle goal vs San Diego Wave.
Gotham FC defeated San Diego 2-1 on Wednesday courtesy of a 25-yard rocket from Lavelle and a 98th minute winner from Maycee Bell.
Rose opened the scoring on the stroke of halftime to get the home crowd in Red Bull Arena on their feet.
Rose Lavelle goal vs San Diego Wave
The United States women’s national team will say goodbye to another star as defender Kelley O’Hara announced her plans to retire at the end of the 2024 NWSL season.
O’Hara goes down as one of the best fullbacks in USWNT history as her 14-year career with the national team saw her win two World Cups and a gold medal in the 2012 Olympics.
Gotham FC and United States women’s national team forward Midge Purce is out for the season and unavailable for this summer’s Olympics after suffering an ACL injury.
Purce was substituted in the first half of her side’s 1-0 victory against the Portland Thorns on Sunday after picking up an injury.
The 28-year-old confirmed on social media that she had sustained an ACL injury and will be out for an extended period.
Midge Purce ACL injury
Preseason serves as a great window to get rid of the rust and make mistakes to learn from even for veteran players. Gotham FC and USWNT star Kelley O’Hara shared just that on Wednesday in a hilarious video of her getting tackled by a motionless defender.
During NWSL preseason with defending champions Gotham, O’Hara was completely cleaned out by a defender. The good news is that there won’t be any hard feelings due to the fact that one of the players involved in the incident lacks the ability to have feelings.
Kelley O’Hara training dummy incident
Ali Krieger shared with SELF magazine that she learned of her divorce from former partner Ashlyn Harris while at training with Gotham FC.
The retired soccer star and USWNT legend had a rollercoaster of a year in 2023 with the highlight of her first NWSL Championship and the low of her divorce with Harris. The USWNT duo had been together for 13 years and had married in 2019.
National Women’s Soccer League champions Gotham FC are the talk of free agency. The Bats have their eyes set on several high-profile players and have so far confirmed the signings of two USWNT stars.
Crystal Dunn and Tierna Davidson are the first two players set to take their talents to the east coast for the 2024 season.
Gotham FC announced the signing of Dunn on New Year’s Eve and then revealed Davidson as a new player on Tuesday.
Gotham FC signings
United States women’s national team midfielder and 2023 NWSL Champion Kristie Mewis is taking her talents to London as she leaves Gotham FC to join Women’s Super League (WSL) side West Ham United.
Mewis and Gotham FC mutually parted ways as the 32-year-old will face an entirely new challenge with West Ham who face a relegation battle. The Hammers sit second from last in the WSL table, have one win from 10 games and have the fewest goals scored in the league with eight.
Kristie Mewis West Ham transfer