Women’s soccer made history in New York City on Wednesday night when Gotham FC drew a record-breaking crowd to watch a 1-0 victory over Washington Spirit — and welcomed back fan favorite Sam Kerr in the process.
More than 42,000 tickets were sold for the match held at the home of Major League Baseball’s New York Mets, Citi Field. Fans showed up in force despite heavy smoke hanging over the stadium from Ontario wildfires. The turnout set a new record for any women’s sporting event in New York City, topping the more than 28,000 spectators who attended U.S. tennis star Coco Gauff’s championship win at the 2023 U.S. Open women’s singles final.
NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman spoke with reporters after the match, calling the night a milestone moment. “We know that with investment, if you build it, they will come. And this is a proof point for that,” she said.
“My favourite thing about tonight is that it isn’t transactional. It’s not a one and done. This is the beginning of a new relationship for this team in Queens,” Berman added. “And we know that there’s an entire fan base here that is going to be really hungry to enjoy the best soccer in the world.”
The big crowd arrives at a meaningful time for Gotham. Just days before the match, the team announced it would be leaving its suburban New Jersey stadium and relocating to Etihad Park in Queens — right across the street from Citi Field — starting in 2028. The move is expected to open the team up to a larger and more accessible fan base.
The energy in the stadium was also fueled by growing excitement around soccer in the United States, as the expanded men’s World Cup has been drawing record attendance. Anticipation continues to build ahead of Sunday’s championship match between Argentina and Spain, set to take place in nearby East Rutherford, New Jersey.
On the field, the only goal of the night came courtesy of Rose Lavelle, who won the Women’s World Cup with the U.S. national team in 2019. Lavelle slipped the ball between defender Tara Rudd’s legs and launched it over the outstretched arms of Washington goalkeeper Sandy MacIver in the 37th minute.
The crowd’s excitement reached a new level when Australian striker Sam Kerr entered the game off the bench in the 64th minute. Kerr’s return to the North American league from Chelsea was highly anticipated, and her presence is expected to strengthen an already powerful attack for the two-time champions.
For longtime Gotham supporters, seeing Kerr back in the team’s blue kit brought a sense of nostalgia. She previously played for the club from 2015 to 2017, when the team called the 5,000-seat Yurcak Field home — a far cry from Wednesday’s packed stadium.
Commissioner Berman reflected on the significance of Kerr’s return on such a landmark evening. “In many ways this is like a full circle moment with Sam Kerr coming here and being able to experience this on her first night,” she said. “Playing for the new Gotham, (in) what is so different from the reality that was the NWSL.”
