Gotham FC defender Emily Sonnett will miss the remainder of the 2026 NWSL season after undergoing surgery to repair a ruptured patellar tendon in her left knee, the club announced Friday.
At Tuesday’s prematch press conference ahead of Gotham’s match against Bay FC, acting head coach Shaun Harris revealed that Sonnett was not with the team on its road trip and had undergone surgery following the injury she suffered last Friday against the Portland Thorns.
Sonnett suffered the injury early in the first half of Gotham’s 2-2 draw at Providence Park. She went down in the opening minutes and was eventually stretchered off the field after receiving medical attention.
The 32-year-old has since undergone successful surgery and will begin her rehabilitation.
“Emily has the full support of everyone at the club, and we will be with her every step of the way throughout her recovery,” Gotham FC President of Soccer Operations Yael Averbuch West said in a statement. “She is incredibly resilient, and we know she will return stronger.”
Sonnett’s injury further depletes a Gotham defense that has battled injuries throughout the 2026 season. With Kayla Duran already sidelined for the year after suffering a torn ACL, the Bats are left with four healthy natural defenders: captain Tierna Davidson, Jess Carter, Mandy Freeman and Bruninha.
A regular starter, Sonnett has helped anchor one of the NWSL’s top defensive units this season as Gotham sits near the top of the league standings.
Gotham has not announced a timetable beyond confirming Sonnett will miss the remainder of the 2026 campaign. The injury leaves the veteran defender focused on a lengthy rehabilitation process as she works toward returning to full fitness ahead of next summer’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. In the meantime, Gotham will look to its remaining defenders to fill the void left by one of the team’s most experienced leaders.
