Gotham FC announced two roster moves Thursday, signing veteran Meredith Speck through the end of the 2026 season and placing defender Emily Sonnett on the NWSL’s season-ending injury list.
Sonnett’s move to the season-ending injury list comes less than two weeks after she suffered a ruptured patellar tendon in her left knee during Gotham’s 2-2 draw against the Portland Thorns on July 24. The club announced last week that the defender had undergone successful surgery to repair the injury, ending her 2026 campaign.
The 31-year-old was injured early in the match after making a challenge near midfield and was stretchered off the field in the opening half. Sonnett had been a regular starter for Gotham before the injury and leaves a significant void in one of the league’s top defensive units.
Speck joins Gotham as a free agent after spending the previous nine seasons with the North Carolina Courage organization. The 33-year-old has made more than 100 NWSL regular-season appearances, including 100 with North Carolina.
Acting head coach Shaun Harris emphasized that Speck’s value extends beyond her experience on the field.
“She’s an experienced player,” Harris said. “She’s really good in and around the group, working with the younger players, being that connector and making sure everyone feels good around training. She really cares about the people in the environment. She’s great to be around. She’s energetic, always works hard, always gives 100 percent and really gives everything for the team.”
A native of Rockville Centre, New York, Speck returns to her home region after spending the entirety of her NWSL career with the Courage and the Western New York Flash. She began her professional career in Sweden with Västerås BK30 before joining the Flash in 2016.
When the Flash relocated to North Carolina following the 2016 season, Speck remained with the organization and helped establish the Courage as one of the league’s most successful clubs.
During her time with North Carolina, Speck won two NWSL championships, three NWSL Shields and two NWSL Challenge Cups while featuring in multiple positions across the field. She played collegiately at Yale University before beginning her professional career overseas.
Speck’s signing brings another experienced player to Gotham as the club enters the final stretch of the regular season. The Long Island native returns to the New York metropolitan area for the first time since beginning her professional career a decade ago.
