Two-time NWSL champion Midge Purce is returning to Gotham FC. The club announced Friday that the 30-year-old forward has signed a new contract through the 2026 season, securing one of its most recognizable and influential players as Gotham looks to build on its recent success.
Purce comes back after a 2025 campaign that reaffirmed her importance to the club. She helped Gotham win the inaugural Concacaf W Champions Cup in May and then played a key role in securing another NWSL Championship in November. Her ability to create chances, stretch defenses and deliver in high-pressure moments helped shape both trophy runs, and her return gives the defending champions stability as the roster continues to evolve. After signing her new deal, Purce summed up her mindset with a short message: “Let’s run it back.”
General manager and head of soccer operations Yael Averbuch West said Purce’s presence remains essential to the club’s identity and long-term plans. “Midge has been a driving force for our team both on and off the field,” Averbuch West said. “Her commitment to our club and ability on the field make her an invaluable part of what we are building, and we are thrilled to have her continue with us.”
Purce first joined Gotham in 2020 after being traded from the Portland Thorns and has steadily become one of the most impactful players in team history. She earned MVP honors in the 2023 NWSL Championship with a two-assist performance that helped deliver the club’s first league title. She now ranks among Gotham’s career leaders in playoff appearances, playoff starts and playoff minutes, and her 17 goals place her third on the club’s all-time scoring list. Her production, leadership and consistency have made her one of Gotham’s most trusted attacking players.
Her decision to re-sign was shaped by a sense of belonging that built over time rather than any single event. In an interview with Women’s Health, Purce said the realization came gradually as she imagined her future on the field. “When I would picture what my year would look like on the field, I kept going back to, ‘I want to play another year with Gotham and I want to play another year with this team,’” she told the outlet.
That feeling only grew stronger during her recovery from the torn ACL she suffered 44 minutes into Gotham’s 2024 season opener, an injury that sidelined her for the rest of the year. It was the first time in two decades that she had been forced to step away from the sport for an extended stretch, and she said the separation from both the game and her teammates was emotionally difficult. The long rehab brought frustration, but she also acknowledged that the break occasionally gave her space to reset and regain perspective. “I just feel like I’m not done playing with them yet,” Purce said. “It’s a really special thing.”
Purce credited head coach Juan Carlos Amorós and the club’s coaching and medical staffs for helping guide her through the highs and lows of the recovery process. Their support, she said, left a lasting impression as she weighed her next contract. “Maybe that’s something that has resonated with me consciously and subconsciously about where I want to be [next season],” Purce said. “The unwavering support that I got through that was really special.”
Purce returned to the field in April 2025 and steadily worked back to full sharpness. She scored her first goal of the season on Sept. 26 and finished league play with one goal and one assist, while also delivering 15 key passes and 23 shot-creating actions. Even before reaching peak form, she remained one of Gotham’s key attacking architects, linking play and creating scoring opportunities in vital moments.
She also made a crucial impact in international play. Purce converted a penalty in Gotham’s 3-1 semifinal win against Club América in the 2024-25 Concacaf W Champions Cup, helping send the team to the final. Gotham went on to win the first continental club championship in the history of American women’s soccer, adding another milestone to Purce’s already decorated résumé.
Alongside the team success, Purce reached several notable personal milestones in 2025. She surpassed 10,000 minutes across all NWSL competitions and played in her 50th regular season match for Gotham. She also made her 75th NWSL appearance earlier in the year, further cementing her place in club history.
With her new contract in place, Purce enters the next phase of her Gotham career as a veteran presence on a team that has rebuilt itself into a consistent title contender. Her leadership in the locker room, her postseason experience and her connection to the club’s identity position her to play a major role as Gotham pushes toward another championship run in 2026.
