Sam Kerr, the former Chelsea star who secured 12 titles and netted 116 goals during her time in London, made her return to Gotham FC before the biggest crowd ever seen at a women’s sporting event in New York City. A capacity audience of 42,715 fans gathered at Citi Field—typically the home of the New York Mets baseball team—to witness Gotham’s 1-0 win against the Washington Spirit.
Kerr, who previously played for the club between 2015 and 2017 when they operated as Sky Blue FC, entered the match as a substitute in the second half. Rose Lavelle, an American midfielder, provided the winning goal during the opening half of play.
NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman hailed the event as a significant milestone, noting that the massive turnout proves that strategic investment successfully attracts supporters. She emphasized that this match marks the start of a long-term connection for the club in the Queens area. The organization recently announced plans to relocate to Etihad Park in Queens to better accommodate its growing fan base.
The successful event took place despite challenges from wildfire smoke originating in Ontario, Canada. While the crowd set a city record for women’s sports, the all-time attendance high for a NWSL game remains the 63,000 spectators who saw the Denver Summit play the Spirit in March.
