By OkayGoal 
Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Gotham FC has officially announced that defender Emily Sonnett has sustained a “ruptured patellar tendon” in her left knee and will be out for the remainder of the 2026 National Women’s Soccer League season. Gotham confirmed that she did undergo surgery.
Sonnett’s injury occurred on Friday, July 24, in Gotham’s 2-2 draw against the Portland Thorns at Providence Park. She was substituted off in the 11th minute and replaced by veteran defender Mandy Freeman.
“Emily has the full support of everyone at the club, and we will be with her every step of the way throughout her recovery,” Yael Averbuch West, president of soccer operations for Gotham FC, said via a press release. “She is incredibly resilient, and we know she will return stronger.”
Sonnett, who is 32, joined Gotham ahead of the 2024 NWSL season, and was on the 2025 NWSL Championship-winning team. She also won an NWSL Championship with the Portland Thorns in 2017 and the Washington Spirit in 2021.
Sonnett began her NWSL career in Portland, where she made 72 appearances for the Thorns from 2016-19. In 2020, she had a short stint with the Orlando Pride before joining Swedish side Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC, where she won the league title and made 10 appearances. She came back to the U.S. in 2021, and featured for the Washington Spirit for two seasons. After a one-year stint with OL Reign — now the Seattle Reign — in 2023, she joined Gotham in 2024.
Sonnett is also a FIFA Women’s World Cup winner, claiming the title with the U.S. women’s national team in 2019.
With the U.S., Sonnett holds 118 appearances for her country. She won the Olympic gold medal in 2024, and a bronze medal in 2020. She’s a two-time Concacaf Women’s Championship winner, a one-time Concacaf Women’s Gold Cup winner and an eight-time SheBelieves Cup winner. She earned her 100th appearance for her country in 2024.
