Sam Kerr’s long‑awaited return to the National Women’s Soccer League finally delivered a moment of excitement, but it was wrapped in a whirlwind of drama as Gotham FC settled for a 2‑2 draw with the Portland Thorns.
The match opened with Guro Reiten threading a precise pass to Midge Purce, who slipped an unmarked finish past the Thorns’ keeper to give Gotham an early lead.
Portland answered swiftly, with Renee Lyle striking in the 21st minute to level the score, and later took the lead after a deflected effort from midfielder Jessie Fleming in the 53rd minute.
A red card and a corner‑kick climax
Kerr’s persistence paid off when she met a corner kick with a powerful header, marking her first NWSL goal since joining Gotham. The celebration was short‑lived, however, as she earned a red card for a late tackle on defender Jayden Perry in the 73rd minute, leaving her side a player down.
The chaos deepened when Gotham defender Emily Sonnett was carried off on a stretcher in the 11th minute, while Thorns forward Morgan Weaver made her first appearance since November 2024, adding another layer of injury concern.
Elsewhere in the league, Orlando Pride edged Chicago Stars 1‑0 thanks to Julie Doyle’s 88th‑minute strike, a result overshadowed by a saved penalty from Katie Atkinson and a clean‑sheet performance by Anna Moorhouse, her sixth of the season.
Houston Dash secured a 1‑0 victory over Bay FC, with Linda Ullmark’s 91st‑minute goal delivering the club’s first win since May 23rd, even as forward Racheal Kundananji sat out due to WAFCON duties.
The round also highlighted absences that could shape the playoff picture, with Barbra Banda unavailable for Orlando and Mallory Swanson sidelined for Chicago with a lower‑leg injury, while Linda Ullmark’s late heroics underscored the competitive depth of the NWSL.