Gotham FC defender Tierna Davidson leaves match after non-contact leg damage
Gotham FC and U.S. ladies’s nationwide workforce defender Tierna Davidson left Friday’s match in opposition to the Houston Sprint with an obvious leg damage.
The 26-year-old was working to shut down her former teammate Yazmeen Ryan and planted her left leg awkwardly whereas operating towards the tip line. There was no contact on the play. She fell, instantly holding her left knee and searching visibly upset. Davidson slammed her hand on the bottom a number of occasions and was consoled by goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger earlier than leaving the sphere.
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The extent of Davidson’s damage stays unclear; nonetheless, a Gotham spokesperson stated she will likely be evaluated when the workforce returns to New Jersey.
Davidson walked off the pitch with restricted assist from trainers and her teammates. On the sideline, Gotham’s assistant goalkeeper coach, Michelle Betos, who was a participant on the squad final yr, gave Davidson a protracted hug earlier than the defender headed to the locker room.
Defender Mandy Freeman entered the pitch for Davidson within the forty fourth minute, taking the captain’s armband left behind by Davidson.
In 2022, the U.S. defender tore the ACL in her proper knee whereas with the Chicago Crimson Stars and missed the rest of that season. In 2018, she fractured her ankle whereas enjoying for Stanford.
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The scenes in Houston have been regarding for Davidson and Gotham, who have been vying for his or her first win of the season. After the ultimate whistle of the scoreless draw with Houston, Davidson was seen along with her teammates in a leg brace.
“Tierna is a warrior. She’s our captain,” Gotham head coach Juan Carlos Amoros stated after the sport. “It was devastating seeing her coming off the pitch how she did however then seeing her on the pitch on the finish of the sport, it was additionally a message from her to the workforce of how sturdy she is.”
Davidson was named to Emma Hayes’ 24-player USWNT roster for the workforce’s upcoming friendlies in opposition to Brazil in California subsequent week.
What does this imply for the USWNT?
Within the brief time period, it feels truthful to anticipate Hayes to interchange Davidson for the 2 upcoming matches in opposition to Brazil. The U.S. head coach has continued to discover the depth at middle again, particularly with Naomi Girma lacking the primary a part of the yr with a calf damage. With Girma’s place because the workforce’s main beginning middle again cemented and 2025 serving as an prolonged analysis interval with out a main event for the USWNT, Davidson’s damage is a troublesome blow for her as she seemed to make her case to hitch Girma as a constant starter.
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Timing is a possible silver lining, nonetheless, with 2025 solely the beginning of the World Cup and Olympic cycle. If it’s the worst-case state of affairs, Davidson would have a bit extra runway forward of World Cup qualifiers subsequent summer season and loads of time forward of the 2027 event to work her method again into competition.
Nonetheless, Davidson’s absence can be unlucky for the U.S. contemplating her quiet management and thoughtfulness. Davidson additionally has proved to be one of many new voices for the workforce off the sphere, having simply been elected as president of the USWNT Gamers Affiliation.
What does this imply for Gotham?
Dropping Davidson can be a devastating blow for Gotham, because the workforce navigates a roster with a number of new faces.
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Davidson is taken into account a frontrunner and veteran on the workforce, having been named this season’s membership captain, in addition to a significant a part of the workforce’s backline alongside fellow USWNT veteran Emily Sonnett. An prolonged absence from Davison may supply a chance for NWSL rookie Lilly Reale to step into the fold in a extra significant method after a promising begin to her skilled profession.
This season has been crammed with change for the 2023 NWSL champions, who misplaced a number of of its attacking gamers this offseason, together with Ryan and Delanie Sheehan, who have been on the pitch for Houston as key members of its 2025 revamp.
This offseason, Gotham’s backline remained largely unchanged, aside from Jenna Nighswonger leaving the workforce for Arsenal. Gotham’s line of defense has been the workforce’s secret weapon in current seasons, with Davidson a focus of that success, efficiently shutting down a few of the league’s strongest attackers like Orlando Delight’s Barba Banda final yr.
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US Ladies’s nationwide workforce, Gotham FC, NWSL
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