Live from New York, it's Gotham FC Media Day!
Some notes and quotes from media day in Brooklyn
When my Lyft driver dropped me off in front of a warehouse in Brooklyn, he looked back at me and asked, “Are you sure this is it?”
“Yup!” I said confidently, bounding out of the backseat. Except, I wasn’t sure. Was I about to be the inspiration for an upcoming Law and Order episode?
Thankfully, that was not the case.
Gotham FC’s Brooklyn-based, industrial style media day was a welcome change from previous years (a hotel in Whippany, for example — although it was across the street from a Wegmans!).
I’ll have more out for you soon, but wanted to leave you with some fun observations from today.
First up, we had Ella Stevens, Bruninha, and Jessica Silva. All three had restful off-seasons which included plenty of time with family. Stevens is working on her Portuguese, especially with incoming Gabi Portilho joining the team.
After the press conference, I got to do a one-on-one with Bruninha — her first-ever all English interview! I got to ask her a couple quick questions, including what she loves most about being on Gotham.
“For me, [I love] the city, because for Brazilians, New York is beautiful. I was very excited to live this experience here,” Bruninha told me. “Also, [I love] my teammates. [They] were all so nice to me from the first moments, and I was scared because it was a new country, new language, new culture.”
I also asked the Brazilian defender how playing at Gotham has helped her develop her game and make an impact for both club and country.
“My objective was to come [to the NWSL] because I needed [to become] more physical and tactical, too,” she said. “I’ve learned so many things about myself. [Coming here] was very, very important because this league is, for me, the best league in the world.”
Although Bruninha comes into the city to hang out downtown when she can, she can often be found checking out the local Brazilian steakhouses of New Jersey.
I also checked in with Nealy Martin, asking her all about her U.S. women’s national team January camp call up. She only had great things to say, and of course I had to ask if she got any goalkeeper training while she was down in Florida.
“Mandy [McGlynn] was there so we were joking around a bit,” Martin said. “I was like, give me some volleys before training!”
Martin also said we’ll have to prepare for the return of the low-pony tail. “If I’m working hard, it’ll be low!” She laughed. “Maybe I need a pony sponsorship or something.”
Catching up with Tierna Davidson, I found out some incredible pieces of information. Specifically, she does not like eggs on bagels nor does she drink coffee!
“I don’t love breakfast food, so I do not order a bacon, egg and cheese — a cream cheese bagel is pretty much it,” Davidson told me. “I also don’t drink coffee! I’ll go [on coffee runs] for the friendship because I don’t want to be excluded!”
Rose Lavelle, who is recovering from an ankle surgery, won’t be suiting up for Gotham anytime soon, but had to weigh in about Davidson’s lack of caffeine needs. “Tierna’s such an interesting person,” she said. “I’m like, what do you do all day because I feel like my day is centered around when I can have my coffee.”
Although Lavelle is still recovering, she will be joining Gotham on their upcoming preseason trip to Spain.
That’s all for now. Stay turned for more from me and Gotham FC’s media day and preseason plans!
isn't it weird for a pro sports outfit to be like:
season just ended & our star midfield player was not on the injury report leading up to the semi finals & even went on international duty for meaningless friendlies after the season ended in early November. so, no problems! should be good to go for 2025!
FWD to january - SURPRISE - our star midfielder (in a midfield that notably has fewer stars available to it now) had ankle surgery sometime in December (?) to clean something up from last year! so as preseason starts and media day happens at the end of January, logically people are asking when is the expected return date based on the surgery and recovery prognosis... and the team sends the player themselves out to say the words "in the foreseeable future"??
like, just run yourselves as a professional club should do and don't put your players in that position? it's 2025 and Gotham's comms department moves like it's 2013 and the league just launched FFS. i am genuinely quite concerned about the roster and available options without rose and am 100% certain she will be needed in the concacaf games in May which - unfortunately - may be beyond or maybe even within the "foreseeable future" for all we know.
Can we assume that some of Gothams issues is salary cap related.