February 17, 2023 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – NJ/NY Gotham FC News Release
ORLANDO – The FIFA International Window is underway, and the Gotham FC players on senior national teams have all seen action this week, including Bruninha for Brazil, Ifeoma Onumomu for Nigeria, and Kristie Mewis, Midge Purce, and Lynn Williams of the U.S. Women’s National Team.
In the opening match of the SheBelieves Cup in Orlando, Bruninha started and saw all 90 minutes in Brazil’s 1-0 victory over Japan. Following the match, she said through an interpreter, “Gotham FC prepares me to be with the Brazil National Team and have this great opportunity to be with a great team that will compete at a great World Cup, and it’s going to be a challenge. With Gotham, I can certainly continue growing as a player.”
Bruninha and Brazil next will take on Canada on Feb. 19 in the SheBelieves Cup before facing off against the USWNT and Gotham teammates Mewis, Purce, and Williams, when Brazil takes on the USWNT on Wednesday, Feb. 22 in Frisco, Texas.
When asked about going toe-to-toe with her fellow Gotham FC teammates, Bruninha said, “It will be very interesting. They’re fast, and technical, and so smart. But we’re all here to compete, and the more we play each other on the field, it becomes more interesting because it helps with our growth, and it makes our teams better.”
Representing the USWNT on Thursday night in their first match of SheBelieves Cup, Gotham FC’s trio of Williams, Purce and Mewis all featured in Team USA’s 2-0 victory over Canada at Exploria Stadium.
After the match, all three players shared their sentiments on what it means to play for the best national team in the world while also representing a club in the best city in the world. Below are their responses.
Kristie Mewis, Midfielder
“It obviously feels great. I am so fortunate to be here with the national team and obviously be at Gotham. I’m just so excited for this next year with Gotham. I feel like we have such a good squad; we have a new coach, and it’s just going to be such a new energy, so I’m so excited. I think our performance tonight was just so good, and I feel really good going into the year before the World Cup. We are in a really good spot.”
Midge Purce, Forward
“I wish I had a better answer than ‘It’s the best.’ There’s just literally nothing better. NYC. USWNT. They just go together. The best of both worlds.”
Lynn Williams
“To play for the best team in the world, it means everything. You dream as a…