Gotham FC's June 2025 international break recap: taking a look at the Bats' forays | OneFootball

Following NJ/NY Gotham FC's victory in the inaugural CONCACAF W Champions Cup, many of the Bats represented their countries. Nine Gotham players were called up for international action to begin the month of June. Six call-ups were for their senior national teams, while three made appearances for their youth national teams.

Emily Sonnett received the call for the USWNT, while Lilly Reale and Sarah Schupansky again received call-ups for the US U-23s. In addition to these three, Mak Whitham received her first call-up to the U-17 national team as the youngest player on the roster. Stella Nyamekye was called up to represent Ghana as well in a pair of friendlies against Côte d’Ivoire.

Four other players were also called up for UEFA Nations League duty. Ann-Katrin Berger for Germany, Jess Carter for England, Jéssica Silva for Portugal, and Esther González for Spain all received the call for their respective nations.

With nine players out on international duty, it was obviously a very busy window for Gotham's internationals. Here is a look at how they fared on their travels.

Gotham FC and the June international break

Emily Sonnett: USWNT

Sonnett started and played 69 minutes in the USWNT's 3-0 friendly win over China. She completed 93% of her passes and went two for two in aerial duels. She then received a much-needed break as she was on the bench and was an unused substitute for the USWNT's 4-0 win over Jamaica. As mentioned, having this game off was a well-deserved rest for Sonnett, as she and Berger are the only two Gotham FC players to have played in every minute of every game so far this season.

Lilly Reale and Sarah Schupansky: USWNT U-23

The USWNT U-23 team held a training camp and played two friendlies against Germany and their U-23 team. The first saw the US win 2-1, where Reale started, played the full 90 minutes, and scored the opening goal of the game. Schupansky would come on as a substitute in the 64th minute.

In the team's second match against Germany, which ended in a 2-1 loss, Schupansky started and played 56 minutes while Reale came on as a second-half substitute. This marks both players' second call-ups to the U-23 team this year, and if they continue to play as well as they have for both club and country, then their first senior caps may come by the end of the year.

Mak Whitham: USWNT U-17

This call-up marked Whitham's first time with the U-17 team, and she was the youngest on the roster at just 14 years old. While there were no games played during this camp in Georgia, having this experience, as well as having the knowledge that she's on the US's radar, can only be a positive for the youngest player in NWSL history.

Stella Nyamekye: Ghana

It was a quiet window for Nyamekye. She was an unused sub in their first friendly against Côte d’Ivoire, which ended 3-3, and then she only played the final 13 minutes of their second meeting, which saw Ghana lose 1-0. It has been a slow buildup for the player, who, after missing preseason and making a big jump from playing in Ghana to playing in the NWSL, has struggled for minutes so far this season. If Gotham FC plays some friendlies during the summer break, expect her to play a big role in those games.

Ann-Katrin Berger: Germany

Berger started and kept clean sheets in both of Germany's UEFA Nations League games, against the Netherlands at home, where she made two saves, and against Austria on the road, where she made three. Winning 4-0 and 6-0, respectively, has seen Germany win their group and qualify for the Nations League semifinals in October, where they will face one of France, Spain, or Sweden.

Jess Carter: England

Carter started and played the full 90 minutes at left-back in England's 6-0 win at home over Portugal. In this game, she made three tackles, had a 91% pass completion, and had seven successful long balls. Carter then played 34 minutes as a substitute in England's 2-1 away loss to Spain, this time at right-back. This loss meant England finished second in their group, which means they will not advance to the semifinal stage of the competition.

Jéssica Silva: Portugal

Silva and Portugal have seen better days than this June international break. They first lost away to England 6-0, where Silva came on as a halftime substitute, and then lost 3-0 at home to Belgium, where she started and played 64 minutes. These losses mean Portugal finished last in their group and have been relegated to League B in the next season of the Nations League.

Esther González: Spain

It was another successful set of games for González and Spain. This time González bagged another brace in Spain's 5-1 away win over Belgium, where she played 77 minutes. And while she did not score in their 2-1 home win over England, she did start and play 82 minutes. These two wins mean Spain won their group and joins Germany, France, and Sweden in the Nations League semifinals in October.

Many Gotham fans will remember that the last international break, when González scored four goals over two games, was a catalyst for her great goalscoring form in the NWSL games that followed. If she can repeat that and go on another goal-scoring binge in the three games before the midseason break, then Gotham FC could see themselves vault up the table.