On Friday, March 15, Gotham FC hosted the San Diego Wave at Red Bull Arena in the 2024 NWSL Challenge Cup, which kicked off the league’s 12th season. Previously, from 2020 to 2023, the Challenge Cup was played in a group stage format, followed by knockout games to determine the winner. However, the competition has transitioned to a single pre-season match between the NWSL Shield Holder and the current NWSL Champion. This game was the first with this new format and became the first NWSL game broadcasted on Amazon Prime after the NWSL’s latest TV rights deal.
Even though multiple players who participated in the CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup began the game on the bench, the game started intensely, and both teams had numerous opportunities with back-and-forth chances. However, the winner did not come until the 88th minute, when Alex Morgan scored a close-range header from a corner kick to secure a San Diego victory.
“Just to get the win and the goal in the final minutes, it was really important for our team to start this season right,” stated Morgan at the end of the game. “It was a gritty performance. We had to work our way into the game. Gotham had the better first 20 to 30 minutes, but we fought hard and had a good mentality.”
San Diego Wave head coach Casey Stoney revealed her pride in her team’s performance to win the competition.
“I’m proud of this squad, and I’m so pleased they had this moment, they had the stage, they had the medal, the cup, and I think it’s what they deserved,” Stoney said when speaking to The Equalizer. “[Alex Morgan] comes on [in the second half] and scores a winner, and that’s what Alex does.”
The attendance at the game was 14,241 — the second-largest crowd for a Gotham FC match at Red Bull Arena. Many high-profile individuals were at the game, including United States goalkeeping legend Tim Howard, Giants coach Brian Daboll and second gentleman Doug Emhoff.
This loss means that Gotham FC has now finished as runner-up in the Challenge Cup twice after losing against the Portland Thorns 2-1 in 2021. After adding four U.S. Women’s National Team stars in Emily Sonnett, Crystal Dunn, Rose Lavelle and Tierna Davidson, Gotham FC came into the game and the season as one of the most talented teams in the league and the clear favorites. However, Lavelle did not play, while Dunn and Sonnett had to come off the bench after a grueling Women’s Gold Cup with the USWNT. Despite the loss, the players are not worried, believing and emphasizing that failure is part of the journey.
“I think something people don’t understand when it comes to sports is how helpful failure is,” Gotham forward Midge Purce told reporters. “It’s a huge opportunity for this team to come together and grow in ways that will have to happen regardless of what tonight gave us. This will force us to make necessary changes, and we’ll be better for it.”
Next up, the San Diego Wave will kick off their regular season campaign on March 23 when they host league newcomer Kansas City Current at Snapdragon Stadium. The Current won their first game at CPCK Stadium, the world’s first women’s professional sports stadium. Meanwhile, Gotham FC will travel to Providence Park on March 24.