Midge Purce is back with Gotham FC. After a spell of free agency, the USWNT forward signed a one-year extension with the team she helped lead to the 2023 NWSL title. Purce returns to the pitch on a new contract with fresh terms and a mandate for high expectations, returning to top form after a knee injury cut her last season short. But an attack already featuring Esther Gonzalez, Rose Lavelle, Ella Stevens, and Gabi Portilho-just how different will things be with her return?
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A Different Player for a Different Gotham
Always critical to Gotham, Purce signs a renewed contract as the roster has flipped entirely. That bolstered attack with her on board now sees her needing to compete for playing time in an onslaught of talent in the attack.
With Gotham, she has made history in 2023 by becoming just the second player in NWSL history to notch two assists in a championship final. That game sealed Gotham's first-ever NWSL trophy and confirmed just how important she is in the team.
Her experience with the USWNT is another big plus. Having made 30 international appearances, scoring five times and providing four assists, she has played a part in several title-winning campaigns, including the 2022 Concacaf Women's Championship and the 2024 W Gold Cup.
But Purce's impact goes way beyond on-field production. She is one of the most influential players in women's soccer, consistently advocating for equal pay and more representation in the sport.
Is this a smart bet by Gotham FC?
By resigning Purce, Gotham FC retain the services of a player who has proven her value to the team, as well as a fan favorite. On a highly competitive league that sees the NWSL get bigger and better each year, however, one cannot simply rely on the principle of continuity.
She could turn out to be a game-changing move, but this decision will only prove fruitful if she takes to the pitch and is fully recovered from injury.