USWNT Stalwart Kelley O’Hara Transfers to Gotham FC | OneFootball

Currently, it is the season of contract announcements in the NWSL. Players all across the league are being handed new deals with their current clubs. One player who is moving on elsewhere though is USWNT stalwart, Kelley O’Hara. The defender is switching Washington for Gotham as the Spirit undertake a squad overhaul in this off-season.

USWNT Stalwart Kelley O’Hara is on the Move

Gotham Land Their Defender

Kelley O’Hara has become the first NWSL player to switch teams via free agency, and she is one of a number of Spirit players to be moving on to pastures new. Devon Kerr, Gaby Vincent and Alia Martin are amongst those also departing Washington, but of course USWNT stalwart Kelley O’Hara remains the biggest name.

Gotham, who play out of Harrison, New Jersey at Red Bull Arena, already have a strong and experienced defensive core. Gina Lewandowski and Ali Krieger are at the heart of this, the latter being someone who O’Hara will know from their time together with the national team. Midge Purce and Kristie Mewis are another pair of stars on this roster who can make a difference week in, and week out.

O’Hara has been a part of this historic USWNT side from the Jill Ellis era and now into Vlatko Andonovski’s tenure. In a team with the biggest of names, from Megan Rapinoe to Alex Morgan, Lindsey Horan to Sam Mewis, they have won it all. That USA team won the World Cup in 2015 and 2019, took home gold from the London 2012 Olympics as well as accumulating five SheBelieves titles.

The Career of USWNT Stalwart Kelley O’Hara

Kelley O’Hara has been a mainstay in the USWNT setup for over a decade now. Alongside that, she has turned out for a number of clubs in the NWSL during her illustrious career. One of which was Sky Blue FC, who she played for between 2013 and 2017, making 75 league appearances.

Sky Blue FC are now defunct and instead go by the name of Gotham FC. In a full-circle moment, the USWNT stalwart is returning to her former club as she joins Gotham in this off-season. O’Hara was a Washington Spirit player for a brief period but she still certainly made an impact. In the 97th minute of the 2021 NWSL Championship match, she struck the winning goal against the Chicago Red Stars, winning this honour for the Spirit the first time. Gotham are certainly getting themselves a serial winner.

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