Gotham FC April 2025 international break recap: A look at the Bats' travels | OneFootball

After a less-than-ideal first three matches of the NWSL season, NJ/NY Gotham FC received a short break from league play as club soccer went on pause for the April international break. Eight players were named to their national team rosters. Six were with their senior national teams, while two players received youth team call-ups.

Bruninha and Gabi Portilho received call-ups for Brazil's friendlies against the United States Women's National Team where they faced club teammate Emily Sonnett. Tierna Davidson was originally called up for these friendlies but had to pull out after her ACL injury. Meanwhile, three Gotham players were called in for UEFA Nations League duty. Ann-Katrin Berger, Jess Carter, and Esther González all received call-ups for Germany, England, and Spain respectively. And finally, Lilly Reale and Sarah Schupansky both received call-ups to the USWNT Under 23 team.

Notably, Gotham reported that Stella Nyamekye was called up to represent Ghana. However, she was not on the team's list on social media. It is possible they made a mistake.

Nevertheless, it was an active international window. Here is how these players fared in April's international matches.

Gotham FC and the April international break

Lilly Reale and Sarah Schupansky: United States Under 23

While the USWNT U-23 team did not play any games, they were in a camp that paralleled the senior team in Southern California from March 31 to April 7. For Reale, this has become very familiar for her. She first played in the US youth setup in 2017 when she was called up to the U-15 team as a 13-year-old. She has since received youth national team call-ups on a consistent basis with highlights including playing in the CONCACAF U-20 Championship and U-20 Women's World Cup in 2022 and being a part of the USWNT Futures Camp in January.

For Schupansky, this is hopefully the beginning of the new norm for the Pittsburgh native. This is the first time the 21-year-old has been called up to the USWNT youth setup at any level. She led the NCAA in assists in 2024 with 15, which may have been the catalyst for this first-time call-up to the U-23s. If she has a strong club season with Gotham her first senior call-up and cap may come by the end of the year.

Bruninha and Gabi Portilho: Brazil

In Brazil's two friendlies with the USWNT, Bruninha played small roles in both matches. She came on as a 73rd-minute substitute for Chicago Stars FC forward Ludmila in the team's 2-0 loss at Sofi Stadium in Inglewood. And in the second match in San Jose which Brazil won 2-1, she was the victim of a rare first-half substitution when she came out in the 36th minute.

Portilho on the other hand received much more playing time. Portilho started both fixtures, going the full 90 in the first one, and then was subbed in the closing minutes of their win in the second match. Despite starting both games, it was two pretty pedestrian performances where she failed to record a goal or an assist.

At the time of writing, these were Brazil's last scheduled friendlies before this summer's Copa America. They are in Group B with Bolivia, Colombia, Paraguay, and Venezuela. Brazil open their tournament against Venezuela on July 13.

Emily Sonnett: USWNT

It was a busy two games for Sonnett in the friendlies against Brazil. She started and went the full 90 minutes in both, captaining the side in the second match. Sonnett played the first match in Los Angeles at center-back where she was part of the defensive unit that helped goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce earn a clean sheet in her first cap with the USWNT.

In the second match, Sonnett assumed the role of "team mom." She was named captain of the team which had an average age of 22.3 years old and had more caps, 106 before the fixture, than the rest of the Starting XI had combined with 81. Seven members of the Starting XI had fewer than five caps.

The USWNT will next be in action in late May and early June when they have a pair of friendlies against China and Jamaica.

Ann-Katrin Berger: Germany

Berger was in goal for both of Germany's UEFA Nations League Group 1 fixtures against Scotland in League A. Berger earned a clean sheet in the team's initial 4-0 win, and then, despite giving up the first goal in the following game, Germany rallied back for an emphatic 6-1 victory. Berger made two saves in the first match and five in the second.

Before this summer's Euros, Germany will have two more Nations League matches in late May and early June: a home match against the Netherlands and an away match against Austria. Germany currently sits in first place in Group 1.

Jess Carter: England

Carter made two substitute appearances in England's Nations League games against Belgium. She came on for former Chelsea teammate Millie Bright in the 80th minute of England's 5-0 win in the first match. And then in England's shocking 3-2 loss, she came on as a halftime substitute for another former Chelsea teammate, Niamh Charles.

These results place England second in Group 3, two points behind leaders Spain. Their next two Nations League A matches are a home match against Portugal, and then a huge game away to group leaders Spain a few days later.

Esther González: Spain

Esther received her first call-up to the Spanish National Team in close to a year and made the most of her chance. The forward came on as a 70th-minute sub in the first match against Portugal and scored in the 89th minute to seal Spain's 4-2 victory away to their Iberian Peninsula rivals. She then came on as a halftime sub in the second game and scored the final goal in the 60th minute of Spain's 7-1 thumping of Portugal at home.

These results put Spain on top of Group 3 by two points over England. Their next two Nations League matches include an away match against Belgium and the aforementioned game at home to England.