The 2023 NWSL Draft began with a splash Thursday night.
Lynn Williams is heading to Gotham FC after the New York/New Jersey club acquired the U.S. women’s national team forward in a trade with the Kansas City Current. In exchange for Williams, the Current received the No. 2 pick in Thursday’s draft, which they used to select Duke forward Michelle Cooper.
Williams joins her second NWSL club in a year after being traded to Kansas City last January. The 29-year-old played in just one game for the 2022 NWSL finalists — their Challenge Cup opener against Racing Louisville — before she suffered a season-ending hamstring injury that required surgery.
Finally healthy to start 2023, Williams was named to the USWNT roster last week for two January friendlies against New Zealand. This marks her first appearance for the U.S. since February 2022.
Williams will add an immediate spark to Gotham’s offense, which ranked last in the league with 16 goals in 2022. The team finished the season in last place at 4-17-1.
Before joining the Current, Williams played for the North Carolina Courage from 2017-21. She scored 48 goals and added 20 assists while helping the club…
