Midfielder Sinead Farrelly has signed a contract with Gotham FC for the 2023 season with an option, the team announced Saturday. Here’s what you need to know:
- Farrelly returns to the NWSL after nearly eight years away from the game. She previously played for Kansas City in the NWSL’s inaugural season in 2013 and then two seasons in Portland before retiring in 2016.
- The 33-year-old has three goals and two assists in 52 NSWL appearances.
- Farrelly, along with former Thorns teammate Mana Shim, accused then-Portland coach Paul Riley of sexual coercion and harassment in a story on The Athletic published in September 2021. Riley, who was coaching the North Carolina Courage at the time, was immediately fired following the allegations and later banned permanently from working in NWSL after a joint NWSL/NWSL Players Association investigation.
The Athletic’s instant analysis:
What’s the significance of Farrelly’s contract?
This is Farrelly’s return to soccer after she last played a professional game in 2015 following her alleged abuse and sexual coercion by Riley. At the time, Farrelly was seen as a good starting midfielder and a roster asset with enough trade value she could have landed at several teams in the league. — Yang
What does this mean for Gotham on the field?
Gotham…
