United States women’s national team midfielder Rose Lavelle returned to action on Saturday after a six-month absence, playing for NJ/NY Gotham FC in their 2-1 loss to league leaders Kansas City Current at Sports Illustrated Stadium.
Lavelle entered the field in the 74th minute, marking her first competitive appearance since December 3, 2024, after undergoing ankle surgery following that match. The player was in the recovery process during this time.Lavelle commented that the recovery time was similar to what he expected.It was the first time I had to undergo surgery, which is a blessing, but I was definitely a little naive about what that entailed. So, it was definitely a lot harder than I anticipated.
Rose Lavelle
Almost scored five minutes after entering the field, after cutting towards his left foot and shooting from outside the area, grazing the frame. She was involved in Gotham’s only goal, which was recorded as an own goal by Kansas City midfielder Vanessa DiBernardo, in stoppage time of the second half.I am healthy. I feel good, I feel very strong. I think it’s mostly that my ankle will take a while to be 100%, but the rest of me feels good.
Rose Lavelle
Lavelle said her time off the courts forced her to look for the positives.I think Rose Lavelle’s profile is probably the rarest to find, as she is a player who can basically do everything at such a high level. And on top of that, she does special things with the ball that create, why we all watch this sport.
Juan Carlos Amorós, Gotham FC coach
Lavelle entered a chaotic match, marked by multiple and incomprehensible VAR interruptions.Every time I spend time away from the game, I always find something positive in it. I think I’ve found a lot of positives during this time away. I think part of that is learning to be a good teammate when I can’t be on the field with them, staying present, still having a voice, and helping people where I can. Being out for so long really forced me to do that ten times more.
Rose Lavelle
The most controversial moment occurred in the 63rd minute, when Gotham forward Esther González appeared to score. Kansas City restarted play, but referee Danielle Chesky stopped the action for VAR to review a possible offside.
Amorós stated that the communication at that moment was not clear, and pointed out that the game restart by Kansas City should have nullified any possibility of reviewing the play, “completely against the rules of the game,” he said. Chesky said through a statement that the “defense action of Current, Ellie Wheeler, was determined not to be a deliberate play according to Rule 11.” Esther was offside at the initial center. Amorós added that measures should be taken to protect the players and improve the level of the game.Midfielder and captain of the Kansas City Current, Lo’eau LaBonta, was not present at Saturday’s match. She received her first call-up to the USWNT at age 32 and last week became the oldest player to debut in the 40-year history of the program.
LaBonta suffered what the Current coach described as a “minor knee injury” with the USWNT. LaBonta joins a list of injured Kansas City starters that includes forward Debinha, who will be out until the end of the summer due to a knee injury, and defender Alana Cook, who recently suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament, and meniscus.
