USWNT midfielder Rose Lavelle makes long-awaited return to pitch for Gotham FC

U.S. women's national team midfielder Rose Lavelle played her first match in six months, as NJ/NY Gotham FC lost 2-1 loss to the Kansas City Current on Saturday. It marked her return to the pitch following a lengthy injury layoff.

Lavelle, who underwent ankle surgery in December, played her first minutes since appearing in an international friendly on Dec. 3, 2024.

"It was the first time I had to get surgery, which is a blessing, but I definitely was a little naïve to what that entailed," Lavelle said after Saturday's match. "So, it was definitely a lot harder than I anticipated."

The 30-year-old added that her recovery timeline was what she expected, and that she's glad to be back on the pitch.

"I'm healthy," Lavelle said. "I feel good, I feel really strong. I think it's more just it will be a little bit for my ankle to be at 100%, but the rest of me is feeling good."

Five minutes into her return to the pitch, Lavelle nearly found the back of the net off a shot from just outside the penalty area, with it going just wide. The Bats' lone goal of the day was credited as an own-goal from the Current's Vanessa DiBernardo, but Lavelle was around the ball when it was forced into the net.

"I think the profile of Rose Lavelle is probably the most rare to find when it's a player that can basically do everything at such a high level," Gotham manager Juan Carlos Amoros said. "And then on top of that she does the special things on the ball that create - why we all watch he sport.

"Obviously, you want to see goals, but those actions that she produces and how she understands the game is something very different to everyone else and that's what makes her special."

Speaking about her six-month absence, the USWNT veteran added: "Any time you spend time away from the game I always find some silver lining in it. I think I've found a lot of silver lining during this time away. I think [some] of that is learning how 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 10-fold."

The Bats return to the pitch on Friday when they take on Utah Royals.