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ORLANDO (February 17, 2023) – The FIFA International Window is underway, and the Gotham FC players on senior national teams have all seen action this week, including Bruninha for Brazil, Ifeoma Onumomu for Nigeria, and Kristie Mewis, Midge Purce, and Lynn Williams of the U.S. Women’s National Team.
In the opening match of the SheBelieves Cup in Orlando, Bruninha started and saw all 90 minutes in Brazil’s 1-0 victory over Japan. Following the match, she said through an interpreter, “Gotham FC prepares me to be with the Brazil National Team and have this great opportunity to be with a great team that will compete at a great World Cup, and it’s going to be a challenge. With Gotham, I can certainly continue growing as a player.”
Bruninha and Brazil next will take on Canada on Feb. 19 in the SheBelieves Cup before facing off against the USWNT and Gotham teammates Mewis, Purce, and Williams, when Brazil takes on the USWNT on Wednesday, Feb. 22 in Frisco, Texas.
When asked about going toe-to-toe with her fellow Gotham FC teammates, Bruninha said, “It will be very interesting. They’re fast, and technical, and so smart. But we’re all here to compete, and the more we play each other on the field, it becomes more interesting because it helps with our growth, and it makes our teams better.”
Representing the USWNT on Thursday night in their first match of SheBelieves Cup, Gotham FC’s trio of Williams, Purce and Mewis all featured in Team USA’s 2-0 victory over Canada at Exploria Stadium.
After the match, all three players shared their sentiments on what it means to play for the best national team in the world while also representing a club in the best city in the world. Below are their responses.
Kristie Mewis, Midfielder
“It obviously feels great. I am so fortunate to be here with the national team and obviously be at Gotham. I’m just so excited for this next year with Gotham. I feel like we have such a good squad; we have a new coach, and it’s just going to be such a new energy, so I’m so excited. I think our performance tonight was just so good, and I feel really good going into the year before the World Cup. We are in a really good spot.”
Midge Purce, Forward
“I wish I had a better answer than ‘It’s the best.’ There’s just literally nothing better. NYC. USWNT. They just go together. The best of both worlds.”
Lynn Williams
“To play for the best team in the world, it means everything. You dream as a little girl to be able to put the crest on and play in front of so many fans, and little girls, and your family, and that’s what you work so hard for. Every time I put on the crest, it means the world to me. To be able to win is just a little cherry on top.
“What it means to play for the best city in the world, well, I can’t wait to get started. I have been talking to everybody about it... But really, I am so excited. I can’t wait, and I think this year is going to be awesome, so I hope all the fans can come out and support us.”
In addition, Gotham FC forward Ifeoma Onumonu earned the start for Nigeria in a friendly against Mexico on Wednesday in the Revelations Cup in Guanajuato. Mexico defeated Nigeria 1-0. Onumonu and Nigeria next will face Columbia on Feb. 18 and Costa Rica on Feb. 21 in continued Revelations Cup play.
Immediately following Gotham FC’s training session at IMG Academy in Bradenton on Thursday, members of the coaching staff traveled to the SheBelieves Cup in Orlando to support Bruninha (Brazil), Mewis, Purce, and Williams (USA).
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