Gotham FC’s new signing Sam Kerr and assistant GK coach Michelle Betos discuss the upcoming record-setting match at Citi Field

By Noah Zimmerman

noah@queensledger.com

Something historic is coming in Queens. On July 15, well over 40,000 fans will fill the seats at Citi Field for the biggest women’s sports event to take place in New York City!

The Queens Classic is more than just a clash between NWSL rivals – it’s another defining moment in Gotham FC’s history and a sign of what’s to come for women’s soccer in New York and New Jersey. Nearly a decade ago the club was playing to home crowds of two to three thousand. Now with two NWSL titles under their belt, Gotham is filling stadiums, set for a permanent move to Queens in 2028.

In her introductory press conference last week, new Gotham signing Sam Kerr spoke about her return to the NWSL and to her former club, previously known as Sky Blue FC.

“It kinda feels like a full circle moment to me,” said Kerr. “Last time I left Gotham, we were Sky Blue at the time, playing down in front of a couple thousand people and this is the type of stuff we were fighting for. Fighting to play in front of sold out stadiums, with the best facilities, with the best players, with wages we deserved.”

Kerr rose to stardom at Sky Blue, winning the league’s Golden Boot award in 2017. After another prolific goalscoring season in Chicago, Sam left for England, joining Chelsea in the Women’s Super League. Even in the six years since her departure, nobody has broken her NWSL goalscoring records.

“There are so many people who have done amazing things over the last six years since I’ve been gone to help me to come back and live out my American dream,” Kerr said about her decision to return to the States. “I feel really lucky that it’s going to be my first game coming back at Citi Field, with a full stadium, back at a club where I had so many great memories.”

It’s also a truly incredible moment for Michelle Betos, who stepped into a coaching role with Gotham after a long NWSL career of her own. Now the former Gotham goalkeeper will watch her club take the field in front of a sold out crowd, just steps away from where she was raised.

“I grew up in Queens, my mom still lives in the house I lived in,” said Betos. “I spent 12 years away from that area but everywhere I went it was important that I brought a piece of Queens with me.”

Betos attended St. Francis Prep in Fresh Meadows, Queens, going on to play college soccer at Georgia. Towards the end of her professional career, Betos helped win the 2023 NWSL title with Gotham before seeing the club lift a second title two years later as a member of the coaching staff. To see the next generation of women’s soccer enjoying moments like this is something truly special to her.

“The first time I really felt professional was when I was playing in Portland with Seattle in front of 20,000 fans,” commented Betos. “It was my first experience with a true rivalry. Having so many fans in the stands was what it was about. That’s what I wanted the next generation to have.”

On Tuesday morning, Gotham FC officially announced their move to Etihad Park. The Bats will play all home matches in NYC’s first soccer specific stadium starting in 2028 and it’s expected that a few matches will take place there after the stadium opens its doors in 2027.