Lynn Williams is staying with Gotham FC.
From atop the Empire State Building on Tuesday, the 30-year-old forward announced her commitment to the New York City-area club. She signed a contract extension that will keep her with Gotham through the 2025 season. Williams was set to be a free agent at the end of the year.
Since her trade from the Kansas City Current in January, Williams has flourished with her new club. After missing all of the 2022 regular season with a hamstring tear, she has started the 2023 season on a goal-scoring tear. She has six through 12 regular-season matches, tied for second in the league, and eight across all NWSL competitions.
BREAKING: Lynn Williams has signed an extension with Gotham FC through 2025 ✍️ pic.twitter.com/FwwVRK8ekv— Just Women’s Sports (@justwsports) June 20, 2023
BREAKING: Lynn Williams has signed an extension with Gotham FC through 2025 ✍️ pic.twitter.com/FwwVRK8ekv
With her scorching start to the season, Williams is approaching the NWSL all-time goals record held by Sam Kerr. She has 74 goals through all competitions, while Kerr had 78 before her move to the Women’s Super League in England.
“I feel like I have the freedom to see what I see on the field and the trust that I am going to make the right decision and the trust that I am going to put the ball in the back of the net,” Williams told Sports Illustrated’s Clare Brennan recently. “I think as a player all you want is your teammates and your coach to trust you.”
The centerpiece in Gotham FC’s offense, Williams has provided a boost to a club that finished in last place in the league standings and scored a league-low 16 goals in 2022. Just over halfway through the 2023 season, the team sits in playoff position in sixth place in the standings and has scored 13 goals.
In addition to her star turn for her club, Williams is preparing for her likely World Cup debut with the U.S. women’s national team.
“I think the past couple of years have been tough,” she told Sports Illustrated. “The trade, and not expecting the trade, but it ended up being something amazing. And then going through my hamstring injury, I really think I put my head down and grinded and gave myself the best shot to be the best Lynn I could be.”