Rose Lavelle, the 30-year-old midfielder, is back in great shape following recovery from ankle surgery that sidelined her for the first half of last season. Fully healed and refreshed, Lavelle is prepared to take on a pivotal year ahead with both Gotham FC and the U.S. women’s national team, emphasizing the importance of her Rose Lavelle leadership on and off the field.
Key Contributions to Club and Country
Lavelle has already played a crucial role in Gotham FC’s recent successes, helping the team secure third place at the inaugural FIFA Women’s Champions Cup just months after scoring the only goal in Gotham’s NWSL championship win. Internationally, she is set to represent the U.S. in the upcoming SheBelieves Cup, a series of friendlies crucial before World Cup qualifiers begin later this year.
Reflecting on her journey, Lavelle said,
“Last year was a reflective year for, going through my first surgery and then coming back and getting to play with a really, really good club like Gotham and getting back in with the national team,”
highlighting the physical and mental challenges she faced.
“It was a lot harder than I anticipated, and I will never take my health for granted.”
Overcoming Injury Challenges and Reclaiming Health
This ankle surgery was Lavelle’s first career operation, although she has battled ongoing injuries throughout her playing years. Now entering the new season fully healthy, she anticipates this renewed fitness will positively influence her performances for both Gotham FC and the national squad.
“Last year was a little rough [with my ankle recovery], but I feel like I turned a corner and it’s been feeling good,”
Lavelle shared.
Upcoming Matches and Special Homecoming
Though Lavelle was on the bench during the recent 2–0 victory over Argentina, it is expected that U.S. Women’s National Team coach Emma Hayes is strategizing her reintegration in the next game against Canada on March 4. The final game of the SheBelieves Cup on March 7 will bring a meaningful homecoming for Lavelle at Sports Illustrated Stadium—the home ground of Gotham FC and the venue where she first debuted for the national team during the 2017 SheBelieves Cup.
Lavelle expressed,
“It’s always like fun whenever we’ve gotten to come and play at [Sports Illustrated Stadium], and it’s even more special now that I play for Gotham and it’s my home stadium.”
She continued,
“Obviously, it’s also somewhat of a full circle moment, knowing that’s kind of where I kicked off my national team career. It’s kind of crazy because I obviously would have never suspected then that I would later be playing club in that stadium.”
The Evolution of Women’s Soccer Since 2017
Lavelle’s career began during a markedly different era for the National Women’s Soccer League. In 2017, Gotham FC was known as Sky Blue FC and played home matches at Rutgers University’s Yurcak Field, a modest venue with a capacity of only 5,000. After winning the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Lavelle experienced the stark contrast of playing in front of massive crowds abroad and then returning to smaller stadiums at home.
She recalled,
“I think it was the first game post-2019 World Cup that was against Sky Blue at Rutgers, and it was so crazy, just the disparity of going from playing in Paris, in front of like sold-out crowds, to a stadium that fits only 5,000.”
Lavelle added,
“It’s really cool to see how this club and women’s soccer as a whole has evolved.”
Recognizing the Role of Trailblazers and Veterans
Lavelle acknowledges the rapid growth of women’s soccer in the United States and worldwide, noting that what once took nearly a decade feels like a fleeting moment. She humbly credits the pioneers and veterans who paved the way, citing fellow players such as Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, and Becky Sauerbrunn.
About her mentors, Lavelle said,
“I feel really lucky to have gotten to be ushered in during a time when there were those trailblazers and people pushing the game forward.”
She emphasized,
“There are always trailblazers [in every generation], but I feel so grateful for the veterans I had at that time because I had such great leaders and role models to look up to, to help show me what it’s like and what it means to be a veteran—not just for Gotham or for the national team, but within the sport.”
Embracing Leadership and Preparing to Inspire the Next Generation
As a seasoned professional, Lavelle embraces her veteran status with determination and a clear sense of responsibility. Although she is surprised by how quickly time has passed, she is motivated to compete fiercely and contribute to a successful season for both club and country during this exciting period for American soccer.
Reflecting on her evolving role, Lavelle said,
“It’s been such a long journey to get here, and definitely something like, I don’t take lightly—I have huge shoes to fill and I hope I can do them justice.”
She added,
“I hope I can help usher in this new generation of young, really, really talented, incredible players coming up. I feel so lucky to have gotten to be a young player with the veteran group that I got to learn from, and now I feel so lucky to be a veteran with the younger group that’s coming up.”
Rose Lavelle having the final say in 2019. 💫@USWNT | #FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/HlvoATukbG
— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) July 7, 2025
