Berger & Carter

Blog dedicated to Ann-Katrin Berger & Jess Carter

[bergerandcarter]

Maybe they just copied wednesday report and forgot to at SEI behind Sonetts Name consindering the amount of games they have had in recent weeks a Administrator error would be human.

Well, that's the weird thing! Taylor Vincent posted this on bluesky:

Which sounds to me like someone told her she made a wrong assumption (a very understandable wrong assumption!). And the screenshot I just posted in the previous post is from the NWSL website, so should be accurate. In Gotham's statement about Sonnett it said she "will miss the remainder of the 2026 NWSL season".

[lightcastlenineteen]

The FIFA has officially scrapped the plans to sell off stakes in upcoming world cups. This got confirmed by Infantino himself. The boycott will not take place. Until further notice the Women’s World Cup next year is save.

via The Guardian, Tagesschau & BBC

[bergerandcarter]

I'm very happy the plan has been scrapped, and that the Women's World Cup is going ahead. Threatening a boycott works, y'all! But I'm also giggling and kicking my feet at the possibility that this is what's going to force Infantino out:

[From the Guardian article that OP has linked]

[bergerandcarter]

Today's availability report for the match against Houston Dash [August 1, 2026]. Sonnett not on SEI? But hey said she'd be out for the season. Very strange.

[bergerandcarter]

https://www.instagram.com/p/DbdbzHGOwxI/?igsh=MWtmNDJxMzE1OTEyZg==

Sonett has been put on the SEI List with an raptured patella tendon

Quick recovery to her

Also hope we now finally sign another cb / defender

It almost feels like they HAVE to sign someone? They have 22 active players now (with Taryn Torres and Emily Sonnett swapping places on the SEI or active list), so if anyone else gets injured, they aren't roster compliant anymore.

Mandy and Bruninha are both seemingly still on minutes restrictions, so our backline will probably look like this (from left to right):

Guro - Tierna - Jess - Midge/Bru/Mandy

With Midge probably starting at RB and then being moved up (taking Dudley's place) once Bru or Mandy gets subbed in for Midge. Right?

They should really sign a left back, because I do feel like Guro is wasted on that position. Her crosses into the box are amazing, so she should really start as a forward in my opinion. Certainly now that Shaw looked dead tired during the last game. Also, if Guro gets injured or is unavailable for some reason, is there anyone at all who could take her place? Taryn Torres? But she is literally just coming back from her ACL and won't be playing full games yet. And another CB would be really nice so Jess and Tierna don't run out of steam before the end of the season.

This is literally what we've all seen coming for MONTHS now. Every new signing had us like "???? But why not a defender???"

[bergerandcarter]

[July 31, 2026]

[bergerandcarter]

The thing we all feared has happened. Sonnett on SEI

[bergerandcarter]

[bergerandcarter]

It's crazy that Gotham has to play 6 games within 3 weeks including traveling between multiple time zones and non in their actual home stadium. Considering AKB has struggled with some minor injuries this and last season and ultimatily couldn't even play for a month last year I'm happy they gave her a rest even though I'm sure they had to force her to not play lol. It's better than risking an injury later on when they have the playoffs. That being said I would have loved some more subs and earlier against Bay as well so other players who will surely play again in a few days against Houston also get some rest. Especially Jaedyn Shaw didn’t look fresh and probably could have been subbed off and needed some rest and Sofia Cook could have come on for Rose a lot sooner as well.

I feel like Shelby is a great teammate and person but her passing especially makes me anxious and makes you realise how important AKB is in that regard aside from the obvious goalkeeping stuff. Shelby seemed to always pass to the teammate under the most pressure and the weight of the passes were off. Too hard or too soft, too predictable because of her passing range etc. Considering they don't play Louisville soon Bay was probably the best game to have Shelby take over but it still was a bit too close for comfort at the end and I was relieved when it was finally over lmao. But 3 points are 3 points, I'll take it

Definitely! The schedule is crazy! I'm also glad they gave AKB a rest, and I completely agree with you on Shaw. She looked absolutely gassed, it was noticeable how often she was losing the ball.

Shelby left the goal wide open three times (not to say that AKB is a stranger to this ... but it seems deliberate when she does it, and with Shelby it just looked like mistakes) and got very lucky that Bay didn't capitalize on that! Exactly, three points are three points, but I wouldn't have minded a second goal in the last 87 minutes of the game 😉

[bergerandcarter]

Gothan now deleted and reposted the sparkly player of the match post for the Bay game three times and the vote functtion still isn't working.

Don't know whats going on there but hope they get it sorted out soon.

Because i just want to vote for Jess and i still can't, it just anoying.

Man, how hard can it be Gotham? I knew they had re-uploaded it once, because the first link an anon sent me didn't work but THREE times?? Wow. For what it's worth, it does show up for me now and I was able to comment, so it seems to be working now!

Gotham FC on Instagram: "Vote now for Sparkling Play of the Match, presented by @lacroixwater by dropping a comment below ✨👇"

gothamfc on July 30, 2026: "Vote now for Sparkling Play of the Match, presented by @lacroixwater by dropping a comment below ✨👇".

[bergerandcarter]

It does seem like they were thinking if they went super slowly no one would notice them interacting normally with each other 😂 is that how their camera shield works? If they go slowly no one picks up on them interacting. also jess leaving akb hanging for her high five because she was verrryyyyy slowly putting her bottle down is very funny 😂

Maybe they think if they go slow enough the photographers will get bored and leave before taking a picture 😂

[bergerandcarter]

https://www.instagram.com/p/DbbKFOrk3zc/?igsh=MWFtdWljeXZwMDJ2Zg==

Kinda glad no NWSL Team qualified for the weird Fifa Tourment

But starting in February still means a very short break for the int Players who still have to play qualifiers for the WWC. Think everybody Else will skip the November/ December int break in the intrest of they're health.

Also Games in Nj, Boston and Chicago in February cloud get chaotic consindering the climate there.

Oh wow. They'll be playing with hats and gloves! It is apparently 34°F to 36°F or 1°C to 2°C in Chicago in February! And like you said, this would make the break even shorter.

[bergerandcarter]

Shelby pulling Ann aside after the game against Bay to discuss goalkeeping probably

Thank you! Lol, you weren't kidding: Shelby literally grabs her by the arm and drags her away like "you, me, talk". 😂 This is super zoomed in so it's blurry as hell, but I found it funny, so 🤷🏼‍♀️

I love that we now have seen this moment from three angles!

Thank you for capturing it and sending it to me! 🥰

[bergerandcarter]

I don't know if you saw this after the game yesterday but Ann and Jess slowly inching towards each other was hilarious and I thought you might enjoy it. There is also a video of Shelby pulling Ann aside to discuss goalkeeping after the game. Gonna send it as well, maybe you like it

Thank you so much! 😍I didn't see it, because I tend to immediately switch off the game once it's over to go back to sleep (stupid timezones) so I really appreciate this! Oh my God, this is so funny! Walking towards each other like shy teenagers on a first date or something. Me @ the nwsl: WHY DIDN'T YOU LET THE SHOT KEEP GOING FOR TWO MORE SECONDS? DO YOU HATE ROMANCE? 😂

(any and all footage of things like this is always greatly appreciated! Even if I had seen it, NWSL+ won't let me screencapture it! So thanks again!)

[bergerandcarter]

jess 💃

https://www.instagram.com/p/DbbePxWgRXf

Vote for Jess in the comments!

View this post on Instagram

(Also, someone sent me a link to an instagram post hours ago that said "vote for Jess" but the link was dead. Maybe Gotham had uploaded this before but deleted it? Just letting that anon know I was not ignoring them!)

[bergerandcarter]

[bergerandcarter]

UEFA might boycott the Women's World Cup (2027) if FIFA goes ahead with its plan to sell stakes in its competitions to private investors.

from germanfootball_dfb (the official account of the German football association) on insta. July 30, 2026

[bergerandcarter]

Im looking at the "chalk talk" with jess and akb very very interestedly regarding any possible contract discussions 👀

Good point!