Photo courtesy of Bay FC
In a notable Wednesday night of action in the National Women’s Soccer League, two players made their much-anticipated returns from extended absences: Abby Dahlkemper, who came back from maternity leave, and Taryn Torres, returning from an ACL injury.
Despite Bay FC’s narrow 1-0 loss to Gotham FC, Dahlkemper received a warm ovation from her hometown supporters in the 84th minute when she substituted in for defender Joelle Anderson. Recently activated from maternity leave after welcoming her first child in February, this marked Dahlkemper’s first NWSL appearance since June 2025. The two-time NWSL champion and 2019 World Cup winner became the fifth player this season to return from maternity leave, potentially bolstering Bay FC’s bid for on-field success.
Post-match, Dahlkemper expressed heartfelt gratitude, saying, “I feel like just an immense amount of gratitude. When you have a child, your whole life kind of changes, and soccer isn’t everything, but I’m just appreciative to be able to come back and step back out on the field with this amazing group of girls. The club’s been so supportive, helping me along the way, and I’m just taking it day to day.” She emphasized her hope of looking back on her career with pride alongside her son Eli.
Dahlkemper now faces a different landscape within the squad compared to last season but conveyed her excitement about the young talent emerging around her, including 20-year-old Claire Hutton, 19-year-old Kennedy Fuller, 18-year-old Alex Pfeiffer, 22-year-old Heather Gilchrist, and 23-year-old Karlie Lema. She also acknowledged the contributions of seasoned players such as Italian international Cristiana Girelli.
Reflecting on the team’s evolution, Dahlkemper stated: “It’s important to bring in key players for both the present and future. This team has grown tremendously from the beginning of the season until now, and we can go toe-to-toe with the competition. Building on our performances and focusing on solid defensive play is crucial moving forward.”
On the opposing side, Gotham FC welcomed back Taryn Torres. The 27-year-old midfielder made her first appearance since September 7, 2025, as she returned from an ACL injury sustained during a training session. Torres, who joined Gotham in 2022, has featured in 48 matches, including 22 starts, since her arrival. Unfortunately, she missed the entirety of the 2023 season due to a previous ACL injury, alongside last season’s playoffs. Her return provides a significant boost to a Gotham side that has enjoyed recent success, including NWSL Championships in both 2023 and 2025.
