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Lynn Williams scored her 79th goal across all competitions in the NWSL on Sunday against the Chicago Red Stars, making her the new all-time goal-scoring leader. Her tally surpassed Sam Kerr’s record.
In the 57th minute, Gotham defender Jenna Nighswonger sprinted up the left wing and delivered a looping ball across the face of goal. Her teammate Esther González volleyed the ball back toward an open Williams, who smoothly headed it into the back of the net. It was her ninth career-headed goal, according to Opta, and her first since 2021.
Any time Williams touched the ball on Sunday, fans screamed. The Gotham captain almost scored in stoppage time to close the first half, a momentum shift that carried into the rest of the game.
A moment we won’t forget… Take a bow Lynn Williams!
Goal #79 in all competitions, a new league record. pic.twitter.com/IoJX12tOQe
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) May 19, 2024
Williams equaled Kerr’s record of 78 goals earlier this month, with a score against the Houston Dash in a 1-0 win.
Kerr left the NWSL in 2019 after seven seasons in the league, appearing for the Western New York Flash (2013-2014), Sky Blue FC (2015-2017) and Chicago Red Stars (2018-2019). All-time international goal scoring leader Christine Sinclair rounds out the NWSL top three with 76 goals across all competitions.
.@lynnraenie with the finish to put Gotham up early in Houston.
Watch now on NWSL+ for free >> https://t.co/y6cLvHupJ4 pic.twitter.com/1biF15edOf
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) May 9, 2024
Williams, 30, has long been the top-scoring American in the NWSL despite missing the entirety of the 2022 season due to injury. In May 2023, she surpassed Kerr’s record for all-time goal contributions.
Williams was drafted by the Western New York Flash sixth overall at the 2015 NWSL college draft and won the 2016 NWSL championship (and the 2016 NWSL golden boot and MVP awards). She stayed with the team when they became the North Carolina Courage ahead of the 2017 season and went on to have one of the most dominant runs in the NWSL, winning three consecutive NWSL Shields from 2017 to 2019 and the 2018 and 2019 championships. She was traded to the KC Current ahead of the 2022 season, but appeared only once due to a torn hamstring suffered during that game. She was traded to Gotham FC for the 2023 season, which ended in another NWSL championship run.
(Photo: Vincent Carchietta/USA TODAY Sports)
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Fitnessnacks – #Lynn #Williams #breaks #NWSL #scoring #record #surpassing #Sam #Kerr
Courtesy : https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5505443/2024/05/19/lynn-williams-breaks-nwsl-scoring-record-gotham/