Lately, the NWSL has been all fingers and thumbs. Players have been slipping through the league’s hands more than ever, as surprise exits and roster shake-ups continue to pile up this season. Heavyweight names like Naomi Girma, Jenna Nighswonger, Kerolin, and Crystal Dunn leaving for Europe have already left the league bleeding—and now, NJ/NY Gotham FC has only deepened the wound by terminating the contract of their star player Cece Kizer, leaving the entire American soccer community heartbroken!

The shocking update was shared by the New York metropolitan side on Thursday. Despite having joined the club back in September 2024, the 27-year-old couldn’t commit to the Bats for even a full year. Instead, she is leaving within months of her stay. While it’s unclear why exactly the club and player came to this decision, it has been said that either party has made this call on mutual grounds.

Gotham FC’s general manager and head of soccer operations, Yael Averbuch West expressed his gratitude to Kizer for her dedicated service to the club. “We are thankful for Cece’s contributions and wish her all the best in the next step of her career,” he said in a statement shared on the Goths’ website, wishing her nothing but well for the new opportunity she pursues.

Born and raised in Overland Park, Kansas, Cece’s journey began while playing for the University of Mississippi, Ole Miss Rebels, between 2015 and 2018. It was a year later that she kickstarted her NWSL career with Houston Dash and played a couple of seasons for them before making a foreign move to the Norwegian side.

But just after a year, Cece returned to pick up from where she left and played for a couple of seasons, initially for Racing Louisville, then later for Kansas City Current in the 2022 and 2023 campaigns. It was finally last year that she returned to where it all began and resigned for Houston Dash.

However, just after making not more than three appearances and spending half of the year, Kizer eventually spent the latter half of the season with NJ/NY Gotham FC—a move that didn’t go as she anticipated it to. No wonder both decided to take the unfortunate road as it left the NWSL community heartbroken!

Gotham FC leaves NWSL fans reeling over Cece Kizer’s decision!

As soon as the announcement gained widespread attention, ardent fans couldn’t help but express their disbelief over Gotham FC’s decision.

At least, the American forward leaves the club by opening her account. To recall, her first and only goal came on October 2, back when the Bats had secured a thrashing 13-0 victory against Frazsiers Whip in the Concacaf W Champions Cup. Despite having spent such little time with Gotham, she did manage to notch eight NWSL regular season appearances yet totaling an action of not more than 99 minutes.

Yet, this fan believes Cece didn’t get the opportunity she deserved: “I don’t know why but when she came to Gotham I just felt l like I needed to show her support. I’m bummed she isn’t gonna get a chance to grow here.” If you thought things had to change for the ongoing 2025 season, boy, was it a mistake to think that?

Unfortunately, everything remained the same for Kizer, having made zero starts in all four matches so far. The only appearances she was able to get was by coming off as a substitute, that too, only in final moments of the game. This season, her total playing time is not more than 30-40 minutes: “Not my girl Cece!! I wish her the best, she hasn’t found her sticking point quite yet. 😔”

Well, lack of opportunities or not being on the same page is one factor. But the truth is, Kizer’s majority of the domestic career hasn’t been as blooming as one would consider it to be, despite the fact she has played for some remarkable clubs. Not to mention that she hasn’t even received an international call up once. Poor Cece, this netizen reckons: “Her journey in the league in the past few years is heartbreaking in my opinion. She was so good for KC a few years ago. I hope she lands in a place where she feels good and supported, whether that’s in this league or elsewhere.”

Part of the reason why Kizer faced difficulties in getting chances is because of the competition she faced to make the starting XI. Names like Esther González, Geyse, Sarah Schupansky, Ella Stevens, Mak Whitham, Gabi Portilho, Jessica Silva, Midge Purce, and Khyah Harper is enough to make one understand why Gotham took the unusual call. Yet, this fan has raised fingers at someone else: “Honestly I feel like we can lay this directly at Cami Ashton’s feet and it is NOT ok to treat players like this.”

Leaving Gotham is one thing, but walking away from the National Women’s Soccer League altogether feels downright diabolical — especially for the league. Teams have already been shedding players like leaves in autumn, and if Cece ends up shaking hands with any foreign club, say in Europe, it could spell even more trouble, as one netizen pointed out: “I wonder if this is another couldn’t come up with a trade so freed to go to another NWSL team or she’s headed out of the league? The latter would make me sad.”

Well, this is just a glimpse of what you saw, as many more came to Cece Kizer’s support. But unfortunately, it’s too late as she has already left the club. What remains to be seen is whether she stays in NWSL or not!