NWSL
From Delaware to Gotham FC, Kate Weigand chasing bigger soccer dream
For most 15-year-olds, the end of the school day means heading home, catching up with friends, or preparing for the next day’s classes. For Delaware soccer standout Kate Weigand, it often means the beginning of a five-hour round-trip journey to pursue a dream that could one day see her wearing the crest of the United States Women’s National Team.
The Wilmington Friends School sophomore has rapidly emerged as one of the region’s promising young soccer talents, progressing from Delaware’s Concord Soccer Association to Penn Fusion and now earning a roster spot with Gotham FC’s U-16 team.
It’s an impressive trajectory for a player whose combination of speed, technical ability, relentless work ethic, and goal-scoring instincts has helped her stand out at nearly every level.
But the road to elite soccer rarely comes without sacrifices.
A Phone Call That Changed Everything
When Weigand first learned of the opportunity to join Gotham FC’s U-16 program, she wasn’t on a soccer field or sitting in a coach’s office. She was enjoying time at the beach with a friend.
Her mother called with the news.
“There was like a lot of emotions going through me,” Weigand recalled. “Overall, I was very excited for the opportunity.”
Excitement wasn’t the only emotion.
“I was a little bit nervous, but I was also thinking about a lot of the sacrifices I would have to make.”
Those sacrifices became real almost immediately.
Training with Gotham requires a roughly two-and-a-half-hour drive each way, a commitment that consumes approximately five hours of travel on training days. It also means leaving school early and finding creative ways to stay on top of academics.
“I do most of it in the car because I don’t have that much time when I get home,” Weigand explained, adding that supportive teachers and study halls have helped her manage the demanding schedule.
The opportunity also meant stepping away from another sport she had planned to play at Wilmington Friends School: volleyball.
For Weigand, the decision reflects an increasingly focused commitment to soccer and the possibilities ahead.
Finding Her Place at Gotham
Weigand’s path to Gotham included participation in the club’s Centers of Excellence, where she had opportunities to work with Gotham staff and demonstrate the skills that have made her such a dangerous attacking player.
She believes her ability to score, distribute the ball, and dribble forward helped earn her a place on Gotham’s U-16 roster.
But Weigand is quick to acknowledge that her development has been shaped by more than individual talent. She credits the coaches at Penn Fusion with helping her build the technical skills, physical abilities, and mental toughness necessary to compete at an increasingly demanding level.
“Penn Fusion coaches have a huge impact on me and they have done a lot for me as an individual which helps me grow a lot, not only technically and physically, but mentally as well,” Weigand said.
Now, as a rostered member of Gotham FC’s U-16 team, Weigand is experiencing another step up in competition and expectations.
“The high level environment at Gotham is one of a kind,” she said. “The staff, players, and everyone involved have all helped me in developing a new standard and level.”
That progression has also challenged Weigand to expand her versatility on the field.
Although she has frequently played in midfield throughout her development, Gotham has utilized her in more advanced attacking positions, including center forward and on the wings.
It’s a transition she has embraced, particularly when playing as a No. 7 or No. 11, the traditional wide attacking roles.
“I enjoy the 7 and 11 because those positions allow me to be creative and contribute to the attack and create scoring opportunities in the final third.”
Her attacking instincts were on full display in a recent match against a Canadian U-16 opponent, when Weigand recorded two goals and an assist while playing as a No. 9.
“I was fortunate to score two goals and contribute an assist in an overall great team win”, she said.
The performance was another encouraging sign for a player learning to translate her skills into success against increasingly challenging competition.
A Championship That Means More Than Goals
While Weigand’s future may be taking shape in the professional academy environment, one of her favorite soccer memories remains much closer to home.
As a freshman at Wilmington Friends School, Weigand played a key role in helping the Quakers capture the school’s first girls’ soccer state championship.
The championship carried special meaning because she shared the experience with her sister, Ryan Weigand, along with teammates and friends.
“I think mine would probably be winning the first state championship for my school, especially because I got to do it with my sister,” Weigand said. “It was fun and I really enjoy school soccer and I got to do it with a lot of my friends.”
The title was made even sweeter by the team’s journey.
After suffering a lopsided loss to St. Mark’s early in the season, Wilmington Friends returned to face the same opponent in the state championship game and delivered a convincing 4-1 victory.
“The first game was a big motivation,” Weigand recalled. “I think the other team, St. Mark’s, came in overconfident. I feel like we were just ready.”
For a young player accumulating individual accomplishments, that championship remains a reminder of what makes soccer special: the relationships, shared adversity, and collective triumphs.
Eyes on the Red, White and Blue
Despite everything she has already accomplished, Weigand is far from satisfied.
Her next ambition is clear: earning an invitation to the United States U-16 Women’s Youth National Team.
“Right now I’m working towards getting called up for the U-16 youth national team,” she said. ” I feel like Gotham and Penn fusion have helped me develop into a player able to compete at the highest level..”
One of the players she looks to for inspiration is Gotham FC and USWNT midfielder Rose Lavelle.
“I think Rose Lavelle, especially now that I watch her more because she’s on Gotham and the U.S. team,” Weigand said. “I feel like when I played in the midfield, we had a very similar style of play.”
It’s a fitting player to aspire to for a young athlete who combines technical creativity with a willingness to attack defenders and create chances.
For now, however, Weigand remains focused on improving, making the most of her opportunities, and continuing the work required to compete at increasingly demanding levels.
Her advice to younger players reflects that mindset.
“Trust the process and take your opportunities when you get them and get better in every environment you are given a chance in.”
For Weigand, that process currently involves long drives, late nights of homework, demanding training sessions, and the occasional reminder of what she’s giving up along the way.
But it also offers something far more exciting: the chance to discover just how far her talent can take her.
From the fields of Delaware to the training grounds of Gotham FC, Kate Weigand’s soccer journey is gathering momentum.
And while a future appearance in a United States jersey remains an aspiration rather than a certainty, this 15-year-old Delaware standout is putting in the miles, both literally and figuratively, to give herself that opportunity.
