July 17 (UPI) — Christen Press, a prominent member of the United States Women’s National Team, has announced on Instagram that she will not be able to take part in the 2023 World Cup due to her ongoing recovery from a knee injury. Press, who suffered a torn ACL more than a year ago during a match with Angel City FC, needs to undergo a fourth surgery as part of her rehabilitation process. Her initial surgery took place a few days after the injury, and she has been sidelined for the beginning of the 2023 NWSL season.
Despite signs of progress, including a video of herself taking shots, Press acknowledges that she is far from being fully recovered. She refrains from considering her current situation a setback, expressing that each surgery has revealed a new, greater challenge on her road to recovery.
In February, Press received the disappointing news that she would not be able to participate in the upcoming World Cup. However, she maintains a positive outlook, acknowledging that she has dedicated her full effort to her recovery and trusting that she is exactly where she needs to be.
While the recovery process has been arduous and at times incomprehensible, Press remains determined to overcome the obstacles and pursue her dream of returning to the top of her game. At 34 years old and with 155 appearances for the U.S. women’s team, including previous World Cups, Press’s absence from the 2023 tournament in Australia and New Zealand is a significant loss for the team.
