Christen Press is starting a comeback.
After a difficult injury recovery, the Angel City FC striker returns to training, the team announced in a press release on Monday. Press, a two-time World Cup winner with the U.S. women’s national team, has not played since suffering a season-ending ACL injury in June 2022.
Now, after two years – almost to the day – and significant rehabilitation, Press will join Angel City for training on Tuesday.
The recovery of the press has suffered many setbacks; in July 2023, Press revealed that she needed a fourth surgery to repair her ACL. However, she is now ready for a slow return to the field.
Press will start slowly this week, but told The Athletic on Monday that she will participate in group warm-ups and passing drills while being reinstated to the team.
“It will still be the first time I do a legitimate passing pattern with some bodies on the pitch and checking the angles because it has only been two years of one-on-one training,” Press told The Athletic.
Press initially said she wanted to keep her return low-key, but later changed course.
“I went back and changed my mind because I thought, ‘Hurry up, who knows how many more milestones I have to celebrate? Who knows what will happen after this first-team training?'” the presser said. “So if this is something we can all celebrate, let’s just go for it, because this journey has taken a very, very long time.”
Press joined Angel City in 2022, becoming the first player to sign with the expansion team on a three-season contract reportedly worth $700,000, making her one of the highest-paid NWSL players at the time. However, she only made eight appearances with the team before her injury.
The 35-year-old forward has been a consistent and strong attacking presence throughout her career, including with the USWNT. Press has 155 international appearances and 64 goals with the US, but has not played for the USWNT since 2021 due to a combination of her injury and coaching decisions under former USWNT coach Vlatko Andonovski.
In addition to her return to practice, Press also announced the return of “The RE-CAP Show,” her football analysis and interview podcast with Tobin Heath. Heath and Press, former USWNT teammates, have been dating for several years. In the show, the two veterans weigh in and analyze the NWSL and international soccer.
