Why is Christen Press Not on USWNT Roster? Is Christen Press Playing in The World Cup? Where is Christen Press Now?
by Ayisha | Updated Jul 27, 2023
Why is Christen Press Not on USWNT Roster?
Christen Press is not on the U.S. women's national team (USWNT) roster for the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand due to a serious knee injury. Last June, while playing for Angel City FC, she tore her ACL, which required her to undergo multiple surgeries on her knee in the following months.
Despite her determination to recover and make it back in time for the World Cup, she suffered another setback and had to undergo a fourth knee surgery in July. As a result of this prolonged and challenging recovery process, Press had to give up on her dream of representing her country at the World Cup.
Additionally, even before her injury, she had faced difficulties making the cut for the 2022 Concacaf W Championship roster, which might have influenced her chances for the World Cup selection had she been fit.
As a forward with an impressive record of 115 total caps and a history of contributing significantly to the USWNT, her absence from the roster is a notable loss. Despite facing a tough timeline and battling through various setbacks, Press remained unwavering in her dedication and motivation to return to professional soccer. Although she won't be part of the 2023 World Cup, she expressed her desire to make a comeback and continue her career in the sport once she completes her recovery.
Is Christen Press Playing in The World Cup?
No, Christen Press is not playing in the World Cup. Despite her initial hope of recovering in time to participate in the Women's World Cup in New Zealand, she has been forced to withdraw from the tournament due to a knee injury.
After tearing her right ACL in June 2022, she underwent multiple surgeries on her knee in an attempt to make a comeback. However, her recovery proved to be challenging, and she announced on Instagram that she will be undergoing a fourth knee surgery to address the injury that has kept her out of the competition.
Press's dream of representing her country in the World Cup was unfortunately dashed, and she has accepted that she won't be part of the tournament this month. Her focus now remains on working towards her goal of returning to professional soccer, but she won't be able to take part in the World Cup as she had hoped.
Who is Christen Press?
Christen Annemarie Press is an American soccer player born on December 29, 1988, who currently represents Angel City FC in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and is a part of the United States national team.
Her debut for the US national team came in an international friendly against Scotland on February 9, 2013. With 155 appearances for her country, she ranks ninth all-time with 64 goals to her name.
During her impressive career, Press received the Hermann Trophy in 2010 and holds the all-time records for scoring and assists at Stanford Cardinal. Following her successful college stint, she was chosen as the fourth overall pick by the Washington Freedom in the 2011 WPS Draft, where she earned the title of WPS Rookie of the Year.
Her skills extended to the Swedish Damallsvenskan, where she secured the top scorer position in 2013 with 23 goals for Tyresö FF, becoming the first American to win the prestigious Golden Boot award in the league's history.
Throughout her career, Press has played for various clubs, including the Chicago Red Stars and Utah Royals in the NWSL, Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC and Tyresö FF in the Swedish Damallsvenskan, magicJack in Women's Professional Soccer (WPS), Manchester United in the English FA Women's Super League.
Her contributions have been crucial to the United States' triumphs at the 2015 and 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup. Additionally, in 2019, she co-founded a gender-neutral lifestyle brand named re-inc, alongside fellow athletes Megan Rapinoe, Tobin Heath, and Meghan Klingenberg.
Where is Christen Press Now?
Christen Press is currently in the recovery process from a serious knee injury that she suffered during the summer of 2022. The injury has been complex, requiring multiple surgeries, including a fourth ACL surgery in just 13 months, which has significantly delayed her return to action.
While she provided a positive update in May, expressing that she was in the final stages of recovery, her progress has been challenging and unpredictable, leading to uncertainty about when she will be able to make a comeback to the soccer field.
Due to her injury, Press has been unable to participate in competitive games for both her club, Angel City FC, in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), and the U.S. women's national team.
Her absence has been felt in key matches, including the 2023 SheBelieves Cup and the NWSL playoffs, where her team missed out on a postseason spot. While her recovery journey continues, her exact whereabouts and activities may not be extensively publicized as her focus remains on rehabilitation and returning to top form as a professional soccer player.
Why is Christen Press Not on USWNT Roster? - FAQs
Christen Press is not playing in the 2023 World Cup due to a serious knee injury she suffered in June 2022. Despite her efforts to recover in time for the tournament, the injury and subsequent setbacks forced her to give up on her World Cup aspirations.
Christen Press has made 155 appearances for the U.S. women's national team.
Christen Press holds the all-time scoring and assists records at Stanford Cardinal, where she received the Hermann Trophy in 2010.
Yes, Christen Press has won two Women's World Cup titles with the United States, in 2015 and 2019.