USWNT’s Andi Sullivan ‘crushed’ over Christen Press’ injury

AUCKLAND, New Zealand — United States women’s national team midfielder Andi Sullivan said she is “crushed” for injured teammate Christen Press, who is facing a fourth surgery as she attempts to come back from a torn ACL.

Press, 34, was a key player on the 2019 U.S. team that won its second consecutive World Cup, including a critical goal in the 2-1 semifinal win over England.

But she tore her right ACL in June of 2022 while playing for Angel City FC, and subsequently struggled to get back on the field, having multiple surgeries since.

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Press posted the news of her latest setback on Instagram, stating that her surgeon and physical therapist told her back in February to let go of the dream of making the World Cup roster, and yet she said, “Until the roster was announced, there wasn’t a day that passed over the last year that I didn’t believe I could be there.”

She later added, “My days are mostly good. I’m working toward my goal. And despite the fact that, on paper, this is an athlete’s recovery-nightmare, I feel in my heart that to climb the mountain – yes, even one more time – is the dream.”