Christen Press is beginning her comeback.
After an arduous recovery from injury, the Angel City FC forward will return to training, the team announced in a press release on Monday. Press, a two-time World Cup winner with the United States women’s national team, has not played since she suffered a end of season ACL injury in June 2022.
Now, after two years (almost to this day) and significant rehab, Press will join Angel City for practice on Tuesday.
The recovery of the press has had many setbacks; In July 2023, Press revealed that he needed a fourth surgery to repair his ACL. However, she is now ready to begin a slow return to the court.
The press will start slow this week, but he told The Athletic Monday who will participate in group warm-ups and passing drills as he rejoins the team.
“It will be the first time I do a legitimate passing pattern with a lot of bodies on the field and checking angles, because it has been an individual training for two years,” Press told The Athletic.
Initially, Press said he wanted to keep his return low-key, but then changed course.
“I backtracked, I changed my mind, because I thought, ‘Wow, who knows how many milestones I have left to celebrate? Who knows what’s going to happen after this first-team training session?'” Press said. “So if this is something we can all celebrate, let’s do it, because this journey has been very, very long.”
Press joined Angel City in 2022, becoming the first player to sign with the expansion team for a three-year contract reportedly worth $700,000, making her one of the highest-paid NWSL players at the time. However, she only made eight appearances for the team before getting injured.
The 35-year-old forward has been a strong and consistent offensive presence throughout her career, including with the USWNT. Press has amassed 155 international appearances and 64 goals for the US, but has not played for the USWNT since 2021, due to a combination of her injury and her coaching decisions under former USWNT coach Vlatko Andonovski.
In addition to his return to practice, Press also announced the return from “The RE—CAP Show,” his football interview and analysis podcast with Tobin Heath. Heath and Press, former USWNT teammates, have been dating for several years. In the program, the two veterans give their opinion and analyze the NWSL and international football.