ACL injuries are one of the most devastating injuries a footballer can endure, stopping them from playing for 9 months minimum.
ACL injuries have always been present in the women’s game and it is becoming an increasingly bigger issue as the games go on.
Nearly every single team in the WSL last season lost a player due to these injuries last season.
Chelsea Women are the latest club to be suffering from the dreaded ACL injury, missing 5 players from their squad.
They have lost Aniek Nouwen, Sam Kerr, Mia Fishel, Sophie Ingle and Jorja Fox all due to these injuries and are having to start their season without some of their star players.
We have seen this situation before with another club, Arsenal suffered this fate in the 22/23 season and are only starting to bounce back.
Arsenal lost – Beth Mead, Vivianne Miedema, Leah Williamson, Kaylan Marckese, Laura Weinroither and Teyah Goldie.
Williamson captains the Lionesses and had to miss out on leading her country out at a World Cup because of an ACL injury – the Lionesses also played without star winger Beth Mead in the tournament.
The new WSL season started three weeks ago and since then there has been an ACL on every match week which is ending a player’s season before it has even started.
Midfielder Aurora Galli for Everton tore her ACL in Everton’s opening WSL match against Brighton and Hove Albion.
Everton then lost another player the following week, Inma Gabarro sustained an ACL injury against Manchester United.
Sofie Lundgaard became the latest victim to these ACL injuries as she had to be substituted in the first half in the win against Tottenham Hotspur at Brisbane Road.
As much as everyone wants these ACL injuries to stop, it is virtually impossible when there are still incredibly busy schedules, not enough support and most importantly not enough research.
