Christen Press Drops Honest Confession Over USWNT Future Despite Avoiding Career Ending Injury

782 days—that’s how long Christen Press waited to finally step back onto the pitch. After tearing her ACL in 2022, the Angel City star endured a lengthy spell on the sidelines, making it seem as though her career might be at risk. But boy did she defied the odds, making her return last year, followed by signing a one-year contract extension with the LA-based club this season. But why just one year, ever wondered? Come to think of it, does it have something to do with her latest admission regarding her future?

Well, it all comes from the 36-year-old’s latest partnership with Magna, a Magnesium-powered hydration drink. She, alongside the newly launched brand, announced herself as a Magna athlete with some pictures and a brief interview. “I used to think that anything worthwhile had to be hard. Sacrifice and suffering. What I know now is that joy is the outcome we should be chasing. Everything else comes from that. Excellence through ease. There’s still work and discipline, but when you’re on the right path, things line up for you,” began the 2x World Champion.

However, after spitting such wisdom, the end of the segment saw Press subtly hint about her future. “I’m close to the end of my career as a player, but it’s the most joy I’ve ever had playing,” she said. In fact, to make things more allusive, she started talking about how she approaches the game now.

“Just being outside, on the grass, in the fresh air. Connecting with my teammates, losing focus on thoughts and getting to be in the body, in the flow. There’s so much power in that, and the feeling of power has changed everything for me. I get to take it forward in everything else I do,”  added Christen sharing how her outlook has evolved regarding the game.

No offense, but while it does sound like quite some words of wisdom, the truth of the matter is that we are sensing there is more beneath the surface of these words. It’s almost as if moving forward, Press will be embracing every moment on the pitch, knowing her time in the game may be limited. No wonder there came a moment in her life when she almost lost touch with the game!

Is Christen Press living her final days of soccer?

Having been raised in a family where everyone preached the beautiful game, it was only natural for Press to stand out while making a career in the sport. She managed to flourish her competitive spirit since her collegiate days, becoming the all-time leading scorer for the Stanford Cardinal. Success even followed her on both domestic and international fronts as well.

However, that somehow backfired on her, making it seem as if she had lost the very joy of enjoying the game. “I was so outcome-oriented. How many goals did I score? Am I chasing a record? A title? It really started to weigh me down.” she said in the same interview with Magna. Yet, she kept pushing forward, taking up a full-time job to be successful, before a turning point entered her life.

Recalling the moment she sustained her ACL injury, Press surprisingly found clarity in the situation. What could have been a career-ending setback instead brought an unexpected realization. She saw it as part of her journey, recognizing that “life was precious and glorious”—something she felt she had been missing out on.

In that instant, she experienced a sense of relief, believing that the injury would finally allow her to fully embrace it. And as that period of turmoil ended, Press was finally back, enjoying every second on the pitch. Let’s hope it stays that way for many more years.

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