Longtime U.S. women's national soccer team striker and two-time world champion Christen Press played her first game in more than two years on Thursday, coming on as a substitute in Angel City's match against San Diego Wave FC.
Press entered the game in the 88th minute of Angel City's penalty kick win over the Wave in the NWSL x LIGA MX Femenil Summer Cup match and was greeted with a standing ovation by the BMO Stadium crowd. Press converted a penalty kick in the shootout.
“It was definitely a nostalgic feeling. When you get to play a football game, it's a miracle,” Press told CBS Sports Network after the game. “I was so excited, I was very nervous. I felt the love and support of this incredible football community that was here tonight.”
Couldn't have written it better.
Christen Press scores a penalty in her first game back! pic.twitter.com/KeIKo9QAbQ
— National Women's Soccer League (@NWSL), August 2, 2024
She last played on June 11, 2022, when she tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her right leg during a National Women's Soccer League match. Since then, she has undergone four knee surgeries and missed all of 2023, including the World Cup.
The 35-year-old, a Southern California native, was Angel City's first signing as the team assembled its roster for the 2022 NWSL expansion season. She has scored 50 goals in 101 NWSL games across all competitions.
Press won the 2015 and 2019 World Championships with the USWNT, as well as the 2021 Olympic bronze medal. She scored the first goal in the USWNT's 2019 World Cup semifinal victory over England.
Information from ESPN's Jeff Kassouf was added to this report.
