Christen Press will retire at the end of this season, the two-time World Cup winner announced on Wednesday morning.
“It’s hard to find the words to say goodbye to a sport that has defined my life for over three decades,” said Press. “Football has given me everything, and I will miss being on the pitch so very much. Thank you to my family, friends, teammates, coaches, and community for this beautiful ride. I promise we will continue to reimagine sports in this next life!!”
The forward has had a prolific
career with the USWNT, with 155 international caps and 64 goals, making her one of the top scorers in the team’s history. She won the Women’s World Cup with the team in 20015 and 2019, and was part of the Bronze medal winning Olympic team in 2022. She is known for her excellent finishing ability, creative attacking, and technical skill on the field.
Press won the MAC Hermann Trophy while playing at Stanford, the most prestigious college soccer award.
She then played for Tyresö FF in in Sweden’s Damallsvenskan, then joined the Chicago Red Stars, Utah Royals FC, and Angel City FC in the NWSL.
Press was ACFC’s marquee player and first signing when they joined the league as an expansion team in 2022. She has 44 appearances and six goals for the club throughout all competitions.
ACFC CEO and Co-Founder Julie Uhrman said, “Christen retires as one of the most decorated and respected forwards in U.S. soccer history, a pioneer whose legacy is woven into the very fabric of our club. As Angel City’s first signing, Christen’s contributions to the club have been unparalleled.”
“From her extraordinary skill and relentless competitiveness on the pitch to her unwavering commitment to making the game and our community more equitable, inclusive, and impactful,” said Uhrman. “On behalf of everyone at Angel City, we thank Christen for everything she has given to the sport, our club, and future generations of athletes and fans.”
Press announced her retirement on Good Morning America on Wednesday morning.
“I’m retiring from professional soccer, and I’ve decided that this is my last season and my last few games,” she said on the show. “I feel a mix of everything. There’s yes, there’s relief, there’s joy, there’s excitement, there’s fear, there’s so much grief. I have so much grief, a part of me, a piece of me, I’m losing her.”
This season, Press came back from a difficult recovery from a knee injury she sustained three years ago.
“I thought I would wait until I didn’t want to play anymore,” she said. “But I realized that time’s never going to come and I can play, and my body can keep going. And I think it was really important for me to make this decision for myself before that became a different reality.”
Ultimately, Press expressed gratitude for her life as she leaves life as a professional athlete behind.
“I get to leave this game with a family, a dog, a wife, a house in the city that I grew up in that I love, and that feels like a really soft landing,” she said.
Off the field, Press is an outspoken advocate and runs the media company Re-Inc with her partner and former USWNT teammate, Tobin Heath. Press and Heath also co-host The RE-CAP Show podcast together.
Press will play her final Angel City FC home game this Sunday, October 19. Her final regular season game will be an away match on November 1 against the Chicago Stars.
