NWSL Teams Up With WSL to Combat ACL Injury Crisis in Women's Football

NWSL Teams Up With WSL to Combat ACL Injury Crisis in Women's Football

Female footballers face a staggering reality: they're two to six times more susceptible to ACL tears compared to their male counterparts. This alarming statistic should have sparked comprehensive research initiatives long ago. Now, the NWSL is partnering with the WSL, Fifpro, and a coalition of researchers in a three-year program called Project ACL x NWSL, aimed at developing crucial evidence-based solutions.

This expansion builds on the original project that kicked off in 2024, which united the WSL, Fifpro, England's Professional Footballers' Association, Nike, and Leeds Beckett University. By incorporating all 16 NWSL clubs, the initiative significantly broadens its scope and becomes what Fifpro calls the first cross-league professional initiative of its type.

The Urgent Need for Action

The severity of this issue has been impossible to ignore for years. Stars like Leah Williamson, Beth Mead, Vivianne Miedema, and Catarina Macario all sat out the 2023 World Cup due to ACL tears. Sam Kerr and Lena Oberdorf couldn't compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics for the same reason — and among the 20 American gold medalists at those Games, seven had battled this injury during their careers. Oberdorf suffered another tear in October 2025, merely eight matches after returning to play. Kerr's rehabilitation stretched nearly 20 months.

While the injury no longer automatically ends careers, that's hardly a benchmark worth celebrating.

Emerging research reveals that biology isn't the sole culprit behind this gender disparity. Certainly, anatomical differences — including wider pelvic structures, narrower knee anatomy, muscle strength imbalances between quadriceps and hamstrings, and landing mechanics — contribute to heightened risk. Some studies suggest hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle may play a role, though this research remains in early stages. However, environmental factors are equally significant: playing surface quality, strength training facilities, footwear designed primarily for men's feet, fixture congestion, and artificial turf. Crucially, these are elements that leagues and clubs have the power to modify.

Inside Project ACL's Research Approach

Since launching in 2024, researchers have conducted interviews with over 30 players and surveyed all 12 WSL clubs regarding their resources and injury prevention measures. This identical process will now extend across the NWSL's 16 teams. Players will gain access to Fifpro's monitoring platform, allowing them to record workload, travel schedules, and recovery information — creating the type of detailed, professional-grade data collection that's currently scarce.

Fewer than 10% of sports science studies concentrate on female athletes. The limited research that does exist predominantly examines amateur competitors rather than elite professionals. This knowledge gap is exactly why this project carries such significance — if it generates standardized injury-prevention protocols that leagues and clubs must adopt, similar to existing concussion guidelines, it could fundamentally transform the structural operations of women's football.

  • Project ACL x NWSL encompasses 16 NWSL clubs plus all 12 WSL clubs
  • Approximately 70% of women's ACL injuries happen without physical contact
  • Players will monitor workload and recovery through Fifpro's tracking platform
  • Results may establish mandatory prevention protocols at club and league levels

"That understanding requires looking beyond the individual and examining the conditions players compete and train in every day," stated Tori Huster, deputy executive director of the NWSL Players' Association. Sarah Gregorius, the NWSL's VP of sporting, was equally emphatic: "Player health and performance are fundamental to the future of our league, and this is an area where we intend to lead."

The research team has three years to deliver actionable recommendations. Considering the devastating injury toll women's football has endured over the past three seasons, that timeline cannot pass quickly enough.