The season has become an unfortunate ending point for Davidson after she tore her ACL during Gotham FC’s match against Houston Dash on Friday.
During a match against the Houston Dash the 26-year-old Gotham FC captain suffered an ACL tear in her left knee when she attempted to block an opponent thus she had to leave the game crying before halftime ended.
The U.S. women’s national team faces an unfortunate challenge as Davidson’s season-ending injury comes before their important match against Brazil this Saturday.
Fans view this upcoming match as a much-awaited rematch because Brazil suffered defeat to the U.S. in the Olympic final during last year.
Gotham FC announced on Wednesday that Davidson needed to be added to their season-ending injury list which brought great sadness to the team.
Yael Averbuch West from Gotham declared that their organization will provide maximum support for Davidson throughout her recovery journey. The team expects her complete recovery while she becomes stronger than before her injury.
Davidson experienced her second tear of the ACL in her knee. The right knee ACL tear in 2022 kept Davidson out of competition for an extended time which barred her from participating with the U.S. team at the 2023 World Cup.
At age 26 the player confronts a critical professional obstacle in her football career.
Through a humorous social media announcement Davidson displayed determination as she inserted “Matching scars” followed by “my left ACL” to describe her new injury.
She viewed life hurdles positively by expressing that unpredictability defines its beauty. My current position as a victim of unpredictable events will become another memorable experience in my life journey.
The United States team selected 19-year-old Gisele Thompson from Angel City to substitute for Davidson in the upcoming match.
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The senior national team member Thompson received acclaim following her play at the SheBelieves Cup and brings three appearances to her third selection. She will become the latest member of the squad to play alongside her sister Alyssa.
The incident reveals the elevated chance of ACL tears which female soccer athletes face during competition.
Medical research at Yale Medicine demonstrates women sustain ACL tears two to eight times more often than men because their pelvis is wider and their knees have less muscle tissue. The natural changes in hormones throughout the month also elevate the likelihood of such injuries.
Some experts suggest changing soccer cleats to match female athletic body types while demanding specific attention toward women athletes’ requirements.
The U.K. Parliament’s Women and Equalities Committee found that current sports research suffers from persistent gender inequality which affects how women are treated for ACL tears.
Through her struggle to comeback after Davidson’s ACL tear showcased the obstacles female athletes encounter in their pursuit of equality in sports.
