NWSL Teams Up with WSL to Tackle Women's ACL Injury Crisis

NWSL Teams Up with WSL to Tackle Women's ACL Injury Crisis

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 and stakeholders in Project ACL x NWSL — a three-year research program aimed at finally establishing a solid evidence foundation.

This collaboration builds upon the original project that kicked off in 2024, which united the WSL, Fifpro, England's Professional Footballers' Association, Nike, and Leeds Beckett University. With the participation of all 16 NWSL clubs, the project's scope has grown substantially, making it what Fifpro calls the first cross-league professional initiative of its kind.

The urgency of the situation

The magnitude of this issue has been glaringly obvious for years. England stars Leah Williamson, Beth Mead, and Vivianne Miedema, along with American forward Catarina Macario, all sat out the 2023 World Cup due to ACL injuries. Sam Kerr and Lena Oberdorf were sidelined for the 2024 Paris Olympics — and among the 20 American gold medallists at those Games, seven had previously dealt with ACL tears. Oberdorf suffered another tear in October 2025, just eight matches after returning to action. Kerr's rehabilitation stretched nearly 20 months.

While ACL injuries are no longer career-killers, that's hardly something to celebrate.

Emerging research indicates that biology isn't the sole culprit behind this disparity. Certainly, anatomical differences — including wider hip angles, narrower knee structures, quad-hamstring strength imbalances, and flat-footed landing mechanics — contribute to heightened risk. Some research suggests menstrual cycle fluctuations may play a role, though this area requires further investigation. However, environmental factors are equally significant: playing surface conditions, strength training facilities access, boot designs developed for men's feet, fixture congestion, and artificial turf. These are variables that leagues and clubs can actually address.

The project's methodology

Following its 2024 launch, the initiative has conducted interviews with over 30 players and distributed surveys across all 12 WSL clubs regarding available resources and injury prevention measures. This same comprehensive process will now roll out across the NWSL's 16 teams. Players will also have access to Fifpro's monitoring platform to log workload, travel schedules, and recovery metrics — creating the detailed, elite-level data collection that's currently almost non-existent.

Fewer than 10% of sports science studies concentrate on female athletes. The majority of existing research focuses on amateur competitors rather than elite professionals. This research void is exactly why this project holds such promise — if it generates standardized injury-prevention protocols that leagues and clubs must implement, similar to current concussion guidelines, it could fundamentally transform how women's football operates.

  • Project ACL x NWSL encompasses 16 NWSL teams plus all 12 WSL clubs
  • Approximately 70% of women's ACL injuries happen without contact
  • Players will monitor workload and recovery through Fifpro's digital system
  • Results may establish mandatory prevention protocols at club and league levels
  • Less than 10% of sports science research examines female athletes

"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, emphasized the league's commitment: "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 concrete, implementable solutions. Considering the devastating injury toll women's football has endured over the last three seasons, that deadline cannot arrive soon enough.