Sam Kerr suffers ACL injury at Chelsea training camp

Research indicates female athletes are two to eight times as likely as male athletes to tear one of the bands of tissue that connect the femur and tibia at the knee. Since 2021, at least 87 players from eight of the world’s top women’s soccer leagues have torn their ACLs, The Washington Post reported last summer. That list includes some of the sport’s biggest stars — U.S. national team attacker Catarina Macario, Dutch star Vivianne Miedema and the English duo of Beth Mead and Leah Williamson.

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“Sam will be assessed by a specialist in the coming days and then begin her rehabilitation with the club’s medical team,” Chelsea said in its statement. “We’re all behind you as you start your road to recovery,” Australia’s national team added.

Australia’s football association offered no further details on Kerr’s injury, her treatment or a timetable for her return but said she is expected to miss the rest of the 2023-24 Women’s Super League season.

“Considering how hard Sam has worked over the past six months to return to play [from a calf injury during training at the World Cup], this news is a devastating blow for everyone,” Australian national team Coach Tony Gustavsson, said in a statement.

“With her ability to lead by example, Sam’s guidance and influence on the team is significant and, as a result, this will be an incredible loss for the national team. Our focus now is on ensuring she has all the support she wants and needs to navigate recovery and rehab.”

Kerr has scored 99 goals in 128 matches since she joined Chelsea in 2019, and the club has won four Women’s Super League titles, three FA Cups, two Women’s League Cups and the Women’s Community Shield. She has won two WSL Golden Boots in addition to two more in Australia/New Zealand’s W League and three as member of the NWSL’s Sky Blue FC and Chicago Red Stars. She was runner-up to Spain’s Aitana Bonmati at the Ballon d’Or awards last year.

Chelsea is atop the WSL standings with 25 points (three ahead of Arsenal and Manchester City) through the first 10 matches of the 2023-24 season.