The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and its players' union have joined Project ACL, a global initiative focused on reducing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in professional women's football. This program, initially launched in England's Women's Super League, addresses the higher incidence of ACL tears in women compared to men.
Project ACL aims to understand the complex factors contributing to these injuries. Researchers highlight a significant gap in evidence for injury reduction strategies at the professional level, noting that women comprise only about 8% of sports science research. The NWSL and NWSLPA will collaborate with partners like Nike and FIFPRO to develop evidence-based practices. This includes examining physical causes, training conditions, scheduling, and recovery environments.
The project tracks player workload, travel, and recovery times to identify links between scheduling and injury risk. The formal launch of the NWSL partnership occurred at Nike's headquarters in New York. "Player health is central to the league's future," stated Sarah Gregorius, NWSL's vice-president of sporting. The initiative seeks to create environments where players are better supported and can perform optimally, especially after over 25 players missed the FIFA Women's World Cup due to ACL injuries. Gotham FC defender Kayla Duran is among the recent NWSL players to suffer a season-ending ACL injury.