Angel City FC forward Christen Press available for Summer Cup game against San Diego

For the first time since 2022, Christen Press will be available for an Angel City FC game.

Press, who suffered an ACL injury during the club’s first season in 2022, has been sidelined since due to four surgeries and rehab and has spent all of that time on the NWSL’s season-ending injury list.

Wednesday, ahead of Angel City’s final Group B game of the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup, the team announced that Press had been officially added to the active roster.

Press will be eligible for Thursday’s 7 p.m. game against San Diego Wave FC at Cal State Fullerton’s Titan Stadium.

“You have to accept that things won’t go the way you think they will, but maybe they’ll go even better,” Press said in a team-issued release. “That’s the hope that I’m taking into the next phase of my recovery journey.

“I’m very proud of all the hard work that has taken me to this moment, and grateful to the army of people around me that have helped me arrive. Thank you to the women’s soccer family that has supported me all the way. … I can’t wait to play for all of you again.”

In June, Press made her return to team training and has increased her work output. At the season-opening home game, Press told fans that she dreamed of the moment she could run out on the field for a game.

Press, who starred at Chadwick High on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, was Angel City’s first signing. She played in eight games and scored two goals in the inaugural season before suffering the injury in a game on the road against Racing Louisville FC.

“This is a story of perseverance, patience, and Christen’s unwavering belief that she was going to get back on the pitch,” said Sarah Smith, Angel City’s VP of Medical and Performance. “The odds were truly stacked against her at times and this is the start of the next step in this journey. The collaborative effort between Christen, our medical and performance staff, her doctors, and other rehab experts has been instrumental in reaching this point.”

Early in the day Wednesday, Press’ PR team released a statement saying that she would be off of the injury list and active. However, later in the day, the club said that nothing had been confirmed.

Angel City won its first two games (2-1 over Club America and 2-0 over Bay FC) in the Summer Cup and could clinch the group’s top spot with at least a draw. A win would give Angel City nine points and a spot in the semifinals of the 20-team tournament next week.

San Diego enters the final group game with three points (1-1), tied with Club America. America concludes group play on Friday against Bay FC.

The tournament features 14 teams from NWSL and six from Liga MX. At the end of group play on Friday, four of the five group winners, based on points, will advance to the semifinals on Tuesday at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City. The final is scheduled for Oct. 25 at Toyota Field in San Antonio.

Kansas City Current is the only other team with six points heading into the final round. NJ/NY Gotham FC has five (Group D) and in Group E, the North Carolina Courage and Racing Louisville FC are tied on four.

An Angel City loss to San Diego, combined with a win by America on Friday against Bay FC, would leave Group B with three teams tied at six.

SAN DIEGO WAVE FC at ANGEL CITY FC

When: Thursday, 7 p.m.

Where: Cal State Fullerton’s Titan Stadium

TV: CBS Sports Network