“And I could not be more excited to journey with you for another season! LFG!” These words from Christen Press a month ago were nothing short of music to the ears of ardent fans. Why wouldn’t they be? After all, the USWNT icon essentially announced her return from a two-year injury layoff by signing a one-year deal with Angel City. While this makes the forward one of the most anticipated players this season, why is she still yet to make her return to the pitch?

This comes after the 36-year-old was surprisingly absent from yesterday’s 2025 NWSL season opener against the San Diego Wave. Although Christen was on the bench, giving fans hope that she might make a late-game appearance, the final whistle blew after 90 minutes—with no sign of her on the pitch.

Naturally, this left fans questioning why she wasn’t used by the interim ACFC boss, Sam Laity. Interestingly, the English tactician had her own thought out reasoning. “She was available…The game was getting extremely transitional, so perhaps not a game for Christen now… in terms of her recovery,” said Laity, as compiled by Just Women’s Sports on X.

Technically, the 48-year-old might be justified in not using Press, even though her presence could have helped ACFC avoid sharing the spoils with the Wave. However, Laity felt it was too early for the veteran to take part in such an intense game, especially from the start. After all, Christen hasn’t played regular matches for more than two years.

Therefore, throwing her straight into a game that demanded extra effort and tenacity wasn’t an option for Laity. Instead, gradually easing her back into action is the key to keeping the former Manchester United forward fit. This will also allow her to contribute to the team with a calm mind, at least not by having a sense of pressure. While the USWNT icon couldn’t do it, the young guns of the team were more than enough. Surprisingly, the Wave drew first blood within five minutes, courtesy of Gia Corley.

The domination was so intense from the away side that it kept them upfront in the first 45 minutes. It was finally just 10 minutes after the second half that Angel City got their much-needed equalizer. Alyssa Thomspon netted a solid finish, thanks to a remarkable team display. They were able to break the lines with a quick counter-attacking move. As the game kept going, neither side was able to convert their chances into a goal, resulting in the match ending 1-1.

We reckon Press could have done something spectacular if she had come off the bench. Then again, we respect Laity’s crucial and sensible decision. While we now understand the reason for Press’s absence, there’s surprising news about another star ACFC player.

Christen Press’ teammate takes a temporary break

Securing a hard-fought draw wasn’t only done in the absence of Christen Press. Veteran forward Sydney Leroux was also one of the absentees from the clash. Forget the starting XI, she wasn’t even on the bench. That’s because the 34-year-old recently asserted that she needs a break from soccer. The announcement came via an Instagram post. “This is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to say or admit to myself. But after a lot of reflection, I’ve made the difficult decision to step away from soccer for my mental health,” Leroux said.

“Anyone who knows me knows I’m a fighter — I always have been. I take pride in showing up, in giving everything I have, but right now I owe it to myself and my children to take a step back and take care of me,” she said while acknowledging taking her own accountability. Further thanking her teammates and fans, Leroux concluded, “This isn’t goodbye, I will be back, just like always in true Syd fashion.”

Hysterically, Sydney’s absence saw fans speculating that she might be pregnant. However, the Canadian-born American had to step up and “squash the pregnancy rumors right away.” So it seems the forward truly needs some time away from the pitch. Regardless, Angel City fans will have to keep their fingers crossed for the return of not just one, but two stars—Christen Press and Sydney Leroux. Let’s hope they make their comeback soon.