782 days—that’s how long Christen Press waited to finally step back onto the pitch. After tearing her ACL in 2022, the Angel City star endured a lengthy spell on the sidelines, making it seem as though her career might be at risk. But boy did she defy the odds, making her return last year and signing a one-year contract extension with the LA-based club this season. But why just one year, ever wondered? Come to think of it, does it have something to do with her latest admission regarding her future?

Well, it all comes from the 36-year-old’s latest partnership with Magna, a Magnesium-powered hydration drink. She, alongside the newly launched brand, announced herself as a Magna athlete with some pictures and a brief interview. “I used to think that anything worthwhile had to be hard. Sacrifice and suffering. What I know now is that joy is the outcome we should be chasing. Everything else comes from that. Excellence through ease. There’s still work and discipline, but when you’re on the right path, things line up for you,” began the 2x World Champion.

However, after spitting such wisdom, the end of the segment saw Christen Press subtly hint about her future. “I’m close to the end of my career as a player, but it’s the most joy I’ve ever had playing,” she said. In fact, making things more allusive, the USWNT veteran started talking about how she approaches the game now.

“Just being outside, on the grass, in the fresh air. Connecting with my teammates, losing focus on thoughts and getting to be in the body, in the flow. There’s so much power in that, and the feeling of power has changed everything for me. I get to take it forward in everything else I do,” added Christen, sharing how her outlook has evolved regarding the game. It’s almost as if moving forward, Press will be embracing every moment on the pitch, knowing her time in the game may be limited.

And guess what? Much like Press, her partner Tobin Heath is embracing a fresh perspective, albeit off the pitch. How? Well, she’ll be playing a huge role in the upcoming World Seven Football (WSF) as the head of the player advisory council. The rather inventive tournament slated to take place from 21-23 May in Estoril, Portugal, will see clubs compete in the 7-vs-7 format and will have a massive prize pool of $5 million. But does that mean she will not return to the pitch?

Not really. A cartilage issue and the two surgeries that followed have made Heath’s return to the pitch uncertain, but she is not one to give up easily. Not too long ago, she declared that she hadn’t completely ruled out her return to action yet, and that she has been on her “own recovery journey.” 

Only time will tell if she can mount a comeback to the pitch like her partner, who found herself in a pivotal moment while dealing with her own injury. 

When Christen Press had an unlikely realization

Having been raised in a family where everyone preached the beautiful game, it was only natural for Press to stand out while making a career in the sport. She managed to flourish her competitive spirit since her collegiate days, becoming the all-time leading scorer for the Stanford Cardinal. Success even followed her on both domestic and international fronts as well.

However, that somehow backfired on her, making it seem as if she had lost the very joy of enjoying the game. “I was so outcome-oriented. How many goals did I score? Am I chasing a record? A title? It really started to weigh me down.” she said in the same interview with Magna. Yet, she kept pushing forward, taking up a full-time job to be successful, before a turning point entered her life.

Recalling the moment she sustained her ACL injury, Press surprisingly found clarity in the situation. What could have been a career-ending setback instead brought an unexpected realization. She saw it as part of her journey, recognizing that “life was precious and glorious”—something she felt she had been missing out on.

In that instant, she experienced a sense of relief, believing that the injury would finally allow her to fully embrace life. And as that period of turmoil ended, Press was finally back, enjoying every second on the pitch. Let’s hope it stays that way for many more years.