Project ACL: NWSL joins WSL in initiative aimed at expanding injury research

Q: What is Project ACL and its purpose in women's soccer?

Project ACL is a three-year research initiative aimed at reducing ACL injury rates in women's soccer by examining both biological and environmental factors.

Q: Why are ACL injuries more common in female soccer players?

ACL injuries are two to six times more likely in women due to a combination of biological factors and environmental conditions, such as training practices and equipment.

Q: Which leagues are participating in the Project ACL initiative?

The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and the Women's Super League (WSL) are both participating in the Project ACL initiative.

Q: What are some notable players affected by ACL injuries recently?

Notable players like Leah Williamson, Beth Mead, Vivianne Miedema, and Sam Kerr have recently suffered ACL injuries, impacting their participation in major tournaments.

The NWSL’s 16 clubs, including defending champion Gotham FC, will participate in a three-year project researching high ACL injury rates in women’s soccer.Photograph: Ira L Black/NWSL/Getty Images (Photograph: Ira L Black/NWSL/Getty Images) The National Women’s Soccer League is joining the Women’s Super League and the sport’s global players’ union in a three-year research initiative aimed at reducing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in the women’s game. ACL injuries are between two and six times more likely to occur in women than men. While that disparity has often been attributed to biological differences, many in the sport have advocated for a zoomed-out understanding that considers the environmental factors that could contribute to higher injury rates, from pitch standards and weight-room access to schedule congestion and cleat quality. Related: ‘Sexism is the risk factor’: football’s race to learn more about ACL injuries This effort, termed Project ACL x NWSL, follows that holistic approach. It is an expansion of the initiative launched in 2024 between the WSL, Fifpro, England’s Professional Footballers’ Association, Nike and Leeds Beckett University. “The NWSLPA is proud to join Project ACL, which brings together players, leagues and researchers to better understand ACL injuries,” Tori Huster, deputy executive director of the players’ union, said in a release on Wednesday. “That understanding requires looking beyond the individual and examining the conditions players compete and train in every day. Project ACL is an opportunity to build the kind of player-centric evidence that can lead to meaningful changes across women’s professional soccer.” ACL injuries are to women’s soccer – nor to or – but calls for greater research into the gender disparities in the lead-up to the 2023 World Cup. Several high-profile players, including England duo and , Dutch striker and US attacker , missed that tournament due to ACL tears. Australia’s and Germany’s missed the 2024 Paris Olympics with ACL injuries; of the 20 gold medalists for the United States at that tournament, seven had suffered the injury at some point in their career. The injury is no longer considered , but recovery times can vary. Kerr tore her ACL in January 2024 and returned to play in September 2025, nearly 20 months after the injury; Oberdorf also missed last summer’s Euro 2025, then tore her ACL again just eight matches into her return in October. Existing research shows that certain biological factors put female athletes at greater risk of ACL injuries – roughly 70% of which result from noncontact situations – before they even take the field. Women have wider hips and narrower bone structure in the knee; they also tend to land flat-footed on jumps and have more strength in their quads than in their hamstrings. Some studies have suggested , but much of that research is still in the early stages. Biology is the source of some insights, but some researchers an examination of societal and environmental circumstances. Girls and women participate in strength-building resistance training at less frequent rates than men. Studies have highlighted increased injury rates from playing on artificial turf or in cleats designed with a male foot in mind. Fifpro has led research into how fatigue from affects player performance. Related: Fifpro describes Project ACL as the first initiative of its kind to cover multiple professional leagues. Less than 10% of sports science research is centered on women, with most existing studies focused on amateur athletes instead of those at the professional levels. Such cooperation could produce injury-prevention programs and protocols that are embedded and regulated by clubs and leagues, similar to the frameworks that exist for brain injuries and concussions. “We believe that player-centricity and collaboration with key stakeholders are central to establishing meaningful change in the soccer ecosystem and that players, organizers and stakeholders around the world will benefit from Project ACL’s outputs and outcomes,” Dr Alex Culvin, director of women’s football at Fifpro, said. Since the 2024 launch, the Project ACL team has conducted interviews with more than 30 players and led surveys across all 12 WSL clubs about resources and injury prevention strategies, with plans to do the same for the NWSL’s 16 clubs. Players will be able to track their workload, travel and recovery schedules through Fifapro’s workload monitoring tool. “Player health and performance are fundamental to the future of our league, and this is an area where we intend to lead,” said , the NWSL’s vice-president of sporting. “By continuing to invest in this work, we can help build environments where our players are better supported and able to perform at their best.”