Sydney Leroux made her long-awaited return for Angel City FC on Sunday, coming on as a late substitute in a 1-1 home draw with the Washington Spirit.
The appearance closed a gap of more than 600 days between appearances for the 36-year-old forward. Her last outing had come November 1st, 2024 against the Portland Thorns.
Sydney Leroux Checks in for Angel City FC After Mental Health Leave
Leroux stepped away one day before Angel City's 2025 season opener, then missed the full year and the opening months of 2026. In November, she disclosed she was diagnosed with anorexia.
"I refuse to let my fear continue to keep me quiet," she said at the time.
Her comeback had been building for weeks on the training ground. Interim head coach Leif Smerud said it was "fantastic to have Syd back" on ACFC's active roster. Defender Savy King, who also made her long-awaited return to play during the Spirit game, described Leroux as "an absolutely incredible person and player," and a "huge part of my recovery as well."
Leroux remains under contract through 2027 and ranks fourth on Angel City's all-time scoring list. The club hosts surging Gotham FC on August 23rd at BMO Stadium, where fans can likely expect to see her earn even more pitch time.
