Following the announcement of the USWNT training camp roster, it was revealed that forward Christen Press had opted out of the team’s two September games against Paraguay.
Press then took to Instagram Thursday to reveal that she has decided to step away from the game for “a couple of months” in order to “focus on my mental health, spiritual growth, and processing grief.”
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Christen Press (@christenpress)
A post shared by Christen Press (@christenpress)
“I’ve been a professional player for 10 years,” Press wrote. “And I’m very proud of the fact that I’ve been available for nearly every professional match for both club and country. And yet, that has come with a focus, intensity, and prioritization that has left little room for much else.”
She then added that while she’s sad to miss the upcoming games, she believes that she “will come back stronger than ever.”
Press most recently played with the USWNT in Tokyo, where she helped the team to a bronze medal. She also became the first player to sign with Angel City FC in August.