USA star Christen Press plays 1st game after 2-year injury nightmare - ESPN

Longtime United States women's national soccer team forward and two-time World Cup winner Christen Press played her first game in more than two years on Thursday, appearing as a substitute in Angel City's against San Diego Wave FC.

Press came on in the 88th minute of Angel City's penalty kicks win over Wave in the NWSL x LIGA MX Femenil Summer Cup match and she was greeted with an ovation from the crowd at the BMO Stadium. Press converted a penalty in the shootout.

«It was definitely a nostalgic feeling. When you get to play a soccer game, it's a miracle,» Press told CBS Sports Network after the game. «I was so excited, I was very nervous. I felt the love and support from this amazing soccer community that was here tonight.»

Couldn't have written it any better.

Christen Press scores on a penalty in her first match back! pic.twitter.com/KeIKo9QAbQ

She last played on June 11, 2022, when she tore her right ACL in an National Women's Soccer League match. She has undergone four knee surgeries since and she missed the entirety of 2023, including the World Cup.

The 35-year-old, a Southern California native, was Angel City's first signing as the team put together its roster ahead of its 2022 NWSL expansion season. She has scored 50 goals across all competitions in 101 NWSL games.

Press won the 2015 and 2019 World Cups with the USWNT as well as the 2021 Olympic bronze medal. She scored the opening goal in the USWNT's 2019 World Cup semifinal victory over England.

Information from ESPN's Jeff Kassouf continued to this report.