Midge Purce is out for the season with an ACL tear

Women's soccer has dealt with an abundance of ACL tears in the last few years and the list is just getting longer. Star players like Sam Kerr, Jun Endo, and Mia Fishel to name a few, have suffered brutal injuries within the last few months, ruling them all out of the Summer Olympics with their respective countries.   

Unfortunately, NJ/NY Gotham FC player Midge Purce is the latest player to tear her ACL, which will end her season. This occurred during the win over Portland Thorns FC on Sunday. She could only play in the first half before being replaced by Yazmeen Ryan in the attack. Her diagnosis was the worst-case scenario as she is set for a 10-month recovery process following surgery.

Gotham FC will be without Midge Purce for 2024

Purce was just getting back in the swing of things and returning to her old self following a few injuries in recent seasons. Her two assists during the NWSL finals earned her MVP of the match, leading Gotham FC to their first NWSL title in club history. She was also part of the USWNT team that won the inaugural CONCACAF W Gold Cup in February, recording two assists in four matches while also winning player of the match against the Dominican Republic.   

This tournament has given her a fighting chance for regular call-ups for the national team, especially since she was snubbed from the 2023 World Cup roster. Besides the SheBelieves Cup and the Gold Cup, Purce has yet to play in a major tournament for the United States and was aiming for a chance at gold with the team at the Summer Olympics.    

However, her dream will have to wait as she has a long road to recovery ahead. As far as her Gotham FC career is concerned, she does have an option for the 2025 season, which means she is expected to return if the option is activated by the team. Since 2020, she has recorded 20 goals in 70 appearances and has grown to be a fan favorite for the team.   

Her absence will be missed both on and off the field. The good news is that Gotham FC has enough depth in the attack to fill in her place, with Ryan likely to play more on the wings, especially with Rose Lavelle, Emily Sonnett, Nealy Martin, and Delanie Sheehan as options to play in the midfield.