Former USWNT and NWSL player Christen Press was honored at halftime of the Jan. 24 USWNT game against Paraguay for her 155 caps. Although she may be remembered for her crucial header goal against England in the 2019 World Cup Semifinals, her impact on the sport goes beyond that. 

Her vulnerability about mental health sparked a bigger conversation and helped to normalize an often taboo subject. 

Press’ Career

Press made her first appearance for the USWNT in Feb. 2013, where she became the third player in National Team history to score two goals in her first cap. After scoring another goal in her second cap, she became the only player in USWNT history to have three goals in her first two games.

In the 2014 calendar year, Press scored 11 total goals, which was third on the team for the year. This helped her to be named to the 2015 World Cup roster, where she played in four games with two starts for the winning team. 

Despite missing a crucial PK in the 2016 Olympic quarterfinals, Press concluded the year with 12 goals, before tacking on three goals and assists each in 2017. She reached her 100th cap milestone in June 2018, celebrating with a goal in the 2-1 victory. 

In 2019, her most memorable of goals with the team was scored in the semifinals of the Women’s World Cup against England. Press opened up the scoring in the 10th minute of the match with a header off a cross from teammate Kelley O’Hara, a crucial goal in the 2-1 victory over the Lionesses. 

She then played for the U.S. in the 2020 Olympics and scored a goal in a group stage match against New Zealand, her first goal at the Olympic stage and her last goal for the USWNT. She played her final game for the Crest in the Bronze Medal Match of the 2020 Olympics, helping the U.S. take home third place.

After 10 years of playing professionally and eight years playing for the National Team, Press stepped away from the game in Sept. 2021. 

“I’m very proud of the fact that I’ve been available for nearly every professional match for both club and country,” Press said in an Instagram post announcing her break. “And yet, that has come with a focus, intensity, and prioritization that has left little room for much else. I’ve made the difficult decision to take a couple of months away from the game to focus on my mental health, spiritual growth, and processing grief.”

She re-entered the soccer world for the 2022 NWSL season where she continued to play for Angel City FC until her retirement in Oct. 2025.

“Christen Press is one of those inspirations just on and off the field. She advocates so much for the youth but also for mental health and I think it's becoming less of a stigma in women's soccer and in sports in general. You saw Simone Biles did it, and I think we need to put our mental health first. It's a crazy career. It's an up-and-down roller coaster, and to have players identify that is really cool.”

VIS Mentor Ally Sentnor

Breaking Stigmas and Barriers

This decision came a couple months after Naomi Osaka stepped away from tennis and Simone Biles withdrew from some events at the Olympics in order to prioritize their mental health.

Historically, athletes and mental health has been a relatively stigmatized topic. Even when Biles withdrew, she faced a lot of criticism, with people saying it wasn’t something a team player would do, or that she needed to suck it up or she was going to be seen as weak. 

But pretending it doesn't happen or shaming athletes when they speak out isn’t the solution.

According to a study done in 2019, 35% of elite athletes report dealing with mental health concerns, most commonly burnout, depression, and anxiety. Ignoring these concerns can lead to poor focus, injuries, and other negative side effects on playing abilities.

USWNT player Ally Sentnor, who scored two goals in the game honoring Press’ retirement, said Press stepping away helped pave the way for athletes to talk about mental health.

“I think she's one of those inspirations just on and off the field,” Sentnor said. “She advocates so much for the youth but also for mental health and I think it's becoming less of a stigma in women's soccer and in sports in general. You saw Simone Biles did it, and I think we need to put our mental health first. It's a crazy career. It's an up-and-down roller coaster, and to have players identify that is really cool.”

Additional research has shown that taking a break from a sport is crucial to recovering mentally, as it aids in reducing stress hormones and cognitive load, while also improving the brain's ability to change and grow.

In recent years, the topic of athletes and mental health has become a more open conversation, with Biles, Osaka, and Micheal Phelps helping to lead the charge in normalizing and prioritizing it. The role a professional athlete has in the public eye can play into additional pressures and stressors, leading to more issues with burnout, anxiety, and depression.

Press taking a break to put herself first helped to change the stigma surrounding this in women’s soccer. Her bravery to do this and to speak about it will help her impact on the game extend well beyond the field for many years to come.