Canadian striker Janine Becky, who helped her team win Olympic gold in Tokyo, will miss the 2023 Women’s World Cup and the Women’s National Football League season due to a right knee injury.
On Friday, defending NWSL champion Portland Thorns announced that the 28-year-old forward, who scored 36 goals for Canada in 101 games, suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her right knee.
“Heartbroken is an understatement,” Becky tweeted on Friday.
The injury occurred in the first half of Wednesday’s game against the US women’s under-23 team.
Becky will undergo surgery in the coming weeks and rehab in Portland under the guidance of Team Thorns medical staff.
“Working hard in what was to be one of the most important seasons of my career, defending the title with the Portland Thorns and of course playing in the World Cup for Canada, being away for an extended period of time is a hard pill to swallow.” Becky tweeted.
“This season I will support my teammates for both club and country and it goes without saying that I will come back better and stronger than ever!”
Canadians will take part in the Women’s World Championships in Australia and New Zealand. They are grouped with Ireland, Nigeria and Australia and are due to open against Nigeria in Melbourne on 21 July.
The Spikes are due to open the NWSL regular season at home against Orlando on March 26.
js/rcw
Source: sports.yahoo.com
