Diana Matheson re-tears ACL, will miss NWSL season

Diana Matheson has a re-torn the ACL in her left knee, the Seattle Reign announced on Tuesday. The recently acquired midfielder will miss the entire 2017 NWSL season. Matheson previously tore the same ACL in 2014 and hustled back to be a minor contributor at the back end of the 2015 World Cup in Canada. The latest injury occurred training with Canada earlier in February. Canada coach John Herdman did not include Matheson on his Algarve Cup roster, presumably due to the injury.

“I’m so disappointed for Diana – when she told me my heart sank for her,” Reign head coach and general manager Laura Harvey said.

Matheson spent the four previous seasons with the Washington Spirit and is that club’s all-time leader in goals scored and co-leader (with Crystal Dunn) in assists. When the Spirit began revampingt he roster, Matheson requested a trade to a more veteran team. On January 23 the Spirit dealt her to Seattle for rookie Arielle Shipp and a 2018 draft pick.

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The 34-year old Princeton graduate is one of the most popular players in Canada thanks to the combination of her diminutive size and high work rate. In 2012 she scored one of the most famous goals in Canadian soccer history, an extra time game-winner to secure an Olympic bronze medal. Matheson and Canada won a second bronze medal in 2016.

Despite the injury Matheson indicated she still has her eyes on the next World Cup/Olympic cycle.

“It’s obviously disappointing to be off the field for both Canada and Seattle for this upcoming season, but this will hopefully give me the best chance to be back to where I want to be for both club and country looking ahead to next season, and onward towards 2019 and 2020,” she said.

Harvey said the Reign, who missed the playoffs in 2016 after two straight Shield seasons, are deep enough to withstand the loss of one of their newest acquisitions.

“(Matheson) will be missed this season, but we have built a roster that has huge depth, so the group coming into preseason will be pushing to show who can step up.”