by Canadian forward Janine Beckie, who helped her team capture Olympic gold in Tokyo, will miss the 2023 Women’s World Cup and National Women’s Soccer League season with a right knee injury.
The reigning NWSL champion Portland Thorns announced Friday that the 28-year-old forward, who has scored 36 goals for Canada in 101 games, has suffered a torn ACL in her right knee.
“Heartbroken is an understatement,” Beckie wrote in a Twitter post on Friday.
The injury occurred in the early part of a game Wednesday against the United States under-23 women’s team.
Beckie will undergo surgery in the coming weeks and will undergo her rehabilitation in Portland under the direction of the Thorns team medical staff.
“Having worked so hard during the offseason in what was going to be one of the biggest seasons of my career, defending the title for the Portland Thorns and of course playing in the World Cup for Canada, being out for a period extended period of time is a hard pill to swallow,” Beckie tweeted.
“I will be supporting my teammates from both club and country this season and it goes without saying that I will come back better and stronger than ever.”
The Canadians will compete in the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. They are grouped with Ireland, Nigeria and co-hosts Australia and prepare to open against Nigeria in Melbourne on July 21.
The Thorns are set to open the NWSL regular season at home against Orlando on March 26.
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