Christen Press’ dreams came true when she signed with Angel City FC and played for her hometown team.

In the eighth game of the club’s inaugural season, the star forward suffered an ACL injury.

“I always think about the moment that I found out I had the privilege of being Angel City’s first player,” Press said at Sunday’s Fan Fest before the season opener against Bay FC. “And I think that it was an interesting experience because it was a little surreal to me.

“So much of all of our careers as professional athletes are about sacrifice and about tolerance. Can you get through these things so that you get to the podium, so that you get the memories, so that you get the lessons right? The idea of being settled or home or happy never felt like a possibility for me. It was an either or for me. It was definitely a dream come true for me.”

Things haven’t turned out the way she would have liked. Press hasn’t been back on the field since that June 12, 2022, game. She’s spent all of last season on the season-ending injury list and starts this season on it as well and she’s undergone four surgeries.

“I had never suffered an injury my entire career,” she said. “Not a rolled ankle, not a pulled muscle, nothing. And for the first time in my life, I actually have to listen to my body when it’s telling me too much or not enough. The only time in my professional career that I was unavailable for a game is when I had food poisoning and I was sick.”

In an Instagram post in July, Press announced that she needed a fourth surgery.

At the start of preseason, Press posted on her X account: “Hi folks! As you’ll see, I’m still not yet in team training. Working hard everyday to get back and get ready for the season. Excited for what 2024 will bring! Thanks for the love …please keep it coming.”

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Press has yet to join the team in full training, but as she said Sunday, the dreams of returning to play are still alive.

“I am dreaming every night of the moment I get to run out on that pitch for all of you,” she told the crowd. “From a club standpoint, you know, the entire club and the all of the girls are just dreaming about our first trophy. And I think that every single time we get to play in front of all of you it’s a celebration. So every single home game, every single sellout crowd, these are the moments and these are the memories that we’re creating together.”