ACL crisis in women’s football: why female players are at greater risk

Women’s football is experiencing an alarming surge in Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries, with research showing that female athletes are two to eight times more likely than men to sustain this devastating knee injury.

A complex mix of anatomical, biomechanical, hormonal, and structural factors - combined with growing match demands and historic neglect - has created what many experts now describe as a health crisis in the women’s game.

In the opening ten weeks of the Barclays Women’s Super League 2025/26 campaign, eight players have been victim to this injury. Something must be done to address this injury crisis and create a safer future for female footballers, without the fear of the ACL striking over and over again.