The ACL epidemic in the Women’s Super League is a growing concern, prompting a collaborative effort to address the issue. ‘Project ACL’, launched by FIFPRO, the Professional Footballers Association, Nike, and Leeds Beckett University, aims to reduce the rate of ACL injuries in the WSL and increase player availability as the league gains prominence. The upcoming fixture calendar has been criticized as unsustainable, with concerns about the potential depletion of the game’s best players due to the rising injury toll. Research indicates that women footballers are more susceptible to ACL injuries compared to men, with two-thirds of ACL injuries occurring without physical contact.

However, there is limited understanding of how to reduce the frequency of these injuries among professional women footballers, as most existing research and injury reduction programs focus on amateur players. Project ACL plans to combat the rise of ACL injuries in the English women’s top-flight through a three-pronged approach over the next three years. The group aims to translate research into strategies for best practices and disseminate them among clubs to increase player availability as the game grows. The project also pledges to share all findings with stakeholders, including FIFA and regional confederations.

One notable aspect of this project is its focus on professional women’s football players and its collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders. Maheta Molango, CEO of the Professional Footballers Association, emphasized the importance of taking a proactive role in improving understanding of the issue and providing care tailored to the unique needs of players in the women’s game. Additionally, the community members can benefit from special offers, promotions, and advertisements from the organization and its partners. It is also mentioned that those who are not interested in the community can opt out at any time.