When should Christen Press and Tobin Heath return?

It’s “comeback season” for Press

Who knows about Heath, but she’s been a FA for almost 2 years and seems very content doing her re stuff and supporting CP rather than looking for a contract anywhere.

Heath is likely low key retired. Press is training with ACFC (which I’m very excited with since she’s one of my fave players).

Press is back with the team, she and ACFC have been posting her progress. She’s probably 2 months away from games assuming no further problems. After players are back in team training it usually takes them 6 weeks minimum before getting game time.

Heath hasn’t said anything but I find it very hard to believe she’s not retired.

I think it was in one of the recap shows that tobin very briefly talked about her status, which iirc wasn't really an update so much as a reflection. the thing that stuck out to me the most was how affected she was by being let go by portland and the way that all went down. she couldn't even really speak on it at all without choking up and had every intention of playing at portland until her retirement. not really an answer to your question but it has stuck with me since and idk my read on it was that that whole mess just left her feeling like she doesn't have a team of her own that she feels a part of, and I wouldn't be surprised if all that left her unmotivated to get fit and join another team. she only did short stints at reign/arsenal in preparation for the last olympics. I would literally lose my shit if we ever got to see tobin play again

::knocks on ikea particle board::

Press is back on grass training with the team now according to social media posts and at some point during this season, she is set to come back to the field.

I don't know if Tobin Heath has given an update as to whether she wants to continue playing professionally or not but she hasn't played in a few years now(I think she was last with Seattle Reign back in 2022?) She is active doing other things and it's totally possible as another commenter said that she's low key retired.

Christen Press should be back soon, which is amazing although I’m just a little annoyed our home game against them wasn’t in the second half of the season so I could see her live.

Heath is signing with Houston to be Sanchez’ replacement retired. It would be funny if it was the first option though

It appears Press should be back soon, which I’m very excited about 🥳

I think Heath not being protected by Portland then Louisville keeping her rights and their predator coach shitting on them to the media changed the course of Heath’s NWSL career. It seemed like that Reign stint was because she wanted to be closer to Press on the West Coast but then she got inured again so decided to hang the boots up. It’s a shame, it sounded like she would’ve retired in Portland and never gone to Arsenal/Reign if not for that course of events.

Christen said in an episode that they have both been rehabbing knee injuries. Christen has made it clear that she’s coming back but it’s a whole toss up on if Tobin returns or not. Her absolute refusal to say anything on the matter is what gives me pause. A quiet goodbye is one thing but this is a whole other. Christen has tried to get her to talk about it. She said Tobin is in her “rehab era.” At this point I think it’s safe to say Tobin wasn’t able to get back to full health after this injury.

Edit: Allie Long also just said in her stream with Tobin that we all need to manifest a return for both of them and for them to play on the same team. This strikes me as an odd thing to say especially if she knows her friend has retired. But it could’ve just been wishful thinking on her part rather than something she actually sees as a possibility.

Can't  wait  till cp23 comes back

Press said in an interview with Julie Foudy at ACFC’s home opener that they discovered her body develops scar tissue a lot faster than normal, it helped her stay so injury free for her career but getting her first major injury with an ACL it has hindered her progress. That explains the scopes, and I thought the timing of her telling fans that was interesting. To me it sounded like they figured that out late, after the first couple scopes and that last scope it finally clicked. Now as a result, she’s finally back with the team for the first time and seemingly has passed the stage that kept giving her trouble last year.

The only time we will see Heath near an NWSL pitch again will be when Press is back on the field in my opinion. She’s retired in every way but a public announcement.

They haven’t completely disappeared from the soccer world, through re-inc they do watch alongs with Tobin and other players (Allie Long, MA Vignola) and have a podcast. Apparently they want to bring their World Cup format back for the Olympics. I wished they kept up with their more casual podcast although that stopping coincided with Press finally being back with the team so I’ll happy take no podcast for CP being back on the pitch.

Press is probably looking at games around the Mexico tournament during the Olympics break, potentially earlier than that but that would only occur if she’s starting training within the team very soon. Heath is basically a WAG, she’s clearly retired imo.

Heath will never play pro ball again. I hope Press can get to where she wants to be and plays out the rest of her career injury free.

Tobin is not returning.

Christen is one of my favorite players. I hope she makes a great return to the field! I’m so happy to see her training with ACFC and can’t wait to see her comeback

Playing at 35+ is pretty unusual. People see Marta or Sinc doing it and think it's normal but most players retire in their early 30s. I see Alex Morgan retiring after the olympics for example, right after she turns 35. Heath is turning 36 in a few weeks. She had a long career.

LOL at the downvotes. Are facts that hard to digest? Look at the average age of retiring players.

Tobin is 35. She’s gone.

I’d be very surprised if we ever see either of them play competitively again.