Orlando Pride midfielder Joanna Boyles has retired due to a back injury incurred during her first season with the team in 2019.
Boyles, 24, announced the news on Instagram, saying an “unexpected back injury” forced her to make the decision to step away from soccer.
“Those who know me, know how much I love the game of soccer, which makes this the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make,” Boyles said in a post on Instagram. “I want to have a healthy, happy, and pain free future and stepping away now helps to guarantee that. After overcoming injuries in the past, my body just can’t do it anymore.