For athletes, one of the most challenging injuries to recover from is an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tear. The injury affects the knee, specifically the ligaments that connect the thigh bone to the shin bone, and typically sidelines athletes for eight to twelve months.
For anyone who follows women's basketball the way that I do, ACL tears are all too familiar. In just the past year, high-profile players like USC sophomore guard Juju Watkins, Los Angeles Sparks forward Cameron Brink and Seattle Storm point guard Nika Mühl have all suffered from this injury.
Though devastating, an ACL tear is not always career ending. Many players make a comeback, such as 2025 first round WNBA draft pick Paige Bueckers, who has gone on to dominate the court after recovering.
While ACL injuries can happen to anyone, a pattern is emerging: female athletes are experiencing them at a much higher rate than their male counterparts. Why? Well, there’s several theories, but the truth is, not enough research is being done to find definitive answers.
Studies have shown that women are four to six times more likely to suffer an ACL tear than men, and researchers have proposed a range of possible explanations. Anatomical differences play a role—women typically have wider hips and pelvises but smaller ligaments, which can place more strain on soft tissues. Women are “quad dominant,” meaning they rely more on their quadriceps than their hamstrings, which can reduce knee stability. Hormonal factors are being explored, as women have higher levels of estrogen, which can increase ligament laxity. Some ongoing studies are investigating whether certain phases of the menstrual cycle—due to hormonal fluctuations—raise the risk of ACL tears, and whether hormonal birth control could serve as a preventative measure.
The presence of women and girls in sports is growing at an exponential rate, with pre-Title IX numbers being one in 27 girls playing a sport to a current two in five. With such rapid growth, a rise in injury rates is to be expected— sports come in injuries. What’s not normal is that little to no women’s sports injuries are being studied. As of August, women made up roughly 50% of athletes, but only 6% of research.
It is disrespectful to see women being treated as secondary in sports medicine. For a long time, we've faced struggles being taken seriously in both the medical world and the sports world, and as much as we have made progress, this intersection is a prime example of somewhere we continue to lack.
Currently, most female-oriented medical studies focus on the reproductive system. Most other research is based on men, or slightly altered from the research found after studying men. The truth is, that’s never going to work for us. Women will never train or play properly if an effort isn’t made to understand how our bodies work.
With women continuously entering the sports world, especially as professional leagues continue to expand, it is irresponsible for medical professionals to continue to leave women out of research. It’s time for the medical field to step it up.
Izabella Ducato is the assistant sports editor and can be reached at izabella.ducato@ubspectrum.com
