Month: August 2023

Later in the month, hip-hop will formally celebrate its 50th anniversary. The genre still has so much room to grow, and Eminem, alongside Dr. Dre, are doing the work to usher in the next generation of talent. Shady Records and Aftermath Entertainment’s latest signee Ez Mil is the byproduct of their cultivation.

Ez Mil’s new single, “Realest,” is his bold debut on the label and Eminem lends his masterful lyrical abilities. On the track, both emcees aim at everyone that has ever doubted their standing within rap. Eminem clapped back at naysayers claiming he doesn’t belong on the top rappers’ list, including Melle Mel in his stanza.

“Guess I’ve really no right to complain much hip hop has been good to me huh / But when they say that I’m only top five ’cause I’m white why would I be stunned / My skin color’s still working against me (What) ’cause second I should be to none / Being white ain’t why they put me at five (Nope) it’s why they can’t put me at one (Whoot),” Eminem raps.

In the chorus, Ez turns his attention to anyone jealous of the co-sign he received from Eminem and Dr. Dre, rapping, “Cause I’m the realest in the business and everybody gon’ be envious of my beginnings / Got a circus for the sinners with bodies, so stop tryna be another addition.”

Listen to “Realest” above.

We’re not going to let go of grilling season until an actual rainstorm douses our grills! Or you know, it gets too chilly outside to reasonably want to cook in shorts and shuttle meat from the kitchen to the outdoors. Regardless, while we may be in the last full month of summer, we’re definitely not ready to let our hot dogs go gentle into that good night (the freezer).

So in the name of maximizing grilling season, we decided to run a little blind taste test. Who will be the wiener winner?

As with everything we cover, we want to help you only cook the absolute best. In that case, that begs a crucial question: Do you need to shell out for some high-quality expensive dogs? Or are you just as well off going with a no-frills market brand? At the end of the day aren’t hot dogs just unwanted meat trimmings pureed and pushed into a casing? How much better can expensive brands actually be?

We decided to find out by putting our favorite hot dogs against the major market brands in a blind taste test. My editor ranked a ton of hot dog brands in the past but I had a few problems with that ranking.

1. It wasn’t a blind taste test.
2. My editor boiled the dogs, which is a fine way to cook them but it’s grilling season, grilling imparts flavor so we can’t be sure his number one choice is the best for grilling.
3. My editor’s top choice was Olympia Provisions. Now, I love the guy, but he did once try to convince me that the Wendy’s Frosty was the ultimate milkshake, and… just no. His taste is officially suspect.
4. Also, this same editor is a Portland Oregon boy. Was it just a coincidence that his favorite brand also originates from Portland, Oregon? I’m not so sure.

So I took the #1 brand from our first big ranking and my favorite brand, Teton Grass Fed Beef Franks [LITERALLY THIS BESMIRTCHED EDITOR’S #2 PICK!], and pitted those two against a few dogs from multi-state market chains (Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, and Aldi), grilled them all up, and put them to the blind taste test.

Methodology

For this blind taste test, I had my girlfriend grill up each hot dog and serve each on a plate completely naked. No mustard, ketchup, relish, onions, nothing baby! Since at least one of these hot dogs sticks out like a sore thumb I ate each under the cover of a blindfold, recorded my tasting notes into my phone, and ranked them all.

For the most part, a lot of these hot dogs tasted strikingly similar, so it took a few bites of each to really start to experience the differences. Here are the brands we’re working with.

• Aldi’s Parkview Uncured Angus Beef Franks
• Aldi’s Simply Nature Uncured Beef Hot Dogs
• Olympia Provisions Uncured Pork Frankfurter (My Editor’s #1)
• Teton Waters Ranch Uncured Beef Hot Dogs (Available at most market chains)
• Whole Foods 365 Uncured Grass-Fed Beef Hot Dogs
• Trader Joe’s Uncured Beef Hot Dogs

Part 1: The Hot Dog Taste Test

Taste 1:

Very juicy, my initial bite offered an explosion of zesty meaty flavors. There is a nice floral smokey quality here courtesy of the liberal use of paprika. The casing has a nice snap to it and the meat has texture, rather than tasting totally pureed.

Taste 2:

Wonderfully beefy, the casing isn’t quite as snappy as Taste 1 but the flavor of the meat is way more deep and savory. The paprika smokiness exists only on the aftertaste, unfortunately. It’s great if you’re after a beefy dog, but I like my hot dogs with some zest.

Taste 3:

The casing here is almost plasticky. It’s snappy to the point of being suspicious. It’s significantly less meaty than Tastes 1 and 2 but has a nice earthy paprika presence. Still, this dog left me wanting.

Taste 4:

I can’t with this one. The casing is completely tough and for whatever reason it takes a few seconds for the flavor to really activate the palate. It’s flat and boring, no zest, no savory meat flavors, bad casing, an all-around bad dog.

Taste 5:

Great casing, there is a nice satisfying snap to this one revealing a juicy and salty beef flavor with a really nice texture and pronounced paprika smoke. This one is by far the saltiest of all the dogs, but I don’t hate it. It comes across as indulgent in all of the best ways.

Taste 6:

Goddammit, my editor was right. I don’t need eyes to know that this is the pork frankfurter. It’s sumptuous, deep, a tad sweet, and offers a different sort of smokiness to everything else on this list. It’s hickory, noticeably. There is so much depth and complexity here it’s astounding, and that’s coming from a person who always prefers a beef frank to pork.

Part 2: The Hot Dog Ranking

6. Simply Nature — Uncured Beef Hot Dogs (Taste 4)

Price: $4.99

I don’t know how I knew Simply Nature would be bad, but given the branding on this dog, it doesn’t surprise me. This was by far the worst hot dog we tried today, it’s bordering on inedible. Simply Nature is an Aldi brand and is USDA-certified organic, non-GMO, and made with grass-fed beef. It has a lot of selling points which might lead you to believe it’s good, but it’s not.

Not even kind of good.

The Bottom Line:

The price is nice but avoid this one at all costs.

5. Whole Foods Market 365 —Uncured Grass-Fed Beef Hot Dogs (Taste 3)

Price: $7.49

Rarely do I feel like hot dogs are a rip-off, you get what you pay for, but at Whole Foods I feel like I’m being straight-up scammed. Sure, this dog is organic, uncured, made with grass-fed beef, and certified USDA organic, but… so are a lot of hot dogs in 2023, so why is this one more expensive than so many other brands?

It certainly doesn’t taste better than the cheaper dogs, and it’s a lot thinner and less meaty than any other hot dog we tried today.

The Bottom Line:

This and sort of pathetic. It’s less meaty and less flavorful than the competition, but more expensive.

4. Teton Waters Ranch — Uncured Beef Hot Dogs (Taste 2)

Price: $6.49

This one took me by surprise. This is my go-to hot dog, it is made with Certified Humane Raised 100% grass-fed beef with no hormones or antibiotics, and nitrate and nitrite free. but those selling points are to blame for its slightly more expensive price tag.

From a flavor standpoint, this doesn’t stand far and above the rest. For that, we’re going to have to place this one squarely in the middle.

The Bottom Line:

Great selling points but it feels just a bit overpriced for what you get in terms of flavor.

3. Parkview — Uncured Angus Beef Franks (Taste 5)

Price: $3.99

Parkview is another Aldi brand and the cheapest hot dog we tried today. It punches way above its weight. It doesn’t have added nitrates or nitrites, like every other brand we tried, no by-products and no artificial preservatives, colors or flavors, but it’s not certified organic and it’s not made with grass-fed beef. Luckily, it turns out that those things don’t really matter when it comes to flavor.

Parkview’s Angus Beef Franks taste great, they’re wonderfully beefy, the casing is nice, and the paprika is prominent.

The Bottom Line:

Cheap and delicious, the way hot dogs should be.

2. Trader Joe’s — Uncured Beef Hot Dogs (Taste 1)

Price: $7.49

Trader Joe’s has two hot dogs, this one and a grass-fed organic version. Considering my editor already reviewed the grass-fed I figured I’d give these dogs a try, which for whatever reason are a dollar more. I’m paying more for a hot dog that isn’t grass-fed and organic? What the hell is going on here?

Whatever is going on, I’m not willing to complain because this hot dog is nearly perfect. It’s meaty and savory, smokey, a bit sweet, and has a near-perfect snappy casing. I’ve had the grass-fed version and was unimpressed, but in today’s tasting, this Uncured Beef Hot dog was the best beef hot dog we ate, by a considerable amount.

The Bottom Line:

Don’t be tempted by Trader Joe’s grass-fed organic hot dog, this is by far the better choice, and the best beef frank we ate in this tasting.

1. Olympia Provisions — Uncured Pork Frankfurter (Taste 5)

Price: $15

Remember when I said how hot dogs are just unwanted meat trimmings pureed into a casing? Not at Olympia Provisions. This foot-long frankfurter is made with pure pork shoulder with a natural lamb casing and the difference is readily apparent. Yes, this dog is twice the price of what you’ll find at most supermarkets, but it’s so worth it.

Every element is absolutely on point, the snap is perfect, the flavor is complex and takes your taste buds on a journey, and considering each hot dog is a foot long, it’s satisfying in a way that the other hot dogs aren’t. If you would’ve asked me if $15 per pack was a sensible price for a hot dog, I would’ve laughed in your face, but with how good this hot dog is, I’m stunned into silence.

The Bottom Line:

Adding your favorite hot dog toppings will only further elevate this already remarkable flavor. This is a must-eat, and we wouldn’t suggest you close out summer any other way. If you want to have your mind blown by a hot dog (did you even think that was a possibility?) pick up a pack of Olympia Provisions ASAP.

But be warned, you’re never going to want to settle for the cheaper brands after this. You’ll be ruined when it comes to hot dogs.

The number one reason why there is a belief that Slovenia can make some noise at the 2023 FIBA World Cup is Luka Doncic, the Dallas Mavericks star who always seems to find an extra gear when he suits up for his national team. But in a pre-tournament exhibition a mere 22 days before the Slovenians play their first game, Doncic suffered an injury scare.

Slovenia played Greece on Friday, and in the second quarter, Doncic ran into a screen set by Emmanouil Chatzidakis. The two appeared to bump knees, and while Chatzidakis was ok, Doncic came up limp and ended up needing to leave the game.

This would, obviously, be a gigantic problem for both Slovenia and the Dallas Mavericks. But fortunately for everyone involved, Doncic is ok. Marc Stein reported that the plan all along was for Doncic to only play in the first half of the game, and him hurting his knee with just over two minutes left in the second quarter simply expedited the process of getting him out of there.

Doncic played well prior to his leaving the game, as he scored 18 points in the first half. Greece would go on to pick up an 88-77 win.

Slovenia is in a group with Cape Verde, Georgia, and Venezuela at the World Cup, and will begin their tournament on Aug. 26. As of this writing, the team is tied with the third-best odds of winning it all behind the United States and Canada.

Busta Rhymes has undergone a major weight loss, shedding over 100 pounds. He spoke about his body transformation in a recent interview with Men’s Health, and when it comes to what prompted the weight loss, he says it was a asthma attack-like experience after sex.

Busta explained:

“One night I was getting ready to have, make, you know… I was getting ready to have an intimate moment with my ex. I had a breathing issue after the intimate interaction. […] I was having a really difficult time breathing, so I got up and I walked out of the bedroom so she wouldn’t panic seeing me trying to keep myself calm. I was trying to inhale, and it felt like it wasn’t working. I felt like I was having like an asthma attack — but I don’t have asthma. So I walked out of the bedroom and went into the living room, and I was forcing myself to inhale, to relax. That was scaring me so much that it was a mindf*ck, because I had to stay calm and make sure she didn’t hear me panic or hear me struggle to breathe. I’m butt-ass naked in the living room, trying to calm myself down.”

The rapper continued, “When I came back in the room once I got right, I laid back down next to her and she said something to me that really f*cked me up. She was like, ‘Yo, this is not who I fell in love with.’ She didn’t know what had happened outside, but she was looking at my body and the weight. She was like, ‘You gotta lose this weight. This breathing is scaring me. When I met you, you wasn’t like a musclehead, but you, you was slim, you was cut, you had your sh*t right. I need you to get back to who I fell in love with.’”

As for what caused him to gain weight in the first place, Busta explained, “That had to do with me never properly dealing with the loss of my father. My dad died in 2014 and I drowned myself in work. I just kept drinking, smoking, eating bad — the whole nasty — and recording a bunch of songs just to escape the pain.”

Read the full interview here.

What brings you joy? The kindness of strangers? The silliness of your pets? The breathtaking beauty of nature? Spending time with the people you love?

There are so many places to find joy in life, from watching someone nail their talents to listening to a conversation between preschoolers to belly laughing at a joke from someone you didn’t expect to be so funny.

We’ve covered all of those bases and more in this week’s list of 10 things that made us smile. So if you could use a little uplift, take a scroll through our roundup of delights.

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1. Single mom shares her neighbor’s sweet ‘wellness check’ captured on her doorbell camera

@amandakayex

The world needs more Greg’s. Hes always checkin on us 🥹♥️ #fyp #goodneighbors

What a sweetheart. The world does need more Gregs! Read the full story here.

2. Man gets everyone feeling their feelings when he talks about his wife, Paige

See on Instagram

Find someone who makes you feel “infinite” and who tears up just talking about how much they love you.

3. Malala Yousafzai cracks an epic Barbie joke and her husband responds in the best way

— (@)

Malala jumping on the Barbie meme train and Asser hoisting himself right into the boxcar with her is everything. And now “I am Kenough” has become a meme of its own. Epic.

4. Cats not realizing their tails are part of their bodies is hilarious every single time

— (@)

The best part is that this kitten will never learn. In 10 years, it will still be caught off guard by its own tail moving, and it will be equally funny then.

5. Gabriel Henrique hits Whitney Houston’s high notes on AGT and holy moly

It’s impressive enough when a woman nails those notes. Like, how? Absolutely incredible. Read the full story here.

6. Baby eating a tart kiwi and coming back for more is endlessly entertaining

— (@)

Those faces! We feel you, little one. So painful, but so good.

7. Conversation captured between preschoolers is a masterclass in friendship-making

See on Instagram

Can we just have all preschoolers mic’d at all times? This is how all of us should make friends—sharing our daily nap habits, giving and receiving compliments, telling one another to watch out for dog poop. It’s perfection.

8. Bride has 15 men walk her down the aisle for the most moving reason

See on Instagram

Under the most tragic of circumstances, she got the support she needed to overcome. What a beautiful way to acknowledge the men who continually stepped up for her. Read the full story here.

9. Dad accidentally mistakes ‘babies’ for ‘rabies’ and it results in the best misunderstanding ever

@momchats

Maybe we will do better when she asks where babies come from.

Watching them figure out what happened is a heck of a hilarious journey. Moms do go through a lot in labor, but foaming at the mouth? HAHAHA. Read the full story here.

10. May we all take inspiration from this wee one learning to use a spoon

— (@)

Be patient. Keep trying. Never give up. A valuable lesson for us all. Read the full story here.

Hope that brought some joy to your day! (And f you’d like to get these posts in your inbox so you never miss them, sign up for our free newsletter, The Upworthiest, here.)

In a notable campaign shift for the Florida governor, Ron DeSantis has finally taken a public stance on Donald Trump‘s election fraud claims that resulted in a federal indictment for his actions leading up to the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol building.

During a campaign stop in Iowa where DeSantis is hoping to stir up momentum as part of his early states strategy, the Florida governor publicly admitted that Trump was wrong about the 2020 election.

“All those theories that were put out did not prove to be true,” told a group of reporters, according to The New York Times. It was a surprisingly to-the-point response given DeSantis’ prior reluctance to denounce January 6 lest he anger Trump’s MAGA base. The Florida governor may need their support should he somehow. win the Republican nomination. (Trump has continued to hold a commanding lead in the polls despite his mounting number of indictments.)

DeSantis did attempt to thread a needle by criticizing the increased use of mail-in voting because of the COVID pandemic, but overall, he maintained that the 2020 election was not stolen.

“It was not an election that was conducted the way I think that we want to, but that’s different than saying Maduro stole votes or something like that,” DeSantis said via the Times. “Those theories, you know, proved to be unsubstantiated.”

Denouncing Trump is yet another example of DeSantis trying to position himself as a more tough guy candidate. During a recent campaign stop in New Hampshire, he assured Republican voters that he’ll shoot Mexican cartel members “stone cold dead” and “start slitting throats on Day One” when it comes to federal bureaucrats.

Sounds like someone found a knife at the bottom of a pudding cup, and he’s not afraid to use it.

(Via The New York Times)

The New Orleans Saints will be without the services of one of their top offensive weapons to start the 2023 NFL season. In a punishment handed down on Friday afternoon, the league determined that Alvin Kamara will miss the first three games of the year for a violation of its personal conduct policy.

The suspension revolves around an incident in Las Vegas that occurred around the 2022 Pro Bowl. Kamara was arrested on Feb. 6, 2022 by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and charged with battery resulting in substantial bodily harm. While the legal side of the incident was resolved back in July — Kamara pleaded down to a misdemeanor and said he was “completely wrong” — the league made its decision on how it would handle the situation on Friday.

Kamara won’t be the only player suspended for the first three games of the year in connection to this incident, as the league handed down the same penalty to Indianapolis Colts cornerback Chris Lammons.

As a result of the suspension, Kamara will miss New Orleans’ season-opening home game against the Tennessee Titans before back-to-back road tilts against the Carolina Panthers and the Green Bay Packers. Lammons, meanwhile, will miss a home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1 before road games against the Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens in Weeks 2 and 3.

There’s a popular GIF of Olivia Wilde, Mark Ruffalo, and Michael Moore protesting outside of Trump Tower shortly after the then-president made his “very fine people on both sides” comments about the deadly Unite the Right rally. You’ve probably seen it. There’s even a Know Your Meme page for “Olivia Wilde Nodding” — nodding in disapproval of Trump.

Wilde has once again made her feelings about the wedding crasher known, although this time, it’s without Ruffalo and Moore.

On Thursday, the actress and director shared an Instagram Story where she’s on the beach, dancing in a white bikini top and green shorts. The caption to the short video reads, “Indictment Dance.” Trump, the indicted one (for a record-setting third time), bizarrely claimed he had a “VERY GOOD DAY.” Wilde had an even better day, it seems. You can watch the video below.

Wilde revealed in a 2022 interview with Elle that Trump was the inspiration for Don’t Worry Darling, her (messy) follow-up to Booksmart. “We had a bunch of Trump quotes up on our board when we were writing the script, and there was this gross tendency of Trump’s to be very nostalgic about a better time,” she said. “What these men are referring to is a time that was horrific for anyone who wasn’t a straight white cis man.”

(Via Olivia Wilde/Instagram)

Like him or love him, Kevin Gates doesn’t hold back in opening up about sharing his personal life, no matter how uncomfortable it may make others. From glimpses into his romantic relationship or past traumas, Gates is an open book. In his new single, “I Don’t Apologize,” the Baton Rouge native takes it a step further.

Across the song’s chorus, Gates recalls his journey into the limelight to stress why he takes pride in showing off his current luxurious lifestyle. “Make sure you keep your head up when told you won’t be nothin’ / Told that a lot of times, I lost of partnas / I cried a lot of times / They said I was a problem, labeled me a problem child / I done a lot of crimes, survived a lot of times / Fast forward to modern times, I look like dollar signs / I’m drivin’ foreign cars, I don’t apologize / I’m f*ckin’ foreign broads, I done a lot of dimes, I don’t apologize, I don’t apologize,” raps the star.

What others consider showboating — or, as the kids call it, “flexing” — Gates views it as showing gratitude for all he has. He won’t make himself or his accomplishments small to make others comfortable. Instead, he will unapologetically flaunt his faith, family, friends, and fame to help inspire others that their dreams are within their reach, just as Gates makes his way to the 2023 BET Awards red carpet to be celebrated by his peers. The viewer should be able to imagine similar professional milestones in their life.

Watch the video for “I Don’t Apologize” above.

Kevin Gates is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Calf strains, concussions, and the dreaded ACL tear. These are just some of the stars of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

With more teams, longer club seasons, and fewer resources committed to helping women in sports recover when they pick up a knock, the tournament has been plagued by injuries. Major stars have been sidelined. Talented newcomers have had their hopes of representing their countries on the world stage dashed before rosters were even named. And underdogs have had their unexpected paths to glory roadblocked.

They’re not the kind of headlines you hope to see from a major sporting event, but they’ve become all too common in the world of women’s soccer and they’ll likely keep happening until funding, research, and more attention is given to the game. Until then, here’s a running list of all of the talent kept off the pitch due to injuries this year, including those who got hurt during the tournament but have fortunately returned to action.

Injured During The World Cup

Jorelyn Carabali (Colombia)

Colombia center back Jorelyn Carabali suffered a nasty knock during the team’s stunning win against Germany in group play. Carabali made a challenge for an aerial ball and was smashed between Germany’s Alexandra Popp and her own teammate. She received a few minutes of treatment on the pitch before being stretchered off. It’s suspected she suffered a concussion and may miss the team’s next match.

Keira Walsh (England)

England’s central midfielder and a key leader for the Lionesses, Walsh suffered a knee injury during a match against Denmark during group play. After an awkward challenge sent her to ground, Walsh immediately signaled for the training staff, saying, “I’ve done my knee.” The fear was that Walsh had suffered a tournament-ending ACL injury but doctors later cleared her of that. She sat the bench during England’s match against China and her return to the pitch is doubtful at the moment.

Sam Kerr (Australia)

Australia’s leading goal scorer shared that she had suffered a calf injury during training just two hours before the Matildas’ opening match against Ireland. The host country would go on to win the match, lose to Nigeria, and pull off an incredible comeback against Canada, all while the talismanic Kerr sat the bench. Kerr has assured fans she’ll be able to play during the knockout rounds — she was able to play in a limited role during the Canada match but, ultimately wasn’t needed.

Wendie Renard (France)

On July 24, France’s captain Wendie Renard went in for an MRI after sustaining a calf injury. Her status during group play was in doubt, with the team’s new coach, Herve Renard, calling it a wait-and-see situation. Renard has suffered calf injuries in the past, the most recent happening in 2022 when she was on loan with the NWSL’s Portland Thorns. Thankfully, Renard returned to the pitch for France’s final group-stage matches.

Mary Fowler (Australia)

Australia’s promising young striker Mary Fowler, who subbed in for Kerr during the team’s opening match, was put in concussion protocol after a particularly intense training session left her injured. Fowler was forced to miss the Aussie’s match against Nigeria, which they lost 2-1, but was able to return to play in their final group-stage game against Canada.

Ada Hegerberg (Norway)

Just before kickoff of Norway’s match against Switzerland, star striker Ada Hegerberg was pulled from the starting XI and seen walking back to the team’s locker room. She would later tell fans she suffered a groin injury in the moments leading up to the game and, after consulting with the medical team, decided to pull out of the match so as not to waste a substitution. Hegerberg missed Norway’s game against the Philippines and is doubtful to return for the team’s knockout round match against Japan.

Aivi Luik (Australia)

Australian defender Aivi Luik also suffered a concussion during the same training session that saw Fowler go out with one. The two injuries caused fans to question coach Tony Gustavsson’s methods but the Swedish football manager said the team was simply “unlucky.”

Jennyfer Limage (Haiti)

Haitian midfielder Jennyfer Limage suffered the tournament’s first ACL tear in her team’s match against England during group play. Limage went down after a challenge from England’s Alessia Russo and was later stretchered off the field, screaming in pain and holding her knee. She is slated to undergo surgery for her ACL injury and a ruptured meniscus and will miss the rest of the tournament.

Out Before The World Cup

Mallory Swanson (United States)

U.S. forward Mallory Swanson tore her patellar tendon in a physical match against Ireland ahead of the Women’s World Cup. She underwent surgery for the injury just days later and is currently recovering.

Christen Press (United States)
USWNT World Cup champion Christen Press suffered an ACL tear while playing for her club team, Angel City FC, in June 2022. She recently underwent her fourth surgery to repair cartilage in her knee.

Catarina Macario (United States)

A rising star for the USWNT, Lyon striker Catarina Macario had just become the first American player to score in a Champions League final when she tore her ACL in June 2022. She was expected to return to playing for her national side in time for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, but she’s suffered setbacks in her recovery journey and is now focused on getting back to the pitch in time for her club debut with Chelsea.

Fran Kirby (England)

In February, midfielder Fran Kirby suffered a knee injury in Chelsea’s Continental Cup semi-final match against West Ham. She spent the next three months trying to rehab and get back on the pitch before ultimately making the announcement that her medical team advised surgery as the only option forward.

Beth Mead (England)

Beth Mead, the most prolific English goal scorer in the 2022 Champions League, suffered an ACL injury in November that has required a long recovery process and ultimately caused her to miss selection for this year’s World Cup squad.

Sam Mewis (United States)

After the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, USWNT midfielder Sam Mewis underwent surgery for a progressive knee injury. She’s spent the last two years rehabbing to get back to the pitch, suffering multiple setbacks and undergoing more surgeries. Her timeline to recovery is still uncertain.

Vivianne Miedema (Netherlands)

World-class goal scorer Vivanne Miedema suffered an ACL tear during Arsenal’s 1-0 loss to Lyon during Champions League group stage play in November 2022. She’s since undergone surgery and is looking forward to getting back to the pitch in time for the next club season.

Becky Sauerbrunn (United States)

The USWNT captain and center back suffered a foot injury while playing for her club, the Portland Thorns, back in April. Her World Cup fitness was in question just weeks before the team made their final selections but ultimately, she wasn’t cleared to play in time for the tournament.

Tobin Heath (United States)

After suffering a hamstring injury with Arsenal in early 2022, Tobin Heath tore her ACL while playing for OL Reign in August. She underwent surgery for the tear in September and is currently getting back to match fitness.

Leah Williamson (England)

In April of 2023, England captain Leah Williamson suffered an ACL tear during a match with her club team, Arsenal. She underwent surgery in May and is now rehabbing the injury.

Hazel Nali (Zambia)

Just days before the Women’s World Cup kicked off, Zambian goalkeeper Hazel Nali suffered an ACL injury, causing her to miss her team’s tournament debut.

Marie-Antoinette Katoto (France)

France’s promising young striker suffered an ACL tear in July 2022 during the Euros and has suffered setbacks in her journey back to match-ready fitness.

Janine Beckie (Canada)

During a preseason match with her club team, the Portland Thorns, Canadian forward Janine Beckie suffered an ACL tear that ended her NWSL and World Cup hopes. She’s currently rehabbing the injury.