Christen Press is as disappointed as anyone about the results of the U.S. Women’s National Team at this summer’s World Cup. But she thinks time is of the essence and says that the USWNT must carry on and get back to business.

“The Olympics is only 11 months away,” said the former USWNT midfielder and 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup champion. “There’s not really time for a full rebuild,” and adds that “we have experienced newer players. Whether their (World Cup) experiences on the pitch were good or bad, it’s time to focus back to the pitch.”

Press concedes that even with able and exciting newer players in place, such as Sophia Smith, Trinity Rodman, and Mallory Swanson, who missed the ‘23 World Cup because of injury, retooling the USWNT will be a process.

“I think the next four years will be a hard job because the expectation of the U.S. Women’s National Team is to win. And after the most recent World Cup, and the results and the performance, there is even more pressure.

This year’s tournament took place in Australia and New Zealand, concluding on August 20, as Spain defeated England 1-0 to win the cup. The USA crashed out after four matches.

After struggling in the group stage of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, in which the USA nabbed only one win in Vietnam and two draws in the opening round, the USWNT meagerly advanced to the knockout stage of the tournament. In the Round of 16, USWNT failed to score in open play and lost on penalty kicks to Sweden on August 6 in Melbourne.

Since the World Cup’s end, USWNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski has vacated the role, and both the team's players and coach have met massive criticism. Last week, the USA also slipped down the world rankings to No. 3 behind Sweden and Spain.

Despite being initially called up by the USWNT’s coaches for the 2023 World Cup, Press decided not to participate. According to The Athletic’s reporting in September 2021, Press stated that she was taking time off from international duties to focus on “mental health and spiritual growth.”

But Press has been anything but sidelined, keeping busy with her new club, Angel City FC, and her mentorship of younger players of diverse backgrounds.

Earlier this month, Press joined with Unilever brand Degree and Street Soccer USA in launching a new soccer program called “Change the Field,” a campaign that creates safe and inclusive environments for girls of color on and off the soccer field.

On Saturday, August 19, Press was on hand to host a community field day celebrating inclusivity in women's soccer in Los Angeles. In talking about her involvement in “Change the Field,” she stated that diversity only makes the game better.

“The ‘Change the Field’ program is aligned with many of my personal values, as we continue to make soccer more inclusive,” Press said during our Zoom interview last Thursday.

Press explains that while interest in women’s soccer in the U.S. has grown exponentially over the last 25 years, research shows that girls of color drop out of sports at double the rate versus girls who are white and live in suburbs.

“At a ground level, we want to make sure the sport feels inclusive, safe, and welcoming to all.”

In creating “Change the Field, Press added that Street Soccer USA and Degree put together a set of educational modules for coaches and youth sports organizations “to get the skills and the programs delivered into the community.”

Press was an integral member of the USWNT in both the 2015 and 2019 World Cup, scoring important goals in both campaigns. She adds that her experience with players from all over the world has strengthened her own game as a player, and has improved the game’s level of competition.

“Having diverse backgrounds and voices around the table makes us stronger and better. I think we do see the global game growing tremendously. And the World Cup is such a beautiful representation of that because you have the cultures of each country demonstrated in their own styles, in competition.”

Press, who was born and raised in Los Angeles, has played not only stateside but also in Sweden (both for Tyresö FF and in Gothenburg for BK Häcken FF) as well as in Great Britain, spending 2020 and 2021 with Manchester United.

Both European clubs, as well as the NWSL, host a roster of players that span Europe as well as North and South America. Press mentions that players she’s competed with and against come from all “backgrounds, races, perspectives and ideologies.”

“It’s a beautiful thing,” Press said. “And supporting everybody’s differences—and we don’t always have to agree on everything—allows us to collaborate and work together.”

Since the end of her stint with Manchester United, where she played alongside fellow USWNT forward and partner Tobin Heath, Press has been playing as a forward with NWSL expansion team Angel City FC.

The new venture founded and owned by a list of high-profile female athletes and celebrities that include Billie Jean King, Natalie Portman, America Ferrera, Mia Hamm, Abby Wambach, Eva Longoria, and Serena Williams, kicked off in the summer of 2020. Keeping Press company on Angel City’s squad are other USWNT veterans such as Sydney Leroux and Julie Ertz, plus exciting younger players like 18-year-old USA forward Alyssa Thompson.

“One of the coolest parts about the Angel City project is that it was built to be a great women’s sports business, re-imagining the business of women’s sports,” Press said. “We’re selling tickets, we’re selling merch, and we are thriving.”

Press thinks Angel City is setting up a model of business success in sports—and women’s sports— that can be replicated and emulated.

“When I think about the growth and development of soccer, I think it's important that women have their own infrastructures, rather than continuing down the copy-and-paste road of (replicating) men’s sports.”

Press also said that the atmosphere at Angel City’s home ground is electric. She said she’s played at clubs with a history of much more diehard fans of the sport. She notes that she has played in front of bigger crowds as a member of the USA’s World Cup and Olympic squads. But none more exciting.

“There’s always the magic of Los Angeles. I am, as a hometown girl, obviously, a little biased. But I have never experienced anything like an Angel City home game. It’s the most welcoming, inclusive, celebratory place.”

Lastly, Press said that is important for her to be a part of an organization backed by female icons of sports such as Serena Williams and Billie Jean King.

“Our organization and our sport were built on the backs of icons like them. It just gives the club a values-first, purpose-led environment, that I think everyone loves.”

Read Frye’s interviews with Mia Hamm and Billie Jean King.