The Washington Spirit confirmed today that defender Caprice Dydasco suffered a torn ACL in the NWSL championship. The 23 year old could miss the start of the 2017 season. Dydasco, who was expected to play for the Newcastle Jets of Australia’s W-League in the offseason, will instead spend the next few months recovering from surgery.
“We are confident that she will work tirelessly to get through this challenge and return better than ever,” Spirit head coach Jim Gabarra said.
The young left back suffered a non-contact left knee injury in the 19th minute of the championship match and was replaced by Alyssa Kleiner. The standard recovery for a torn ACL is 6-9 months, leaving Dydasco in a race against time to be available at the start of the 2017 season.
Though Dydasco didn't see much time at the beginning of the season, she ended the regular season with twelve straight 90 minute outings and also started both playoff games.
Dydasco’s injury was the second ACL tear a Spirit player suffered in the late stages of the season. Rookie forward Cali Farquharson tore her left ACL in the opening minutes of the Spirit’s September 7 game against the Seattle Reign.