Another year, another ACL tear: Gotham FC loses Kayla Duran to ACL injury | OneFootball

Taryn Torres and McCall Zerboni in 2023. Midge Purce in 2024. Tierna Davidson and Torres in 2025. It feels like over the past few years, NJ/NY Gotham FC has had an issue with losing players to ACL injuries. All of the players listed above have torn their ACLs since 2023, and now, another player can be added to the list.

After getting hurt in the loss against the Kansas City Current, Gotham FC announced that Kayla Duran has been added to the season-ending injury list due to an ACL injury. The defender is the latest Bat to suffer the devastating injury that can often keep soccer players out for about a year, give or take.

Gotham FC loses Kayla Duan to an ACL injury

This is devastating news for the NJ/NY side. They were already dealing with injury problems in the backline, for Bruninha and Mandy Freeman have been out. In addition, Davidson is still returning from her ACL tear last year, and does not appear to be fit for 90 minutes of play. At the same time, it is tragic for Duran. The right-back, who initially signed with Gotham last summer, has vastly improved. Her performances over the last few matches have been impressive and have provided confidence to the fans when she is on the pitch.

Now, the Bats have lost another defender. Purce might be utilized as the right-back, especially as a right wing-back, but that would take her out of the final third. As such, it would be ideal for either Bruninha or Freeman to be ready to go after the international break.

Meanwhile, the cloud of ACL injuries over the last few years will not go away. It feels like at least one player tears their ACL each season. Hence, is there a curse on Gotham FC?

More than likely, that is not the case. Rather, the team might just have some bad luck with those injuries. Knee injuries tend to be common in the beautiful game, and the NJ/NY side has also lost players to other knee injuries over the last few years as well. Of course, the ACL, which is often deemed the worst one, has been a recurring theme.

Is it possible that Gotham needs to change things regarding their training? Are there preventive measures that can be taken? Does the club need to make changes to their athletic training staff?

These are all valid questions, but again, bad luck could be the answer. Plus, per Boston Children's Hospital, ACL tears are more common in female athletes compared to male athletes.

Still, it is easy to wander in thought and question why so many Gotham FC players have suffered ACL injuries in the last few seasons. And sadly, Duran is just the latest to suffer that unfortunate end to her season.