Former USWNT star Sam Mewis retires. Here's why she left soccer and what she's doing next

Former U.S. women's national team star Sam Mewis has announced her retirement from soccer at age 31.

Mewis, who has been sidelined for nearly two years as she deals with a long-term knee injury, made the announcement in an interview with the Wall Street Journal.

"With both sadness and clarity, I am retiring from professional soccer. Unfortunately, my knee can no longer tolerate the impact that elite soccer requires. Though this isn't what I wanted, it’s clear that this is the only path forward for me," Mewis added in a post on Instagram.

"I want to thank everyone who has been on my team throughout this journey- soccer has put so many wonderful things in my life, but the most wonderful thing has been the people. To all of my family, friends, teammates, and fans- I truly feel that we did this together and I’m extremely grateful.

"I plan to share more about the journey of my injury someday. I know that there are many athletes who have faced the unique struggle of stepping away from sport early and I think these stories deserve to be told — and heard."

Mewis also announced she has taken on a new role as editor-in-chief of a new media vertical, The Women’s Game, on the Men in Blazers Media Network.

A decorated career

Though Mewis was forced to cut her career short, she managed to put together a lengthy list of accomplishments after turning pro out of UCLA in 2015.

Mewis won three NWSL titles, the first with the Western New York Flash in 2016 and then two more in 2018 and 2019 after the franchise relocated and became the North Carolina Courage.

On the international level, Mewis won the U-20 World Cup in 2012 before graduating to the senior USWNT two years later. She would go on to earn 83 caps and score 24 goals with the USWNT, becoming an integral part of the team that lifted the 2019 World Cup.

Mewis first suffered a knee injury in 2017 with the USWNT. After missing six months, she was able to return and play regularly through 2021. Following the Olympics in 2021, Mewis missed several months before returning for two brief appearances in the Challenge Cup in March 2022.

Those would end up being her final two career appearances. After undergoing surgery in January 2023, Mewis revealed in November that she was dealing with a cartilage injury that doctors told her would never fully heal.