Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images
Angel City FC’s 2-0 win over the San Diego Wave on Saturday should have been a cause for celebration. Instead, it was marred by injury.
It didn’t take long for ninth-place Angel City to take down the NWSL table leaders in San Diego. Maiara Niehues scored in the 17th minute, marking four straight games with a goal for the Brazilian international. Ary Borges finished the job with a goal less than 10 minutes later.
But heartbreak ensued just before the halftime whistle when Jun Endo went down with what appeared to be a non-contact injury. The Japanese midfielder grabbed her knee and could be heard sobbing before she walked off the pitch.
Endo tore her ACL in 2024 and went through a recovery process that lasted more than a year. She returned to the pitch in June 2025 and completed her first full 90 minutes in Angel City’s win over the Orlando Pride on July 3.
