U.S. WNT defender Kelley O’Hara undergoes ankle surgery

CHICAGO (Via U.S. Soccer) – U.S. Women’s National Team defender Kelley O’Hara has undergone an arthroscopic ankle procedure to remove loose bodies in her right ankle. The surgery was performed this morning in Atlanta and she will be sidelined for 8-12 weeks.

O’Hara, who has 112 caps for the USA, started four games at the 2018 Concacaf Women’s Championship while playing 318 minutes, but she and the team staff have determined this period at the end of the year is the best window to correct the lingering ankle issue.

The surgery means that O’Hara will miss the USA’s final games of the year in November during a trip to Europe.

“It’s all good. These kinds of things come with the territory,” O’Hara said. “This is just the best time to get the procedure done so I’m one hundred percent heading into 2019 and physically ready to perform at the level I want to and need to. It’s a bummer that I won’t get to Europe, but the most important thing is to be healthy for next year.”