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Angel City FC midfielder Hina Sugita will be out for the entire 2026 season with an ACL tear in her left knee. The team announced the news in a statement on Tuesday, two days after Angel City’s 4-0 win in a season opener against the Chicago Stars on Sunday.
Sugita did not play in the season opener.
“Hina is a world class athlete and teammate,” Angel City head coach Alex Straus said in a statement, per ESPN.
“We are devastated for her, but know she will bring the same focus and determination to her rehab as she does on the pitch. The entire team and club are behind her. We are prepared to support her on her road to recovery and look forward to having her back,” Straus added.
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Oct 19, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Angel City FC midfielder Hina Sugita (7) controls the ball during the second half against Portland Thorns FC at BMO Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Angel City Was Planning to Build Its Midfield Around Sugita
Sugita was entering her first full season with Angel City after joining the team during a trade with the Portland Thorns in September. She played four seasons with the Thorns, then she played and started in four games of the 2025 season with Angel City.
The Thorns traded Sugita to Angel City for defender M.A. Vignola and $600,000 in intra-league transfer funds.
Sugita was intended to be a strong veteran addition to the team that would bolster the midfield. In addition to her experience in the NWSL, Sugita has recorded 51 international caps with the Japanese National Team, including two World Cups in 2019 and 2023.
Sugita Was Not the Only Player Out With a Knee Injury in the Season Opener
Angel City forward Jun Endo also missed Sunday’s season opener with a knee injury. Endo tore her ACL during preseason two years ago, which required her to miss all of the 2024 season and half of the 2025 season.
Endo started in six games of the 2025 season for Angel City. Last month, she shared that she is dealing with some issues with her surgically repaired knee but her ACL is still intact.
“It’s not a new injury and I didn’t re-tear my ACL. There’s just still a significant imbalance between my left and right side,” Endo wrote on social media in February.
Like Sugita, Endo is a member of the Japanese National Team and has 44 international caps.
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Oct 19, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Angel City FC forward Jun Endo (18) kicks the ball during the first half against Portland Thorns FC at BMO Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Photo Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
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