San Jose CyberRays forward Pretinha's WUSA season came to an end and her Women's World Cup plans were canceled by a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered during Brazil's 1-0 loss Sunday to the U.S. women's national team in New Orleans.
The torn ACL, in her right knee, was confirmed in an examination after Pretinha returned Monday to the Bay Area. She was hurt in the 26th minute, falling to the turf after her knee buckled while confronting U.S. defender Kate Sobrero.
The Brazilian star was enjoying her finest WUSA season and led San Jose with five goals and five assists.
Pretinha, who has played in the three previous Women's World Cups and the 1996 and 2000 Olympics, is the seventh WUSA player sidelined by an ACL tear this season. In addition, Washington's Emmy Barr is out for the season with a torn meniscus, and Philadelphia's Kelly Smith — who missed most of last season with an ACL tear — has been out most of the year with a meniscus tear.
Carolina's Hege Riise and Danielle Fotopoulos, San Diego's Shannon MacMillan and Philadelphia's Deliah Arrington suffered their ACL injuries this year during WUSA matches. New York's Sara Whalen suffered her injury last season. Her Power teammate Kristy Whelchel was hurt during the offseason.
San Jose's Dianne Alagich, Atlanta's Marci Miller, Washington's Lindsay Stoecker, New York's Christie Pearce, former Philadelphia forward Rakel Karvelsson and former New York forward Jen O'Sullivan also have sustained torn ACLs while in the WUSA.
Norway playmaker Riise, injured in mid-April, and U.S. star MacMillan, hurt in mid-May, have been rehabbing their knees with the hope they will be able to play in the Sept. 20-Oct. 12 World Cup.