Hanson's Sam Mewis announces retirement from professional soccer at age 31

Former Whitman-Hanson High soccer star Sam Mewis on Friday announced her retirement from professional soccer at age 31.

Mewis cited a knee injury in stepping away from the game, writing on X, formerly known as Twitter: "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 won't be far from the game, though, as she will serve as editor-in-chief of women's soccer coverage for the Men in Blazers Media Network. In an announcement, the network described her role as "developing a myriad of new cross-platform programming for the network in addition to live game coverage, Twitch watchalongs, and live podcast tour shows. ... In this new role, Mewis will oversee an ambitious build-out to cover all aspects of the fast-growing global game including NWSL, European competitions, and international tournament play."

In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE magazine, Mewis said she's enthused about the new chapter, noting, "I'm really excited about the project and what we can do, and I feel really confident that this is the right place to do it because Men in Blazers have been so supportive of this opportunity for growth and for this broad range of coverage. It's a big endeavor, but I think that we have all the people in place to make it happen."

Mewis' career trophy haul is impressive, highlighted by a 2019 Women's World Cup triumph, secured by a 2-0 win over the Netherlands in Lyon, France. She was capped 83 times for the U.S., beginning in 2014, and scored 24 goals from her midfield position. She was named U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year for 2020.

Mewis also won an FA Cup while playing for Manchester City's women's team in 2020 and claimed three titles in the National Women's Soccer League, with the Western New York Flash (2016) and the Carolina Courage (2018, 2019). She starred at UCLA, winning a national championship, after a standout career at Whitman-Hanson.

More: Soccer star Sam Mewis says Whitman-Hanson prepared her well for pro career

As the keynote speaker at the 2021 Massachusetts Girls and Women in Sports Day virtual celebration, Mewis fondly recalled her high school playing career, and not just her time on the soccer field.

"When I was growing up," she said, "I feel so lucky that I still got to experience what I did. I played high school basketball for a couple of years, I ran track one year. Growing up I played all different sports − I did swimming, I played baseball and I ran cross country. I did everything. I do think being exposed to different kinds of teams and different kinds of activities helped me to develop as an athlete and also as a teammate. I think having to learn what the basketball culture was like and having to really challenge myself by trying to make varsity as a freshman, all those things were really good for me as a person and an athlete."

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Sam Mewis and her older sister Kristie both starred at Whitman-Hanson and on a global stage, leading the U.S. to a runner-up finish at the 2008 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in New Zealand, becoming the first sisters to represent the U.S. at a World Cup. They also played together at the 2010 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup. Sam Mewis missed the 2023 World Cup in Australia with her knee injury, but Kristie made the team and scored in a shootout, although the U.S. lost in the Round of 16.

The sisters were featured in a Netflix docuseries "Under Pressure," which chronicled the USWNT's World Cup run. Kristie Mewis now plays for London-based West Ham United after leading New York-based Gotham FC to the 2023 NWSL championship.

Sam Mewis has been struggling with a knee problems since 2017. She had additional surgery a year ago, and the injury ultimately sabotaged her high-profile trade to the Kansas City Current of the NWSL in 2021. She wound up playing just two games for the Current as part of the NWSL Challenge Cup in March 2022.

Sam Mewis told PEOPLE magazine that dealing with the injury has been "a long road for sure, and it's been really emotional, and a lot of ups and downs." She said the people closest to her, including her sister, her parents and her husband, Pat Johnson, "saw (the retirement decision) coming and started being on the same page with me over the last couple of months."

"I think we all together slowly came to the realization," she added. "But once it was official that I was going to work with Men in Blazers and announce my retirement, I started reaching out to more teammates and friends and family, just wanting them to hear it from me first. Most of the people in my life know, and some of that was hard too, because nobody really wanted this."

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Hanson's Sam Mewis retires from pro women's soccer, citing knee injury