Ollie Wright Will Undergo ACL Surgery
The Portland Hearts of Pine midfielder sustained a season-ending knee injury on September 19.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Soccer
Portland Hearts of Pine midfielder Ollie Wright will undergo surgery on September 29, 2026, to repair a torn ACL in his right knee. The injury occurred during a match on September 19, 2026, when Wright lost his footing and his leg became trapped.
Why it matters
The surgery is necessary to address the ACL tear, which will sideline the team leader in career goals and assists for an estimated recovery period of nine months to a year. Wright aims to return to the pitch for the 2027 season.
Wright is the club leader with 19 goals and 16 assists across his tenure. The Portland Hearts of Pine currently rank 14th in their 17-team league with a 7-12-9 record and have allowed 46 goals over their last 22 matches.
The players
Ollie Wright
He is the Portland Hearts of Pine midfielder and the team's all-time leader in both goals and assists.
Portland Hearts of Pine
This is a professional soccer club currently ranked 14th in its 17-team league.
Hunter Morse
He is the goalkeeper for the Portland Hearts of Pine who has recorded 101 saves this season.
Chattanooga Red Wolves
This is the professional soccer team that was playing against Portland when the injury occurred.
The details
The injury happened when Wright was competing against the Chattanooga Red Wolves. He is scheduled to undergo the procedure in Scarborough, with hopes of a return to professional play next year.
Timeline
September 19, 2026: Wright suffered his torn ACL injury.
September 29, 2026: Wright is scheduled for knee surgery.
2027 season: Wright plans to return to the Hearts of Pine.
Season Trajectory
The loss of a top statistical contributor further complicates the Hearts of Pine's current standing at 14th in the league. Without their primary playmaker, the team must adjust its rotation to compensate for the absence of a player who holds the club records for goals and assists.
Wright will be unavailable for the remainder of the 2026 campaign after recording 13 goals in 2025 and 6 in the current season. This shift forces a change in the Portland roster, which has already allowed 46 goals across its past 22 outings.
The takeaway
An ACL tear remains one of the most challenging injuries for professional soccer players to overcome during a season. Athletes in this position typically focus on intensive physical therapy to regain full mobility for the following year.
Further reading
For more updates on the team, visit Soccer.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Portland Press Herald.
