Wave's leading scorer suffers knee injury playing for Brazil
The first-place San Diego Wave will be without their leading scorer for the rest of the 2026 season after she suffered a knee injury playing for her native Brazil.
Dudinha suffered a ruptured right ACL in the first half of Tuesday's 1-0 loss to the United States in Fortaleza, Brazil, the country’s national team said. Dudinha posted to Instagram that she also suffered an injury to her meniscus. Torn ACLs must be surgically repaired; injured soccer players typically need between nine and 12 months before they're cleared to return.
"The athlete has already begun treatment with the Brazilian National Team's medical department, with surgery scheduled and continued clinical follow-up and monitoring together with the medical department of her club, San Diego Wave," Brazil's women's national team said in a statement, noting that it "wishes the athlete strength and a good recovery."
The 20-year-old Dudinha - birth name: Maria Eduarda Rodrigues - leads the Wave with five goals at the National Women’s Soccer League’s international break. Her nine goals plus assists rank second in the National Women's Soccer League.
Dudinha's devastating injury may be softened somewhat by the Wave's success at the break - they're 8-4-1, one point ahead of the Utah Royals atop the standings - and the pending debut of Catarina Macario sometime after San Diego’s season resumes on July 4. Macario, who signed a NWSL-record contract with the Wave earlier this spring but has yet to play for the club, also plays forward. Dudinha is under contract with the Wave through the 2027 season, while Macario is signed through 2030.
Dudinha posted to Instagram that she'll be leaning on her faith as she rehabilitates her injury.
"Despite the great sadness I feel and that I am still understanding everything that is happening, I continue to believe in God’s plan with even more faith!" she wrote.
Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.
This story was originally published June 11, 2026 at 6:42 PM.