“This is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to say or admit to myself,” began Angel City star Sydney Leroux. “But after a lot of reflection, I’ve made the difficult decision to step away from soccer for my mental health.” Shocking, yet honest—this was Leroux’s announcement nine weeks ago when she revealed her decision to pause her playing career. Honestly, a relatable moment, the kind where one feels on the verge of giving up entirely, but instead chooses to take a step back and hold on to hope for a comeback.

Such a difficult time only calls for the affected individual to receive at least some moral support and unwavering backing. But talk about slamming the door in their face—what if I told you there’s someone who believes Leroux isn’t deserving of such leeway? In fact, it even reached a point where this antagonist demanded the USWNT veteran be released from the team she’s not being able to give time!

Yes, it’s true. All of this stemmed from a rather unique request made to Angel City FC. An X user named @bkmelendez posted a straightforward tweet against Sydney Leroux, stating, “Please release Sydney. No point wasting a roster spot on someone who will not play.” Interestingly, this caught the eye of the forward who didn’t hesitate to reply to the X user’s shocking wish by taking a subtle dig.

The 35-year-old wrote, “God forbid a girl takes care of her wellbeing! 😂,” making it sound like nothing but ice-cold sarcasm about how unfortunate it is that even though she took a break to prioritize her mental health, the fan’s ask that the NWSL team release her and make room for someone deemed fit enough to contribute minutes on the field.

Notably, during the previous campaign she made over 25 appearances for ACFC, notching seven goals and an assist. Though the veteran forward was expected to retain a similar form in the 2025 season, she ended up releasing a surprise note just when the ACFC was kicking off their campaign. Well, that message was also no less than a precautionary note, as many thought that Leroux was pregnant.

But while happily squashing pregnancy rumors, the Surrey, Canada native wrote, “Right now, I owe it to myself and my children to take a step back and take care of me,” a clear indication that she took this call to prioritize herself and family. In fact, the former Orlando Pride star deemed it the ‘best‘ choice for the time being.

Either way, this was indeed a subtle, hilarious, and perfectly timed way for Leroux to shut down the negativity from the hater—savage as always. Although, this serves as a reminder: even though the former Seattle Reign forward may seem distant from team activities, it doesn’t mean she isn’t still looking out for them!

Sydney Leroux gives a special tribute to Angel City teammate

Last week, a tragic event transpired after Savy King collapsed during the hour mark while in action vs Utah Royals. The defender was carted off the pitch despite the intervention of nine paramedics who accounted her with CPR for over 10 minutes. She was rushed to a nearby hospital where the next morning, the 20-year-old underwent a successful heart surgery. Since then, the entire Angel City roster and fans alike have been keeping her in their prayers as a positive update surfaced regarding her health scare.

For someone who may not be constantly present with the squad, it was only natural for Sydney Leroux to remind Savy King how much she misses her and stands by her. Interestingly, the veteran recently posted a picture with the young defender, likely taken during an official team jersey photoshoot, where both posed with Leroux hugging King from behind. Sydney added a heartfelt caption: “Pictures that make me smile big.”

Surprisingly, King—who finally shared a health update in her own words—noticed the gesture. The starlet reshared the post today on her Instagram story with the caption: “Twins ❤🤞🏻. Best person ever☺️,” clearly showing how much she appreciated her teammate’s support.

Aww. Dunnit make you wish both Savy King and Sydney Leroux return to action soon? Well, let’s hope that happens quickly!