Knee injury sidelines Red Stars’ Boxx

Shannon Boxx, U.S. Women’s National Team and Chicago Red Stars midfielder, will undergo an exploratory arthroscopic surgery on her right knee today, according to team officials.

Boxx has been experiencing swelling and pain over the last several months, and the Red Stars hope to the problem is confined to a loose piece or pieces of cartilage that can be cleaned up during the surgery. If so, Boxx should be out 4-6 weeks, pending the results of the procedure, and will likely be unavailable for the USA’s June 2 match against Canada at BMO Field in Toronto.

Boxx, who has 186 caps for the USA, has played in six of the national team’s eight matches so far in 2013, scoring two goals with one assist, but decided to undergo the procedure in order to get back on the field for the Red Stars and the USA as soon as possible.

“I would have loved to continue playing during the start of Red Stars season as well as be available for the game in Canada,” said Boxx. “But the pain was not subsiding, so in talking to all my coaches and athletic trainers on both teams, it seemed like the best time to get the procedure done so I can be one-hundred percent and pain-free again for both club and country.”