Female athletes tear their anterior cruciate ligaments (ACL) at an alarmingly higher rate in certain sports including basketball, team handball, and soccer. The participation in sports by girls has increased dramatically, in recent times.The rapidly increasing numbers of females participating impacts the number of injuries. However, the rates of ACL injuries in comparable sports of basketball and soccer have remained alarmingly high with change in male-to-female ratios over the last 10 years. The incidence of female to male is 3.5 times greater in basketball and 2.8 times greater in soccer.

The extrinsic or changeable RISK factors are controlled by the player and coaches. The intrinsic differences between male and female athletes that would explain why women tear the ACL two to eight times more frequently than men.