What is a sports hernia? (And why is it suddenly important to Austin FC fans?)
A sports hernia is not the same thing as a hernia, and that's good. But it's still sidelining Owen Wolff for what's optimistically estimated at four to six weeks.
In 2025, Austin FC relied significantly on Owen Wolff. The offensive player of the year led the team in goals, assists, and by extrapolation, goal contributions. Though Brandon Vázquez only got to play half a season, Wolff had more contributions than Vázquez and Uzuni combined.
So, when news of successful sports hernia surgery last Tuesday arrived, it was understandably concerning for Austin FC fans, despite the club's assurances that "Wolff is estimated to make a full recovery by mid to late February" and "he will immediately begin rehabilitation at St. David’s Performance Center."
We were curious about this — and depending on an interview I'm in the midst of chasing down, which was complicated last week by reasons that you'll find hilarious once all can be revealed, there will be a part two to this article. For now, though, let's just try understand what we're talking about here.
Sports hernia is a bit of a misnomer, as it's not a hernia at all. Whereas a hernia is, according to Cleveland Clinic, "when one of your organs pushes through the muscle or tissue that contains it," usually in the abdomen or groin (ewww), a sports hernia is "an injury (usually a tear) in the muscles and/or tendons in your lower abdomen or groin that causes chronic pain."
Other names for it include "athletic pubalgia, sportsman’s hernia and Gilmore’s groin," and it typically affects either the oblique muscles in the lower abdomen, the tendons attaching the oblique muscles to the pelvic bone, and the tendons attaching the thigh muscles to the pelvic bone.
"Approximately 5% of adult athletes experience sports hernias every year," Cleveland Clinic notes. "Sports hernias are more common in people who play sports that involve frequent and forceful twisting and turning."
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) provides a site that gives more information about the step-by-step process for getting to surgery.
Once it's diagnosed, the site recommends:
Treatment with ice and rest for the first seven to 10 days;
Once the two-week mark passes, four to six weeks of physical therapy.
Specifically, it says, "In many cases, 4 to 6 weeks of physical therapy will resolve any pain and allow an athlete to return to sports. If, however, the pain comes back when you resume sports activities, you may need to consider surgery to repair the torn tissues."
It then goes on to say that surgery can be done as:
A traditional, open procedure with one long incision; or
An endoscopic procedure, in which the surgeon makes smaller skin incisions and uses a small camera, called an endoscope, to see inside the abdomen.
From there, recovery is (and this is where the surgeons' organization bifurcates from the club) a six-week to 12-week process; six weeks for Wolff would mean missing all of preseason and the opening match against Minnesota. The club's mid-to-late February projection puts Wolff's recovery time as a more optimistic four to six weeks.
"More than 90% of patients who go through nonsurgical treatment and then surgery are able to return to sports activity," the AAOS adds. "In some patients, the tissues will tear again during sports, and the surgical repair will need to be repeated."
The situation begs some immediate questions: How soon will Wolff return to on-field activity? Will he make the trip to Coachella to bond with new teammates or will he be better staying behind and rehabbing where all the fancy machines are? And at what point will he be able to get into matches and for how long?
Clearly, in his absence, other players with chance creation aspirations have the opportunity to step up and show what they have. In 2026, Austin FC will need Owen Wolff. But they'll need assists from others as well.
Verde All Day is a reader-supported online publication covering Austin FC. Additional support is provided by Austin Telco Federal Credit Union. For more coverage, check out Emergency Podcast! (an Austin FC Podcast) wherever you get your podcasts.
We know Austin FC's six opponents for the preseason now ... and you can see one of those live in Austin. Also, Dani Pereira will continue to be Verde through most of his twenties.
In 2025, Austin FC relied significantly on Owen Wolff. The offensive player of the year led the team in goals, assists, and by extrapolation, goal contributions. Though Brandon Vázquez only got to play half a season, Wolff had more contributions than Vázquez and Uzuni combined.
So, when news of successful sports hernia surgery last Tuesday arrived, it was understandably concerning for Austin FC fans, despite the club's assurances that "Wolff is estimated to make a full recovery by mid to late February" and "he will immediately begin rehabilitation at St. David’s Performance Center."
We were curious about this — and depending on an interview I'm in the midst of chasing down, which was complicated last week by reasons that you'll find hilarious once all can be revealed, there will be a part two to this article. For now, though, let's just try understand what we're talking about here.
First of all, it's not a hernia
Sports hernia is a bit of a misnomer, as it's not a hernia at all. Whereas a hernia is, according to Cleveland Clinic, "when one of your organs pushes through the muscle or tissue that contains it," usually in the abdomen or groin (ewww), a sports hernia is "an injury (usually a tear) in the muscles and/or tendons in your lower abdomen or groin that causes chronic pain."
Other names for it include "athletic pubalgia, sportsman’s hernia and Gilmore’s groin," and it typically affects either the oblique muscles in the lower abdomen, the tendons attaching the oblique muscles to the pelvic bone, and the tendons attaching the thigh muscles to the pelvic bone.
"Approximately 5% of adult athletes experience sports hernias every year," Cleveland Clinic notes. "Sports hernias are more common in people who play sports that involve frequent and forceful twisting and turning."
How did he get to this point?
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) provides a site that gives more information about the step-by-step process for getting to surgery.
Once it's diagnosed, the site recommends:
Specifically, it says, "In many cases, 4 to 6 weeks of physical therapy will resolve any pain and allow an athlete to return to sports. If, however, the pain comes back when you resume sports activities, you may need to consider surgery to repair the torn tissues."
It then goes on to say that surgery can be done as:
From there, recovery is (and this is where the surgeons' organization bifurcates from the club) a six-week to 12-week process; six weeks for Wolff would mean missing all of preseason and the opening match against Minnesota. The club's mid-to-late February projection puts Wolff's recovery time as a more optimistic four to six weeks.
"More than 90% of patients who go through nonsurgical treatment and then surgery are able to return to sports activity," the AAOS adds. "In some patients, the tissues will tear again during sports, and the surgical repair will need to be repeated."
The situation begs some immediate questions: How soon will Wolff return to on-field activity? Will he make the trip to Coachella to bond with new teammates or will he be better staying behind and rehabbing where all the fancy machines are? And at what point will he be able to get into matches and for how long?
Clearly, in his absence, other players with chance creation aspirations have the opportunity to step up and show what they have. In 2026, Austin FC will need Owen Wolff. But they'll need assists from others as well.
Verde All Day is a reader-supported online publication covering Austin FC. Additional support is provided by Austin Telco Federal Credit Union. For more coverage, check out Emergency Podcast! (an Austin FC Podcast) wherever you get your podcasts.
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