USWNT star Mallory Swanson likely to miss World Cup with injury
By Oliver Hunt
After tearing her patella tendon in the first match against Ireland, Mallory Swanson is set to miss out on going to the World Cup this summer with the USWNT.
US Soccer announced that Mallory Swanson tore her patella tendon in Saturday’s afternoon match against Ireland. Swanson went down at the end of the first half, immediately holding her knee and surrounded by teammates calling for assistance. She was stretchered off the pitch and taken to the hospital to be evaluated.
There were no further updates on the day of the match, with Vlatko informing the press after the game that they didn’t know the extent of the injury yet.
The team has traveled to St. Louis for their second match against the Republic of Ireland but without Swanson. The Chicago Red Stars also provided an update on their forward, saying she has returned to Chicago for further evaluation and rest.
USWNT news: Mallory Swanson injury all but confirms missing World Cup
With a recovery timeline of 6-12 months, this injury means that Swanson will almost certainly miss out on representing her country at the Women’s World Cup this summer. It’s a huge blow to both her personally and the USWNT who have benefited from Swanson’s star power.
Along with the announcement of her injury, US Soccer also informed the public that NWSL rookie Alyssa Thompson has been called into camp to replace Swanson. While the USWNT still has plenty of winger attacking power in Lynn Williams, Trinity Rodman, and Sophia Smith, losing Swanson for the World Cup still hurts. She has had an explosive last two years after missing out on the Olympic roster, and just four months into 2023 this year was already shaping up to be the year of Swanson.
Mallory Swanson joins a long list of injured players set to miss out on this World Cup, including USWNT teammates Christen Press, Tobin Heath, Sam Mewis, and Catarina Macario. Not to mention other international stars like Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema. But not all the stories are bleak, there have been some triumphant returns from injury such as Tierna Davidson’s return to the pitch after her ACL tear, or Alexia Putellas who is trying to recover in time to make the World Cup.
Seeing Swanson miss this World Cup will be a heartbreaking blow to the United States and here’s hoping that Mal has a swift and successful recovery.