This is when Mallory Swanson suffered her knee injury. (Dustin Safranek-USA TODAY Sports)
By Michael Lewis
FrontRowSoccer.com Editor
Mallory Swanson suffered a torn patella tendon in her left knee in the U.S. women’s national team’s 2-0 win over the Republic of Ireland on Saturday, which could very well put her participation in this summer’s Women’s World Cup in jeopardy.
U.S. Soccer said on Sunday that Swanson, who is the team’s leading goal-scorer this year, will return to Chicago for further evaluation.
The federation did not say how long Swanson might be sidelined, although torn patella tendon’s tradition take at least six months from which an athlete to recover. The severity of Swanson’s injury was not known or not released by U.S. Soccer.
Swanson went down with a left knee injury in the 40th minute after contact with an Irish player at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas. She was carted off and immediately transport to a nearby hospital.
Her exact status was not immediately known by the team or head coach Vlatko Andonovski.
“She’s getting checked out as we speak,” he said during a post-game press conference. “I’m hoping for good news in the future.”
Swanson is the team’s leading scorer this year with seven total goals and had a six-game scoring streak, tied for fourth longest in team history.
Forward Alyssa Thompson will replace Mallory Swanson on the roster ahead of Tuesday’s match against the Republic of Ireland on April 11 at CITYPARK in St. Louis (7:30 p.m. ET on HBO Max, Universo and Peacock).
Thompson, 18, was the top pick in the 2023 National Women’s Soccer League draft by Angel City FC, becoming the youngest draft choice in league history. She has gotten off to a fine start in her first pro campaign, scoring in her debut and earning a penalty kick in her second game. Thompson, who competed in the 2022 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica, has earned two full-team caps in October.
She made her USWNT debut, coming on as a substitute against England in front of more than 76,000 fans at Wembley Stadium in London on Oct. 7, 2022. She also came off the bench against host Spain four days later in Pamplona.
U.S. Women’s National Team Roster by Position (Club; Caps/Goals)
USA vs. Republic of Ireland – April 11 – St. Louis, Mo.
GOALKEEPERS (3): Adrianna Franch (Kansas City Current; 10), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage; 13), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars; 90)
DEFENDERS (10): Alana Cook (OL Reign; 23/0), Tierna Davidson (Chicago Red Stars; 48/1), Emily Fox (North Carolina Courage; 28/1), Crystal Dunn (Portland Thorns FC; 131/24), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC; 15/0), Sofia Huerta (OL Reign; 28/0), Casey Krueger (Chicago Red Stars; 37/0), Kelley O’Hara (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 156/3), Becky Sauerbrunn (Portland Thorns FC; 215/0), Emily Sonnett (OL Reign; 74/1)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Julie Ertz (Unattached; 117/20), Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon, FRA; 127/27), Taylor Kornieck (San Diego Wave FC; 12/2), Rose Lavelle (OL Reign; 88/24), Kristie Mewis (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 50/7), Ashley Sanchez (Washington Spirit; 23/3), Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit; 43/3)
FORWARDS (6): Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit; 18/5), Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave FC; 205/121), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit; 16/2), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC; 28/12), Alyssa Thompson (Angel City FC; 2/0), Lynn Williams (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 52/15)
