Litman Lake
Football and college football analyst
Star forward Mallory Swanson tore the patellar tendon in her left knee during the first half of the United States Women’s National Team’s 2-0 win over the Republic of Ireland, US Soccer announced Sunday. Swanson has already returned to Chicago for further evaluation.
There is no current timetable for Swanson’s return, but her injury in Saturday’s win is a devastating blow to her and the team. Swanson has been the USWNT’s best player in 2023, scoring seven goals in five games before Saturday’s game. He had been on a six-game hitting streak, which is tied for the fourth-longest hitting streak by any player in USWNT history.
She had also been on a mission to become one of the best soccer players in the world after not making the USWNT’s roster for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. She told FOX Sports that she had never experienced adversity in his career up to that point, but he came back stronger and more determined than ever.
The 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand is less than four months away. The USA opens the tournament on July 22 against Vietnam in Auckland, NZ
Alyssa Thompson will replace Swanson on the USWNT roster for the remainder of training camp as the team prepares for another friendly against Ireland on Tuesday at CITYPARK in St. Louis.
Thompson, 18, became the youngest NWSL draft pick in league history when Angel City FC selected her No. 1 earlier this year. Thompson has two USWNT caps, winning them last October when she was called up for games against England, in front of more than 70,000 fans at Wembley Stadium, and Spain. He then played in both games as a 17-year-old.
When USA coach Vlatko Andonovski released his 26-man roster for the current training camp in April, he was asked if Thompson was still in the mix. At the time, he said he values Thompson and believes that even though she didn’t make the initial training camp roster, she could compete for a spot on the World Cup roster.
“Part of the reason he was in those camps was that if he happens to have a good season, do well and earn a place at the World Cup, it wouldn’t be his first camp with the team.” Andonovski said before adding: “[She has] experience in the environment, [understands] the dynamics of the environment and has already played great matches against great rivals.”
The team was visibly shaken up and down while discussing Swanson’s injury after Saturday’s game.
“Everybody was affected by it,” Andonovski said. “Mal is a lovable person. He is a happy person and brings joy to the environment. Right now, we are all waiting for good news and hope to see Mal back on the field soon.”
Swanson has been the USWNT’s best player in 2023, scoring seven goals in five games before Saturday’s game. In fact, Swanson had been on a six-game hitting streak, which is tied for the fourth-longest hitting streak of any player in USWNT history.
Laken Litman covers college football, college basketball and soccer for FOX Sports. He previously wrote for Sports Illustrated, USA Today and The Indianapolis Star. She is the author of “Strong Like a Woman,” published in the spring of 2022 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Title IX. Follow her on Twitter @LakenLitman.
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