After suffering a horrible injury on Saturday afternoon, USWNT star Mallory Swanson’s fate for the 2023 Women’s World Cup has been revealed.
The USWNT announced on Sunday that Swanson tore the patella tendon in her left knee in yesterday’s friendly match against the Republic of Ireland. Forward Alyssa Thompson will replace Swanson on the USWNT training camp roster ahead of Tuesday’s friendly in St. Louis.
Swanson’s injury is devastating, considering that these two matches were supposed to be warm-ups for the USWNT ahead of the 2023 Women’s World Cup this summer. Although it took place in a different sport and much different setting, New York Mets closer Edwin Díaz suffered the same injury as Swanson during the World Baseball Classic, and a safely estimated timeline for his return was around 6-to-8 months.
While the USWNT hasn’t officially ruled out Swanson for the World Cup, the injury all but confirms her likely absence from the tournament. The event is set to take place in Australia and New Zealand in July and August.
Dating back to 2016, Swanson has recorded 32 goals in 87 career appearances in international play. Over the last two years, she’s scored 14 goals in 20 appearances, while also scoring in five consecutive national team matches this year in friendlies and in the SheBelieves Cup.
She married Chicago Cubs All-Star shortstop Dansby Swanson in December 2022 and began using her married name, rather than her maiden name of Pugh (which she still uses in her Twitter handle), starting this year.
The sports world reacted to the news of Mallory’s devastating injury on social media:
“.@MalPugh we love you I am so sorry this has happened,” wrote Molly Knight. “You will be back better than ever.”
“Absolutely gutted for Mal, who was set to become THE poster child at long last for USA Women’s Soccer this summer,” tweeted Mia O’Brien. “Instead: our country is banking on Dennis Rodman’s genes, as everyone predicted.” [Rodman’s daughter Trinity plays for the USWNT.]
“Absolutely gutted for Mal,” said Melissa Ortiz. “She by far was going to be the star of the WC especially in the form shes been in. As someone that has missed a WC due to injury, I know exactly how it was mentally/emotionally more than anything. Wishing her a speedy recovery + best come back ever!”
[USWNT on Twitter]
