The USWNT's 2-0 friendly victory over Ireland on Saturday was overshadowed by a horror injury to Mallory Swanson that left the 24-year-old hospitalized in Austin, Texas.
On Sunday, the USWNT provided a Mallory Swanson injury update that confirmed the seriousness of the incident. Swanson suffered a torn patella tendon in her left knee and has been replaced in the squad by 18-year-old Alyssa Thompson.
Forward Alyssa Thompson will replace Mallory Swanson on the USWNT training camp roster ahead of Tuesday's friendly in St. Louis.
Swanson tore the patella tendon in her left knee in yesterday's match against Ireland. We're with you all the way, Mal. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/1pq3T5KUq6— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) April 9, 2023
With the World Cup just over three months away, Swanson's participation is agonizingly over. There's no confirmed timeline of recovery, but New York Mets pitcher Edwin Díaz just suffered the same injury at the World Baseball Classic and he's out for at least eight months.
After being left off the Olympic roster, Swanson had entered her "Mal 3.0" phase and was the undisputed starter on the left wing. She was named the MVP of the SheBelieves Cup and had 14 goals and seven assists in her last 20 caps heading into Saturday's match.
Thompson, the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft, now gets an opportunity against Ireland on Tuesday. Megan Rapinoe, who missed this camp with an ankle injury, could also now play a larger role in Australia and New Zealand.
