The United States women’s national team were dealt a major blow on Friday as it was announced that Catarina Macario will miss out on the 2024 Paris Olympics due to issues with her right knee.
Catarina Macario injury
USWNT head coach Emma Hayes announced that the 24-year-old is dealing with “consistent irritation in her right knee” and won’t be able to prepare and compete in the Summer Games.
During today’s pre-match press conference, Emma Hayes announced that Catarina Macario is unable to prepare physically for the Olympic tournament due to consistent irritation in her right knee » https://t.co/EtaiwfJ6py
Pending official confirmation from the USOPC, IOC and FIFA,… pic.twitter.com/k7Uowy7fHM— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) July 12, 2024
Macario recently returned from an ACL injury that sidelined her for over 20 months. She suffered the injury in June 2022 with her former club Lyon, missed out on the 2023 Women’s World Cup and made her return to the field with Chelsea in March of this year.
"I'm absolutely gutted for Cat,” Hayes said. “She's someone who has worked hard within the last 12 months. She's really put in a shift to get there but it's not to be.
"It's not a long-term situation, (she's) just not going to recover in time.”
Macario will travel back to London with her club team Chelsea to treat the knee issue.
Taking Macario’s spot on the Olympic roster will be veteran forward Lynn Williams, pending approval. The Gotham FC forward set the NWSL scoring record earlier this year with her 79th league goal of her career.
Williams, 31, was one of the four named alternates for the 2024 Olympic roster. The three other alternates are midfielders Hal Hershfelt and Croix Bethune along with goalkeeper Jane Campbell.
A last-minute rule change with expanded rosters in the 2020 Olympics saw Williams compete in Tokyo and play a major role in the quarterfinal vs. Netherlands.
She went from just missing the cut of being on the team, only seeing 16 minutes in the group stage, to scoring and assisting in the USWNT’s 2-2 draw and penalty shootout victory against the Dutch.
¡DESPERTÓ @USWNT!
Y de ‘palomita’ así lo empató @sammymewyLa jugada de @lynnraenie fue de lo mejor
Síguelo EN VIVO por nuestra APP Telemundo Deportes ➡️ https://t.co/lrot2VoKku #JuegosOlimpicos #NED 1-1 #USA pic.twitter.com/b2Yt4VTHci
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) July 30, 2021
¡YA LE DIO LA VUELTA @USWNT!
Una serie de rebotes en el área que aprovechó @lynnraenie para definir el segundoSíguelo EN VIVO por nuestra APP Telemundo Deportes ➡️ https://t.co/lrot2VoKku #JuegosOlimpicos #NED 1-2 #USA pic.twitter.com/uaj5O6HZeW
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) July 30, 2021
The USWNT will face Zambia, Germany and Australia in the group stage of the 2024 Olympics. Their campaign begins on Thursday, July 25 against Zambia.
