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Mallory Swanson departed the US women’s national team training camp after picking up an injury in the friendly against Ireland on Saturday in Austin, Texas.
Swanson suffered a torn patella tendon in her left knee near the end of the first half following a collision with Ireland’s Aoife Mannion. When falling, the player grabbed her left knee immediately and signaled for assistance before being stretchered off the field.
USWNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski revealed her recovery timeline remains unclear, as she returns to Chicago for further evaluation. Her participation in the Women’s World Cup is now at risk.
Forward Alyssa Thompson will now replace Swanson on the US women’s national team training camp roster. The 18-year-old is currently on her first season with Angel City, after being chosen as the number one pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft. She stands as the youngest draft pick in league history.
Thompson has quickly impressed, scoring in her Angel City debut before doubling her tally with a penalty kick in her second match. She has two USWNT caps, earning both last October during her first senior team call-up.
Thompson was also called up to the team’s final camp of 2022, but failed to dress for either of the year-end matches against Germany.
“Alyssa Thompson, I mean, she’s an exciting player. If there is a person that believes in Alyssa Thompson, or a coach that believes in Alyssa Thompson, it’d probably be me,” Andonovski said when explaining her initial absence.
“Not long ago, when she was 17 years old, her first cap was against one of the best teams in the world in front of 80,000 people, and that was a decision that I made. So that speaks of how much I value Alyssa and how much I believe in her.”
With Swanson in doubt for the international tournament, Thompson will now be able to make her case for a spot on that roster.
The USWNT head into their final friendly ahead of the World Cup, hosting Ireland in St. Louis.
