Catarina Macario will miss out on Olympics with the USWNT due to a knee injury.
Catarina Macario will no longer be part of the US Women’s Olympic Soccer team due to a knee injury that leaves her unable to compete.
The US forward was set to play on head coach Emma Hayes’ 18-player Olympic roster, which was announced on June 26.
Lynn Williams moves from her previous position of alternate to being one of the 18 due to Macario’s absence.
William’s spot on the alternates list has been replaced by Emily Sams.
Both changes to the full roster quickly obtained official confirmation from the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), the International Olympic Committee (IOC), as well as FIFA.
Catarina Macario’s position
Macario suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) back in 2022 which took her out of training for over 20 months.
After picking up this injury with her previous club, Lyon, Macario went on to miss the 2023 World Cup.
She has only just returned to play with her current club Chelsea, getting back on the field in March of this year.
“I think considering everything that Cat’s been through, it’s important she goes back to Chelsea and she will not be available for the Olympics,” Hayes said of Macario.
“I’m absolutely gutted for Cat, someone I’ve worked hard with. In the last 12 months she’s really put a shift in to get there. But it’s not to be and I know the team certainly want to give her our best support.”
After such a long time out working her way back to the field, this is undoubtedly devastating news for the US forward and a certain loss for the USWNT.
Lynn Williams steps up
NJ/NY Gotham forward Lynn Williams enters the 18 with a bundle of experience and a plethora of accolades.
Williams is the National Women’s Soccer League all-time top goalscorer and captains NJ/NY Gotham.
She has earned 63 caps with the USWNT, racking up 18 goals and 12 assists through her international career since 2016.
Williams had a similar experience in regards to moving from alternate to the 18 when she was called up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics’ 18-player squad after initially training as an alternate.
The Gotham forward has been training with the squad in preparation for a situation just like this so stood ready to step up into the 18.
Hayes has made it clear that: “nothing [has changed] because I always viewed it as 22 with the rule changes and such. Absolutely nothing changes.
“What does change is that without Cat is I have to think about some different permutations for the team which I’ve already reflected on and for us, it’s about now looking towards that.”
Emily Sams as alternate
Lynn Williams’ replacement on the alternate list, Emily Sams, has been training with the USWNT, making her transition more or less smooth.
The 25-year-old plays for Orlando Pride, who currently sit at the top of the NWSL table.
As part of their backline, Sams has helped the Pride reach the NWSL’s best defensive record this season, conceding as few as 12 goals in 16 matches.
Sams earned her first international call up with the USWNT in this summer’s camp.
As a defender, Sams comes in with a different role from forward Lynn Williams, however her entry does mean that Hayes selection of alternates will now include a defender.
She joins the three other alternates on the roster, midfielders Hal Hershfelt and Croix Bethune, and goalkeeper Jane Campbell.
The USWNT has now faced Mexico and Costa Rica in friendly matches before heading to France to begin their Olympic campaign on July 25.
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