A 2-0 victory for the U.S. women’s national team over Ireland in Austin, Texas, on Saturday came at the cost of star forward Mallory Swanson.
Swanson, the leading scorer for the U.S. this year, was carted off late in the first half of the friendly when her left knee buckled after a challenge by Aoife Mannion in the 40th minute.
Swanson immediately clutched her knee as her teammates frantically summoned for medical assistance. Her knee was put in a splint and she waved to the crowd as she was taken from the field.
There was no update on her injury.
Swanson, who used to go by Pugh before her marriage to Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson, has seven goals in five matches in 2023, five more goals than anyone else on the team. Dating back to the final match of 2022, she had scored in six consecutive matches, tied for the fourth-longest streak in USWNT history.
If she is out an extended period it could jeopardize her chance playing in the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. The first U.S. match is July 22 against Vietnam.
Ireland and the Americans play again Tuesday in St. Louis in the final match before U.S. coach Vlatko Andonovski and his staff select the 23-player roster for the World Cup.
While the roster must be submitted to FIFA by July 12, Andonovski wanted it finalized well before then but he now may have to consider saving a spot for Swanson depending on the severity of the injury.
Earlier in the match, Swanson was briefly treated for an apparent shoulder injury after colliding head-first with the knee of Irish goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan.
The U.S. took lead in the 37th minute on a strike outside the box by Emily Fox, the first career goal in 28 U.S. games for the defender. Lindsey Horan made it 2-0 on a penalty kick in the 79th minute.
Two-time World Cup champion (2015, 2019) Julie Ertz entered in the 69th minute for her first U.S. match in 20 months after giving birth to a son.
— Field Level Media