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Injury to Catarina Macario highlights USWNT’s ability to lean on young talent

Young players poised to gain valuable experience

Emily Sams passes the ball in a game for the Orlando Pride.
Orlando Pride defender Emily Sams (6) controls the ball against Utah Royals on June 21, 2024 in Orlando. (Photo Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports)

It was announced Friday that Catarina Macario would withdraw from the U.S. women’s national soccer team Olympic roster due to “consistent irritation in her right knee” preventing her from preparing physically.

It’s a big blow to hear that Macario – who has missed the better part of the past two years with an ACL tear – will miss yet another major tournament. USWNT Head Coach Emma Hayes feels it too, telling media she is “absolutely gutted” for the midfielder. 

But there is one positive: the team is opting to take a fully healthy roster to the Olympics. 

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Only Macario can say if she could’ve played through the irritation, but it wouldn’t have been the first time a player played through an injury in a major tournament. Instead, Hayes chose to play it safe, particularly in light of Macario’s injury history. 

Even for this Olympics, it’s a departure from other national teams like Canada and Brazil that have named injured players to their rosters. 

Perhaps more importantly, it points to the position the team is in now compared to last year. A year ago, injuries to star players like Sam Mewis, Mallory Swanson and Becky Sauerbrunn stunted the team as it entered the 2023 FIFA World Cup with a noticeable lack of depth

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This year, accompanied by a changing of the guard and youth movement on the USWNT, the team not only has depth but is able to prioritize the long-term health of a player. There are also young faces getting new opportunities. 

Macario’s replacement Lynn Williams is no stranger to major tournaments, having now been named to two Olympic teams and last year’s World Cup roster. On the other end of the experience spectrum Emily Sams, promoted to alternate from training player in Williams’ place, is in just her second professional season. Now, she’ll gain valuable experience in the national team environment at a major tournament.

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Sams joins Croix Bethune and Hal Hershfelt as field player alternates, all of whom appear to have promising futures with the national team. Because this year’s tournament rules allow alternates to be named to gameday 18-player rosters in case of injury Hayes will now have at her disposal a player she called “maybe the top performer” in the NWSL this season.

It’s clear from Hayes’ comments on Friday that she’s looking at the team from a more holistic perspective, with the four alternates as a part of the tournament roster. During her press conference, Hayes said she “always viewed it as 22.”

“Absolutely nothing changes,” she said. “For us, it’s about now looking towards that and making sure that everybody else knows what those adjustments might be. I will say I’m absolutely gutted for Cat … but also, this is an opportunity for someone else.” 

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Lately, it feels like young talent has been abundant, and it shows in the team’s roster. It’s the fourth-youngest roster the team has ever sent to an Olympics. Four players have never played in a senior world championship tournament — Jenna Nighswonger, Korbin Albert, Sam Coffey and Jaedyn Shaw. An additional five are first-time Olympians — Casey Murphy, Emily Fox, Naomi Girma, Trinity Rodman and Sophia Smith.

As the team celebrates the 25th anniversary of the 1999 World Cup-winning team, seven of the current national team members weren’t alive to witness it. 


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With the youth movement coming to a head, this is a turning point for the U.S. women’s national team. From this point on, things will look different.

“This roster going to the Olympics is a blend of veterans and some youth, and I think that it’s all about balance,” Crystal Dunn said during a press conference Monday ahead of her third Olympic Games. “You definitely need a bit of both to ensure that we are putting our best foot forward and also not just focusing on the Olympics. 

“There is a generation that’s gonna go on, obviously, after this tournament, and I think it’s important that there is some structure in place that helps with that progression.”

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As much as this year’s Olympics is about redemption from a disappointing World Cup finish last summer, it’s also about showcasing what the team has to look forward to in the future. That these young players are getting major tournament exposure is no small bonus either. 

Team captain Lindsey Horan has called the roster an “incredible group of players” that are hungry to win a gold medal – regardless of their experience.

“I think for all of the youth players that we have, the development of them and their ability to adapt to whatever situation they’re given has been fantastic,” two-time Olympian Tierna Davidson said on Monday. “It’s been so helpful because they’ve been able to come in and hit the ground running and perform for us and really contribute.”

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