Sam Mewis out for ‘a month, maybe longer’ with injuries

It might be a while before Sam Mewis returns to an NWSL field.

North Carolina Courage coach Paul Riley addressed the midfielder’s status during a media call Thursday. Mewis hasn’t played with the Courage since before the Tokyo Olympics, where she won a bronze medal with the U.S. women’s national team.

“We don’t expect [Sam Mewis] for a little bit,” Riley said Thursday. “Some injury issues that we have to take care of. I don’t think you will see her for the best part of a month, maybe longer.”

Riley added that they are waiting for an update from Mewis’ doctors. In the meantime, she is not in North Carolina.

But, Riley asserted, Mewis is not out indefinitely.

“She will be back. It is just a question of is it the end of October, is it mid-September, is it mid-October?” he said. “She will be back for the run in. Hopefully the quicker, the better.

“Most important thing is always the player’s health.”

Mewis returned to the Courage in May after playing the 2020-21 season with Manchester City. Between those two seasons and the Olympics, Mewis has played a lot of games, something the club is monitoring.

“I don’t think the rest will hurt her in the least,” Riley said. “It will probably help us in the long run, help her.”