U.S. women’s national team star forward Mallory Swanson has provided an update on her recent patellar tendon tear.

Swanson, who tore the tendon in her left knee during Saturday’s 2-0 win over Ireland, revealed Tuesday that she had a successful surgery that morning.

“This is hard. I’m in shock and don’t have much to say other than, thank you to everyone for the messages. I feel the love and prayers, and holding them close to my heart,” she wrote. “Surgery this morning was a success. I’m thankful for my trainers, doctors, coaches, and teammates for their help throughout this process.

“The beauty out of all of this, is that God is always good. He’s got me and always has.”

The day proved for both members of the Swanson family, as Mallory’s husband Dansby had to exit the Chicago Cubs’ comeback win over the Seattle Mariners due to exhaustion. He woke up at 4 a.m. Tuesday to accompany Mallory and her mom to the hospital, spending most of the day there before reporting for the game at Wrigley Field.

“Realistically I felt like my body was just kind of done,” he said after the game. “I felt like doing anything more probably would have put me in harm’s way. It felt like the night was over for me, pretty simple. I probably haven’t eaten or slept or drank enough water the past few days, so already getting fluids in me and taking care of myself.”

Still, there is a silver lining for the Swanson family.

“Glad we can be here together — I can’t imagine being apart right now,” Dansby Swanson said. “Everybody knows it’s a pretty tough and heartbreaking situation for her. I’m heartbroken for her. Just a lot of tears and sadness.

“Two things can be true at the same time: It can stink, and we can be sad and upset. We can also understand God’s bigger picture and plans and everything. … It’s just a sad time and we’ll get through it together.”

Of course, surgery to a patellar tendon typically takes around six months to recover, putting Swanson’s status for the World Cup – which begins in three months – in jeopardy.

And for USWNT coach Vlatko Andonovski, a player like Swanson will be difficult to replace so soon before the World Cup. The team had been building around both Swanson and Sophia Smith’s attacking power, he says, so now decisions have to be made.

“With losing Mal [Swanson], conceptually we may look slightly different,” he said. “Now with Mal not being there, we’re going to have to make a decision. What are we going to go for? Like for like and try the same way? Or is Mal going to be replaced by a group of players?

“We’re going to change that as we go forward, from game to game. It’s hard for me to answer this question right at this moment but once camp is over and we review it, we hope to have a little better answer or at least a clear understanding of the direction that we want to take.”

On Saturday, the unthinkable happened. Months away from the 2023 World Cup, the U.S. women’s national team lost a locked-in starter when Mallory Swanson went down with a torn patella tendon in her left knee late in the first half of the team’s friendly against the Republic of Ireland.

There’s never a good time for a long-term injury, but the twist of fate that befell Swanson’s planted leg is devastating not only for a young U.S. team looking to battle for its third straight World Cup trophy, but also for a player who had worked her way back into the starting lineup through determination and skill. The timeline for Swanson’s return hasn’t been officially confirmed, but the severity of the injury makes it all but certain she will miss this summer’s World Cup.

Because of the short timeline, there’s very little room to dwell on what might have been. The U.S. has one friendly left on Tuesday night before naming the 23-player roster for the 2023 World Cup, and now they have to evaluate a starting role that head coach Vlatko Andonovski hadn’t anticipated opening up.

Replacing the irreplaceable

In many ways, Swanson is irreplaceable. The 24-year-old has World Cup experience to draw on and was in the form of her life before Saturday’s injury. Swanson had scored a towering seven goals for the USWNT in 2023 alone, and her confidence on the ball in front of goal had never been higher as she grew into a well-rounded playmaker.

She’d also been taking steps into a leadership role while playing for the Chicago Red Stars, her NWSL club. Last November, she spurred the USWNT’s comeback against Germany that saved the team from a historic losing streak. Her off-the-ball defensive work rate is one of the highest on the national team, and she provides relief for the outside back who plays behind her by shutting down lanes on the left flank.

Another underrated element of Swanson’s absence is the loss of her dead-ball ability, which she had been quietly honing with the Red Stars. Swanson’s corner kick delivery was consistent, and she was becoming more clinical from the penalty spot. With Megan Rapinoe no longer a likely starter, Swanson’s skill on set pieces was an asset the U.S. increasingly relied upon.

Finally, Swanson was an incredibly durable player before the contact injury that will now sideline her for some time. The U.S. finds ways to rotate players, but Andonovski’s preferred wingers — Swanson and Sophia Smith — were expected to carry a heavy minutes load throughout the World Cup. Even when rotating in younger talent like Trinity Rodman or Alyssa Thompson, or a veteran like Rapinoe, the U.S. is going to have to account for subbing patterns that would have been unnecessary with Swanson available.

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Trinity Rodman is the most likely starting replacement for Swanson on the left wing. (Erin Chang/USSF/Getty Images)

U.S. winger depth can absolutely step up

If there is any silver lining for the USWNT with such little time to adjust, it’s that winger is one of the team’s deepest positions. When Swanson originally had to leave Saturday’s match, she was replaced by Rodman, who has repeatedly proven herself in a USWNT jersey.

The 18-year-old Thompson replaced Swanson on the U.S. roster for the second game against Ireland, and Andonovski told reporters she’ll get time in Tuesday’s game. Thompson has all the tools to be one of the next great American wingers, as shown by the goals she’s already scored at the professional level with Angel City. But her opportunity on the biggest stage might be coming sooner than expected, and it’s up to the coaching staff to make sure she isn’t placed under too much pressure before she is ready.

Finally, the largest presence looming over the position is that of Rapinoe, who was fit enough to join the team for the SheBelieves Cup before being left off the April roster with a lingering calf injury. Rapinoe’s fitness has ebbed and flowed throughout the last year, but when healthy, she has provided a calm veteran presence and a spark off the bench for the U.S. in important games. Andonovski’s original vision for Rapinoe was as a mentor working in tandem with Swanson as a starter, a luxury the team no longer has.

Rodman is well on her way to having the right balance of off-the-ball tenacity and on-the-ball skill to step up in Swanson’s absence, but the reality for Andonovski is it might take a combination of three possible replacements to adequately make up for his lost star. Rapinoe is the dead-ball expert, Rodman is the connective playmaker, and Thompson is the speedy striker with an ability to run at defenses.

Striking the proper balance and making the right roster decisions could be the difference between the U.S. weathering the storm for the World Cup and failing to adapt after a run of terrible injury luck.

Claire Watkins is a Staff Writer at Just Women’s Sports. Follow her on Twitter @ScoutRipley.

With three months until the 2023 Women’s World Cup, Mallory Swanson’s status is unclear. The USWNT star suffered a torn patella tendon in her left knee during during Saturday’s friendly against the Republic of Ireland, U.S. Soccer announced on Sunday.

As the first half of Saturday’s friendly was nearing a close, Swanson collided with Ireland’s Aoife Mannion. She grabbed her left knee as she fell to the ground and immediately signaled for assistance. As she was stretchered off the field, she clapped her hands several times as the crowd chanted her name.

Earlier in the first half, Swanson was briefly taken off the pitch after she collided with the knee of Irish keeper Courtney Brosnan.

Per U.S. Soccer, Swanson has returned to Chicago for further evaluation. Alyssa Thompson was named to the USWNT roster in Swanson’s place ahead of Tuesday’s second friendly against Ireland.

Swanson’s recovery timeline is currently unclear, but the injury could be devastating for the USWNT’s hopes of winning a fifth World Cup title this summer. Swanson leads the USWNT in scoring in 2023, with seven goals so far this year. Alex Morgan and Rose Lavelle are next on the list, with two goals each.

Also in Saturday’s friendly, Julie Ertz made her competitive return after 611 days away from the USWNT. After the Tokyo Olympics, Ertz took time away due to injury, and then gave birth to her son in August 2022. Andonovski has said that Ertz needs to sign with a club team in order to be considered for the World Cup roster.

The NWSL kicked off its 10th regular season over the weekend, with a renewed emphasis on league serving as a testing ground for players looking to impress in the months ahead of the 2023 World Cup.

Not surprisingly, there were several notable moments for players both in the USWNT core and on the cusp of the roster, as the pressure to perform only increases from here.

Goals, Goals, Goals

The USWNT attacking player pool got off to a hot start for their respective club teams, having used the January and February camps to hone sharpness before league kickoff.

Out of 14 goals scored across six NWSL matches, current USWNT prospects scored seven of them: Mallory Swanson, Alex Morgan, Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith, Lynn Williams, Alyssa Thompson and Midge Purce.

Rodman showcased her ability on the ball while scoring the game-winner against OL Reign. Picking the ball up near midfield off of a throw-in in the 54th minute, Rodman dribbled into space in front of the Reign penalty area and slotted the ball into the back of the net from the top of the box to give Washington a 1-0 win.

Reigning NWSL MVP Smith became the first NWSL player to score in three consecutive season openers, notching an early goal in Portland’s 4-0 rout of the Orlando Pride. After Canada captain Christine Sinclair got to the endline against the Pride defense, Smith made a smart, delayed run into Orlando’s penalty area. Left all alone, Smith received the ball and roofed it to double Portland’s scoreline in the 22nd minute. The 22-year-old also recorded an assist in the win.

Thompson and Williams swapped open-play goals in Angel City’s home opener against Gotham FC. Thompson got on the board first, putting the Los Angeles club up 1-0 just 11 minutes into her professional career. The 18-year-old’s speed and clinical finishing belie her inexperience at the professional level, where she looked immediately comfortable and poised for a call-back to USWNT camp.

Williams then delivered a perfectly timed, in-seam shot into the far post to give Gotham the 2-1 win. Returning to the NWSL after a hamstring injury kept her out for the entirety of the 2022 regular season, Williams again had some bad injury luck. The forward fell awkwardly on her elbow early, requiring a splint for the rest of the game, though she laughed off the injury afterward, saying “It’s an arm. I need my legs to play soccer.”

Swanson, Morgan and Purce’s tallies came from well-taken penalties, though all three players were also active in influencing the play outside of the scoresheet. Purce also registered a savvy assist on Williams’ game-winner. On the other end, USWNT No. 1 goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher made an error tipping the ball over the bar in Chicago’s 3-2 loss to San Diego, allowing for a Wave equalizer.

Midfield madness

The USWNT’s strength in the attack showed up in full force, but question marks in the midfield weren’t particularly cleared up by NWSL play this weekend. Taylor Kornieck played just one half for San Diego as a deep-lying attacking option behind Morgan, though she was effective in turning play in the Wave’s favor on the way to a late 3-2 win Saturday.

Crystal Dunn played 62 minutes in the Thorns’ midfield, the most since her return from pregnancy, as Portland completely dominated the middle third of the pitch against the Pride. Dunn’s growing midfield role for Portland provides a sharp contrast to her use as an outside back for the USWNT, as does the steady work Sam Coffey, who still sits on the USWNT bubble at defensive midfielder.

The biggest midfield head-scratcher came from OL Reign, who slotted longtime USWNT utility defender Emily Sonnett into the defensive midfield in place of Canada international (and usual starter) Quinn. Sonnett has traditionally played center back in the NWSL, most recently with the Washington Spirit. On Sunday, the 29-year-old looked uncomfortable in her positioning and distributive responsibilities as the Reign failed to find the back of the net. The defensive breakdown that led to Rodman’s game-winning goal allowed excess space in the middle of the pitch, turning what is usually a Reign strength into a moment of weakness.

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Gotham FC's Kelley O'Hara defends Angel City's Alyssa Thompson in their club team debuts. (Kiyoshi Mio/USA TODAY Sports)

Early season fitness watch

This weekend brought both welcome returns and knocks to watch. Red Stars defender Casey Krueger made a short-lived return to the pitch after the birth of her son on Saturday, leaving the match in the 13th minute with what appeared to be a neck injury. After the match, head coach Chris Petrucelli said the team thinks she “will be fine,” with a possible return to April USWNT camp on the horizon.

Krueger’s Chicago teammate, Tierna Davidson, also made a long-awaited return to the club’s defense, getting 82 minutes in her first start back from the Challenge Cup ACL tear that sidelined her for most of 2022.

Kelley O’Hara played the first half for Gotham FC, her new club team, after missing the second half of the 2022 season with a lingering hip injury. Megan Rapinoe did not play for the Reign, listed on the injury report as out with a calf injury. Rapinoe has been in and out with the U.S. in recent months as she recovers from injuries, and with other players beginning to peak in the attack, her ongoing fitness is worth keeping an eye on heading into the summer months.

Claire Watkins is a Staff Writer at Just Women’s Sports. Follow her on Twitter @ScoutRipley.

The 2023 NWSL is shaping up to be one of the most competitive yet, as a new wave of talent enters the league. With the 2023 World Cup taking place in the middle of the NWSL season, expect top internationals to step up their game prior to the tournament and underrated teammates to emerge in their absence.

Let’s take a look at who seems poised for a career year in 2023, as availability ebbs and flows around the international calendar. These are my predictions for the top team and individual awards this NWSL season.

Rookie of the Year: Alyssa Thompson, Angel City FC

Competition for this award will be fierce, with the first two 2023 draft picks — Thompson and Kansas City’s Michelle Cooper — likely to see a fair amount of playing time and a number of late-round gems looking strong in preseason. This award went to a defender last year in San Diego’s Naomi Girma, so I anticipate it swinging back around to an attacker in 2023.

Thompson is the easy choice due to her high-profile entry into the NWSL. The No. 1 pick should have the opportunity to produce as a bigger part of Angel City’s attack due to the injuries they’re carrying along their frontline.

Dark-horse candidate: Messiah Bright, Orlando Pride

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(Harry How/Getty Images)

Defender of the Year: Sarah Gorden, Angel City FC

Sarah Gorden’s return to an NWSL defense is going to feel like a breath of fresh air after a season lost to an ACL tear. The center back plays her position with a freedom of spacing thanks to her blistering speed, which allows her to push forward in distribution while also making key recovery runs. Angel City might need positional flexibility from Gorden as they settle on their defensive personnel at center and outside back, and she’ll take the opportunity and run with it.

Dark-horse candidate: Tierna Davidson, Chicago Red Stars (if she doesn’t make the USWNT roster)

Goalkeeper of the Year: Bella Bixby, Portland Thorns

Kailen Sheridan deservedly won this award last year, but with the Canadian goalkeeper likely absent during the World Cup period, other top performers could rise to the occasion. Bixby has been a consistent presence for the reigning champion Thorns, but sometimes gets overlooked due to the excellence of her backline. If the Thorns make another run at the NWSL Shield, Bixby could finally get some of the individual attention befitting her performances.

Dark-horse candidate: Abby Smith, Gotham FC

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(Jamie Sabau/USA TODAY Sports)

Coach of the Year: Casey Stoney, San Diego Wave

Stoney won Coach of the Year in 2022, and there’s very little reason to think she’d give up the title in 2023. The Wave have constructed their roster to be able to withstand pressure from opponents and take the next step toward controlling tempo and evolving their style of play in Year 2. Stoney also has the challenge of dealing with World Cup absences. If the Wave can both produce top internationals and stay close in the Shield race, expect Stoney to have this one locked up.

Dark-horse candidate: Seb Hines, Orlando Pride

Golden Boot: Mallory Swanson, Chicago Red Stars

Swanson will likely miss a number of games for the World Cup, but with the way she is playing so far this year, it might not matter in the Golden Boot race. Swanson has had the task of being Chicago’s primary goal-scorer and playmaker in recent seasons, notching 11 goals and eight assists in 2022. This season, the Red Stars will rely on her once again as their attacking engine. If she can stay healthy, the clinical finishing she’s been showcasing with the U.S. women’s national team could put her on top.

Dark-horse candidate: Ebony Salmon, Houston Dash

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(Craig Mitchelldyer/USA TODAY Sports)

MVP: Sam Coffey, Portland Thorns

A defensive midfielder has never won NWSL MVP, but if there was ever a year to break the mold, it would be 2023. Coffey has found herself on the outside of the USWNT midfield bubble for this summer’s World Cup, and players who have just missed out on an international opportunity have thrived in the past. In fact, if the U.S. struggles in the midfield on the international stage, Coffey’s excellence at the league level might be thrown into sharp contrast, garnering the attention her position sometimes lacks.

Dark-horse candidate: Midge Purce, Gotham FC

Challenge Cup champion: Orlando Pride

The winner of the Challenge Cup should be a squad best set up to withstand World Cup absences, and the Pride might just fit that bill. Orlando has been in a strategic rebuild over the last few offseasons, and the team’s up-and-coming talent should have significant playing time under their belts by the middle of the regular season. While NWSL Shield contenders have to manage more rotations, teams with their core intact might be able to snag the first Cup of the year.

Dark-horse candidate: Angel City FC

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OL Reign's Jess Fishlock and Laura Harvey (Ira L. Black - Corbis/Getty Images)

NWSL Shield: OL Reign

The Reign play some of the most intricate soccer in the NWSL, and they suffered no real loss of talent over the offseason. The 2022 Shield winners still have room to grow as a squad, including integrating their frontline into the smothering possession-based style of their midfield. They’ll also have to be versatile in handling international absences mid-season, but the Shield rewards consistency, and the Reign are the most consistent club in the league under coach Laura Harvey.

Dark-horse candidate: San Diego Wave

NWSL Champion: Kansas City Current

Unlike the NWSL Shield, winning the NWSL Championship is about peaking at the right time. It might take the Current a few months to begin to gel after an offseason of intense roster reshuffling, but if they can ride the wave of World Cup returners into their best run of form, they’ll be difficult to break down in the postseason. Head coach Matt Potter now has NWSL final experience and should have the tactical ability to keep his group versatile enough to solve any problem.

Dark-horse candidate: Portland Thorns

Claire Watkins is a Staff Writer at Just Women’s Sports. Follow her on Twitter @ScoutRipley.

The NWSL is coming to FIFA 23, and to no surprise, U.S. women’s national team stars will be among the best players in the game.

EA Sports revealed its NWSL player ratings Friday, with USWNT and San Diego Wave striker Alex Morgan at the top of the list.

Morgan’s placement should come as no surprise, as she ranked seventh overall in the game’s international women’s player ratings with an overall rating of 90. After Morgan comes Kansas City Current forward Debinha (88), followed by six of Morgan’s USWNT teammates.

Portland Thorns forward and reigning NWSL MVP Sophia Smith, OL Reign midfielder Rose Lavelle and Chicago Red Stars forward Mallory Swanson round out the top five, all tied at 87. Then comes Portland Thorns defender Becky Sauerbrunn, Angel City FC forward Christen Press and OL Reign forward Megan Rapinoe with ratings of 86.

Goalkeepers Alyssa Naeher, AD Franch and Kailen Sheridan close out the top 10. They are all the highest-rated at their position with overall ratings of 85.

The FIFA 23 ratings also break down players’ skills. Smith is the fastest player in the game, with a pace rating of 95, followed by Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman. Sauerbrunn gets the nod as the best defender, with an 89 rating, while Washington Spirit defender Amber Brooks is the most physical player with a rating of 86.

Check out the full ratings in the FIFA player portal.

FIFA 23: NWSL player ratings

  • Alex Morgan, 90 – San Diego Wave FC
  • Debinha, 88 – Kansas City Current
  • Rose Lavelle, 87 – OL Reign
  • Sophia Smith, 87 – Portland Thorns FC
  • Mallory Swanson, 87 – Chicago Red Stars
  • Christen Press, 86 – Angel City FC
  • Megan Rapinoe, 86 – OL Reign
  • Becky Sauerbrunn, 86 – Portland Thorns FC
  • Kailen Sheridan, 85 – San Diego Wave FC
  • Alyssa Naeher, 85 – Chicago Red Stars
  • AD Franch, 85 – Kansas City Current

Mallory Swanson entered her offseason with one year left on her NWSL contract with the Chicago Red Stars. But her new husband, MLB player Dansby Swanson, entered his offseason as a free agent.

As the Swansons looked to determine their home base, Red Stars leadership worked with their star forward to find the best result for both sides.

“This is technically her last season in Chicago, but they pretty much made a promise that they would do right by her,” Dansby Swanson told USA Today.

In a stroke of good fortune for the Red Stars, the baseball Swanson signed a seven-year, $177 million contract with the Chicago Cubs, which gives the soccer Swanson to stay put heading into her own contract year.

Still, if Dansby Swanson had signed with another team and Mallory Swanson had asked for a trade to be closer to him, the Red Stars would have done their best to accommodate the request, Dansby Swanson said.

“Say I had signed with the Dodgers, they would have traded her to a team that’s in Los Angeles. They were very open to that,” he said. “And since I’m in Chicago now, I think they’re going to be OK keeping her around.’’

Red Stars general manager Michelle Lomnicki seemed to confirm as much in a Twitter post in response to the USA Today report.

“We want to support our players, whether Chicago is their home or somewhere else,” she wrote on Twitter. “We value family in every facet of life. The person behind the player matters.”

While the Swansons’ offseasons have included the whirlwind of their wedding on Dec. 10 followed by Dansby’s new contract with the Cubs just 11 days later, they are happy to be settled in Chicago for the foreseeable future.

“We just felt like this is where our home for the next seven years is supposed to be,” Dansby Swanson said.

Mallory Swanson is in the midst of preparing not just for the next Red Stars season, which starts on March 25, but also for the World Cup this summer in Australia and New Zealand.

The 24-year-old has played for the U.S. women’s national team since 2016 and was a member of the 2019 World Cup-winning squad. So far this year, she has scored seven goals in five games for the USWNT.

“It’s been so fun to watch, being able to love and support her through her journey,’’ Dansby Swanson said. “It’s pretty freakin’ cool. It’s so cool to see her transformation because she’s come a long ways.”

The USWNT won their fourth straight SheBelieves Cup this week, taking steps forward against three stellar opponents while continuing to test depth and increase sharpness as they build toward the 2023 World Cup in July.

The U.S. didn’t make it through any of their matches with perfect performances, but they showed a tenacity that they missed at times in 2022, especially during a three-game losing streak in October. Their bend-not-break defense allowed for magical moments on the other end of the pitch.

While there’s still work to be done after the SheBelieves Cup, the reigning World Champions got key performances out of a few players who are ready to shine on the biggest stage.

Mallory Swanson, forward

Swanson was named SheBelieves Cup MVP after the USWNT’s 2-1 win over Brazil, and for good reason. She became the tournament’s all-time leading scorer in 2023, as well as the first player ever to score at least one goal in all three games in the event’s history.

Known to USWNT fans as Mallory Pugh for years, Swanson is the kind of player that has always had the ability to create her own chances in front of goal. She has a sprint speed that doesn’t slow with the ball at her feet, and with every year, the 24-year-old shows a greater ability to drag defenders out of position and maneuver into good shooting positions.

Her on-ball work has always been an asset to her game, but the switch that has flipped in recent months is her ability to remain calm and clinically finish the chances she creates. Swanson was the first player to admit that she let some golden scoring chances go to waste in 2022, but she’s firing at an incredible rate so far in 2023.

Her goal against Japan provides an example of a player who’s ready to take advantage of a singular chance against a tricky opponent. In the run of play, she picked the ball out of the air, beat her defender on the dribble and calmly slotted the ball to the far post, past the keeper and into the back of the net. Swanson has hit another gear, and it’s happening at exactly the right time for the USWNT.

Alex Morgan, forward

It’s easy to laugh at it now, but there were legitimate questions when Morgan returned to the U.S. last summer about bridging the gap between the long-time veteran and new talent on the wing. Morgan was put in a tough position, rejoining the team relatively late into the year and getting used to the movements of Mallory Swanson and Sophia Smith with a very short runway before World Cup qualifying without Catarina Macario.

Morgan scored the lone goal in the Concacaf W final against Canada last summer and has only looked more comfortable since then. Her off-ball positioning proved essential during the SheBelieves Cup, adjusting her attacking vision while playing alongside the somewhat inexperienced Ashley Sanchez at attacking midfielder. Morgan’s hold-up play has always been excellent, but with speedy players on both sides of her, the 33-year-old has leaned into her ability to occupy central defenders and spring the U.S. wingers into space.

Morgan facilitated her teammates in the team’s first two SBC matches, but against Brazil she also brought the individual magic necessary to open the scoring. Morgan isn’t being asked to beat defenders with pace anymore, but that didn’t keep her off the scoresheet. Her first-half strike was classic Alex Morgan: She curled the ball from the top of the box with her left foot and set up the U.S. to win their fourth consecutive tournament title.

Lynn Williams, forward

For most of 2022, Williams slowly worked her way back to the USWNT after months of rehabbing a severe hamstring injury that required surgery. Her return against New Zealand in January was promising, but the SheBelieves Cup cemented why a lack of minutes last year probably won’t keep the Gotham forward off the plane to the World Cup.

Williams is a defensive mastermind from the forward position who can also create chances herself, as seen in her extended minutes against Japan and Brazil. Williams had to occupy Japan wingback Hina Sugita in order to provide defensive cover for Sofia Huerta to move the ball forward in the USWNT’s second game, which ultimately created the space that allowed Huerta to send the ball forward for the U.S.’s lone goal.

Against Brazil, Williams came off the bench to force a key turnover that led to Swanson’s game-winning goal. The 29-year-old creates offense out of defense, and does it better than almost anyone else on the roster.

Kristie Mewis, midfielder

Mewis’ role with the U.S. became clearer this week after she started as a holding midfielder in the team’s second game against Japan. Mewis has the ability to play a number of different midfield roles off the bench, but her rare starting role gave insight into why she’s also likely to make the trip to New Zealand in July.

Mewis plays a more connecting role for Gotham FC, pushing forward as the team attacks and creating dangerous chances on goal. Against Japan, she was similarly clinical in a more defensive role, working with Lindsey Horan to handle Japan’s tricky defensive pressing scheme and progress the ball.

The 31-year-old’s assignment with the U.S. likely means she’s never going to get the glory for a performance, but her versatility and calm head in an unfamiliar role showcase why she’s been a mainstay in camp for years and appears to be a lock for the World Cup.

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(Andrew Hancock/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

Lindsey Horan, midfielder

Carrying heavy minutes this week, Horan didn’t always stand out for the U.S. in positive ways, struggling with turnovers in poor areas of the pitch against Japan and looking like she had lost her legs against Brazil. The sight of a fatigued player trying to do a little too much isn’t foreign to U.S. fans, who have seen Sam Mewis and Julie Ertz both pulled from the player pool in recent years after arguably being overused by their club and national teams.

Keeping Horan at her best this summer will be an ongoing project for head coach Vlatko Andonovski, who appears to consider her intrinsic to his tactical plans for the midfield. Shifting slightly from a 4-3-3 to a 4-2-3-1, the U.S. is at their best when their defensive midfielder isn’t left on an island, as seen in the USWNT’s smothering performance against Canada.

But the U.S. also wants to execute a strategic defensive press that requires a certain amount of mobility, and Horan hasn’t looked fully comfortable in recent months. Horan isn’t injured (though she has been dealing with a lingering knee injury) and she plays regularly for Olympique Lyon, but with a grueling schedule ahead of her, extra care behind the scenes might be necessary to make sure she’s ready to go in July.

Claire Watkins is a Staff Writer at Just Women’s Sports. Follow her on Twitter @ScoutRipley.

As Mallory Swanson advanced toward her seventh goal in five games for the U.S. women’s national team, Megan Rapinoe started to celebrate.

Before the ball even crossed the goal line, Rapinoe knew it was going in.

After the shot did indeed find its mark, Swanson went to the sideline to celebrate the goal with the USWNT veteran during the squad’s 2-1 win against Brazil to close out the SheBelieves Cup on Wednesday.

According to Swanson, Rapinoe wanted better celebrations out of the goal scorer.

The 24-year-old forward has goals in all five USWNT games so far in 2023, and she has eight in six games dating back to last November, so she’s had plenty of opportunities to show her stuff. Still, Swanson agrees that she’s “not the best when I celebrate.”

“Against Canada, there was an opportunity where I could have went over to the sideline and celebrate. So I just wanted to go over and embrace her,” Swanson said, noting that Rapinoe has been giving her coaching tips at times.

“Obviously she’s been helping me,” she continued. “At halftime, I remember her saying, make an inside out run, and just giving me little things and feeding me things that she sees. Obviously, she’s a world-class player and she sees the game and I value what she sees. Her just helping me and that relationship, I think is really good.”

Led by star forwards Alex Morgan and Mallory Swanson, the U.S. women’s national team completed a SheBelieves Cup sweep with a 2-1 win against Brazil in Frisco, Texas, on Wednesday night.

The USWNT already had posted a 2-0 shutout against Canada and a 1-0 shutout against Japan to start the tournament. With Wednesday’s victory, the team is off to a five-game winning streak to start 2023.

Morgan started the scoring against Brazil, finding a deflection and sending in a shot from outside the box during stoppage time at the end of the first half.

The USWNT veteran had seemed to score earlier in the half, but she was called offside.

In the second half, Swanson extended the USWNT lead and her own scoring streak to start the year.

She has seven goals in her first five games of 2023 and eight in her last six dating back to November. Sophia Smith led the team with 11 goals in 2022; Swanson is on pace to soar past that total in the World Cup year.

While Ludmila got Brazil on the board in the 90th minute and came close to an equalizer in stoppage time, the USWNT held on for the win.