The U.S. women’s soccer team will be without Catarina Macario for the 2024 Paris Olympics after coach Emma Hayes ruled a knee injury that emerged during training this week as “knee inflammation.”
The forward will be replaced by Gotham FC’s Lynn Williams, who was part of the team for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and the 2023 World Cup.
“I’m disappointed to not be on the Olympic team and not be able to represent the U.S. I have my full support for the team and the players are ready to go.” Macario wrote in X’s post:
Hayes explained that Macario developed inflammation during training and it was a “complex” injury.
“She’s devastated,” Hayes told reporters about Macario before Saturday’s send-off match against Mexico. “This is not a long-term situation. [she’s] “It’s just not going to heal in time. I feel really sorry for Kat. She’s worked so hard over the last 12 months. She’s really worked hard to get there and it’s not going to happen.”
Defender Emily Sams will replace Williams and be one of four substitutes who will train with the team.
The deadline for teams to finalize their rosters has passed, so any roster changes are still pending approval from the ICO, USOPC and FIFA.
“I think two things can happen at the same time: You can be devastated for your teammates and excited for yourself at the same time,” Williams said Friday. “But right now, I’m not necessarily thinking, ‘Oh, I’m excited for myself.’ I’m thinking, ‘How can I help the team? What does the team need from me?’ I feel like my role as a reserve is to always be ready and available when called upon. Obviously, I’m devastated for Cat.”
“It’s a very unique experience to be in this group. Not only are you competing with people to be on the team, but you’re also people who understand the most the experience, the most the difficulties. Obviously, it’s going to take Kat a little bit of time to digest this, but [I’m’] Sending her lots of love and hugs.”
Macario previously ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament while at former club Lyon in 2022, which sidelined him for a year and a half and caused him to miss last summer’s World Cup.
She returned to the field with Chelsea earlier this year and rejoined the women’s national team in April to play in the SheBelieves Cup.
This was her first time competing for the U.S. in two years.
The Olympic group stage will begin on July 25, followed by the knockout stages, with the women’s match days alternating with the men’s match days and taking place in cities across France.
