U.S. women’s national team fans will get a taste of what could have been — and what still could be — during the 2024 SheBelieves Cup.
Catarina Macario and Mallory Swanson were both named to a USWNT roster for the first time since serious knee injuries. For Swanson, it’s been almost exactly a year since her last USWNT appearance. For Macario, almost exactly two years.
Those absences knocked the forwards out of the 2023 World Cup, a tournament in which an anemic offense helped doom the USWNT to a round-of-16 exit — easily the program’s worst finish at a World Cup.
It’s hard not to wonder how things could have been different with Macario and Swanson on the roster. Swanson, in particular, was in scintillating form prior to her injury, as she managed to lead the USWNT in goals in 2023 despite not playing after April.
But the duo has now returned simultaneously, a milestone that wasn’t lost on Macario when she spoke to the media on Wednesday.
“There are no words to describe how good Mal is, honestly,” Macario said.
“She makes us so much better. She’s the type of player that you always want to play with.
“Though I got injured a little bit before her, I was just absolutely gutted for her because she was really in the form of her life leading up to the World Cup. And I have no doubt that she’ll get there again.
“I’m just super happy to see her back. She’s a a great person too. It’s emotional for us to be both back together after so long.”
Both players have returned to their club sides in strong form. Macario has hit the ground running at Chelsea despite being sidelined for the better part of two years, while Swanson has started all three NWSL games for the Chicago Red Stars this season, scoring her first goal in year last weekend.
For Swanson, the time away from the game gave her a new perspective on the game, and life in general.
“You can’t ever take life for granted, you can’t take your health for granted,” she said. “And so ever since then, I’ve kind of had a new perspective on that. When something’s taken away from you, you always have a new perspective on it. So I’m just grateful to be back in this environment, back with this team and wearing the crest because it means so much.”
The USWNT may have been able to have a more successful World Cup with Swanson and Macario in the fold, but the team’s future outlook is looking much rosier now with both returning to the picture.
“Both Mal and I wish that we could have been there,” Macario said. “I think sometimes you kind of need to take things into perspective. And I feel like everything works out for a reason.”
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