The U.S. women’s national team may have posted a solid win in Julie Ertz’s final match before retirement, but the news was not all good on Thursday night.
U.S. Soccer communications told reporters after the match that defender Sofia Huerta was unavailable to play due to a hamstring injury picked up during this international window.
Per the federation, the 30-year-old will go back to Seattle to rejoin OL Reign rather than continue on to Chicago, where the USWNT will face South Africa again on Sunday evening. No timeline for her recovery was provided.
Huerta was one of four players to watch the 3-0 victory in Cincinnati in street clothes, joining Mia Fishel, Midge Purce, and Megan Rapinoe. U.S. Soccer had announced before the match that only 23 of the 27 players in camp would dress for each game in this window, with Rapinoe only set to play in Chicago.
No mention was made of any further injuries, nor was a replacement for Huerta named. With Crystal Dunn, Emily Fox, Casey Krueger, and Emily Sonnett all in the squad, it is not likely that someone will be brought in on such short notice.
The USWNT has already had to make two injury-related changes to its roster, adding Purce and Angel City left back M.A. Vignola after Rose Lavelle and Kelley O’Hara were deemed unavailable. Vignola, a Cincinnati native, picked up her first-ever cap after replacing Dunn at halftime.
Huerta injury could impact NWSL playoff race
While Huerta’s availability for the second of two friendlies may or may not be a missed chance to impress the team’s future coach, it’s guaranteed that the Idaho native’s absence would damage OL Reign’s prospects of making the NWSL playoffs.
Huerta has been a virtually ever-present starter at right back for Laura Harvey over the last two seasons, starting 35 of a possible 41 games. Moreover, Huerta’s crossing ability is a massive part of how the Reign create chances. Only three players have attempted more crosses than Huerta’s 125 in the NWSL this season, and she sits fifth in switches of play. Among defenders, Huerta’s 55 shot-creating actions are second only to Racing Louisville’s Carson Pickett in 2023 regular season play.
In other words, the Reign — who have scored just three goals in the club’s last eight competitive games — badly need for this to be a minor hamstring tweak rather than a full-blown strain.
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