After recently making her return to the U.S. Women’s National Team, Catarina Macario has announced that she will not be participating in the 2024 Paris Olympics. The 24-year-old forward cited minor knee irritation as the reason for her withdrawal from the Olympic roster, as confirmed by USWNT head coach Emma Hayes during a news conference on Friday.
Veteran USWNT forward Lynn Williams will take Macario’s place on the Olympic roster, with Orlando Pride defender Emily Sams named as an alternate pending approval from the IOC, USPOC, and FIFA.
The announcement was made ahead of a series of Olympic sendoff friendlies, with the first match scheduled to take place at New Jersey’s Red Bull Arena on Saturday.
During today’s pre-match press conference, Emma Hayes announced that Catarina Macario is unable to prepare physically for the Olympic tournament due to consistent irritation in her right knee » https://t.co/EtaiwfJ6py
Pending official confirmation from the USOPC, IOC and FIFA,… pic.twitter.com/k7Uowy7fHM
— U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team (@USWNT) July 12, 2024
Macario, known for her attacking prowess, had previously suffered a torn ACL in June 2022 while playing for French club Lyon. Her recovery from the injury took over a year and a half, causing her to miss the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Despite hopes of rejoining the team for the tournament in Australia and New Zealand last summer, Macario only returned to the USWNT roster in March.
In a social media post, Macario expressed her disappointment at missing the Olympics but pledged her support to the team. “I will be supporting the team every step of the way and the girls are ready,” she wrote.
Gutted to have to withdraw from the Olympic roster and not be able to represent Team USA. I will be supporting the team every step of the way and the girls are ready ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Kb6lFhLh5L
— Catarina Macario (@catarinamacario) July 12, 2024
Hayes, who coached Macario at Chelsea, expressed her disappointment at the situation, noting that Macario had trained recently but would not be fit in time for the Olympics. Macario will now return to her club for further recovery.
Originally from Brazil, Macario had the option to play for either the United States or Brazil internationally and ultimately chose to represent the U.S. She earned her first call-up to the USWNT in October 2020 and made her debut in a friendly against Colombia in January 2021. With eight goals in 19 appearances, Macario was poised to be a key player for the USWNT in the Olympics.
The missed opportunity at the Olympics delays Macario’s chance to establish herself among the emerging core of the USWNT. However, her talent and determination suggest that she will have more opportunities to shine on the international stage in the future.