The 2022 World Cup is two months away, but one of the best players on the United States women’s national team is off the pitch.
Midfielder Rose Lavelle has not played since suffering a knee injury on 8 April He was forced to miss the team’s second international friendly against Ireland. She likely will not return to her NWSL team, OL Reign, before joining the USWNT in New Zealand, according to head coach Laura Harvey.
“She was actually on her way back, then she got a little jolt,” Harvey Said Wednesday. “I would like him to be on the field tomorrow. I don’t think that will happen. I hope we see him before the World Cup but honestly I don’t know right now. … It changes everything.” Time.”
While Lavelle has plenty of time before the USWNT’s first match against Vietnam on July 21, her inability to return to the field in terms of getting back into playing shape is a bit worrying.
If she does not qualify before the NWSL’s June 26 release date for World Cup players, Lavelle will miss all but two games this season for the OL ruling. The US plays Wales in San Jose, California on July 9 before traveling to New Zealand for a game against Vietnam.
Lovells scored three goals in six games at the 2019 World Cup, including the final goal of the title game in the US’ second consecutive World Cup win over the Netherlands in a 2–0 win.
That’s not the only injury the US will have to deal with before fighting for another title. Midfielder Caterina Macario announced on Tuesday that she would miss the tournament while she continues to recover from a torn ACL she suffered in June. Forward Mallory Swanson (née Pugh) tore the patellar tendon in her left knee in April and is likely to miss the World Cup.
