Orlando Ramirez for USA TODAY Sports
Midfielder Catarina Macario will no longer join the U.S. women’s national team in Paris for the Olympics, head coach Emma Hayes told media on Friday morning, due to “minor knee irritation.” Hayes said Macario, who suffered a torn ACL in 2022, will not recover in time for the forthcoming Games.
Playing it safe given Macario’s injury history, alternate Lynn Williams will now move onto the official 18-player roster. Emily Sams will then take Williams’ place as an alternate, both moves pending approval by the necessary Olympic committees and FIFA.
Hayes said Williams’ shift from alternate to the active roster does not change her strategy heading into the Games.
“I always viewed it as 22,” Hayes said Friday during her…
