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USWNT's Mallory Swanson carted off pitch after apparent knee injury in friendly

Victoria Hernandez, USA TODAY
·2 min read

As the United States prepares for the 2023 World Cup, star player Mallory Swanson was injured Saturday during a friendly against Ireland.

The Chicago Red Stars striker seemingly hurt her left knee in the first half of the match in Austin when she collided with an Irish player. She fell to the ground and yelled out in pain as teammate Rose Lavelle knelt beside her to comfort her. Swanson, who had scored in all five of the U.S. Women's National Team's games so far this year, was put on a stretcher. While being carted off the field, she held up her hands in the shape of a heart to show love to the crowd.

According to the Associated Press, U.S. Soccer said she was taken to the hospital to be evaluated.

Trinity Rodman took the pitch as her replacement.

USWNT forward Mallory Swanson is taken off the field by medical personnel during a game against Ireland.
USWNT forward Mallory Swanson is taken off the field by medical personnel during a game against Ireland.

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Earlier in the 2-0 U.S. victory, Swanson fell when she was running downfield. The SheBelieves Cup MVP was shoved by an Irish player and landed on the goalkeeper. She returned to the game and played until her second collision.

Swanson, who formerly went by the last name Pugh before marrying Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson, won the World Cup with Team USA in 2019, but was left off the roster for the Tokyo Olympics after dealing with multiple injuries.

The game also marked the return of midfielder Julie Ertz, who took the pitch for the USWNT for the first time in 611 days. In the 67th minute, Becky Sauerbrunn met Ertz on the sideline and put the captain's armband on her before giving her a hug. The crowd at Q2 stadium cheered loudly for the two-time World Cup champion, who missed more than a year with a knee injury and then took maternity leave when she had a baby boy in August.

The United States has one more exhibition match against Ireland on Tuesday before manager Vlatko Andonovski announces the World Cup roster. The tournament will be held this summer in Australia and New Zealand and the USWNT will be seeking its third consecutive title.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mallory Swanson carted off after apparent knee injury in USWNT game