The final countdown: USWNT takes 1-0 edge over Ireland into last friendly ahead of Women’s World Cup

The U.S. Women’s National Team is back in action Tuesday night with one final friendly against the Republic of Ireland ahead of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The U.S. women, who notched a 2-0 win over the Irish last Saturday in Austin, Texas, will finish the April International window with a matchup at newly-opened CITYPARK in St. Louis, Mo.

Perhaps the biggest news coming out of the weekend was the injury loss of Mallory Swanson, who suffered a torn patella tendon in her left knee near the end of the first half in the USA’s victory. Head coach Vlatko Andonovski told reporters ahead of Tuesday’s second clash with Ireland that “she’s doing better than I thought.”

“She’s stronger than me, let’s put it that way,” he said, noting he got the chance to talk with her. “Even before we knew what the injury is, when she was walking out, she had this big smile on her face and said, ‘Coach, I’m fine. I’ll be good,'” he added. “When I talked to her after that she was really good and she was very thankful for all the support that she got from the staff, from players in and outside of the environment. She said that all she wants is for the team to be successful, and that she’s gonna be our biggest supporter, so very, very good mindset, very good mentality.”

Swanson was replaced on the roster by 18-year-old forward Alyssa Thompson, who made headlines as the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft by Angel City FC and becoming the youngest draftee in league history. Thompson, who was listed on the “Starting XI” Tuesday, made her USWNT debut last October in front of more than 76,000 fans at Wembley Stadium in London, coming into the match against England in the second half. She also came in off the bench against Spain four days later for her