“I’m heartbroken to no longer be available for my season with Gotham FC or for Olympic selection with the USWNT,” Midge Purce said on Instagram. The Gotham FC star tore her ACL after battling for the ball with Portland Thorns’ Sophia Smith in Sunday’s game. The 28-year-old’s absence from the Olympic selection is quite insufferable to Emma Hayes‘ side’s forward fleet. Anyhow, the show must go on and Hayes will look forward to summoning certain youngsters to compensate for the injured Purce’s absence. Meanwhile, in a relieving update, some previously injured players have now recovered as well.

Here we look at five forwards who could potentially make the USWNT selection for the 2024 Olympics. The US team has yet to confirm the date for the same. Hayes and Co. open their Olympic campaign on July 25 with a group tie against the winner of the playoff between Morocco and Zambia.

5 candidates who could galvanize the USWNT frontline in Midge Purce’s absence

. Mallory Swanson

Mallory Swanson is one of the best-attacking forces the USWNT has seen lately. Last year, Swanson ended as the USWNT’s top goal scorer with seven goals in six appearances. Notably, the 25-year-old scaled this feat, despite ending her season in April due to an injury. Moreover, the Chicago Red Stars forward has recovered from the injury and will feature in the SheBelieves Cup for the US Side. With ample time to fit in with the rest of the squad after the injury-induced break, Swanson will be a safe bet for Emma Hayes in the upcoming Olympics.

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. Catarina Macario

Similar to Swanson, Catarina Macario has also returned to the US squad for the SheBelieves Cup. Macario tore her ACL in 2022 and has been absent from the games since then. In 2022, the Chelsea Women’s team forward finished as the SheBelieves Cup’s MVP. The 24-year-old has resumed action with the Hayes-coached Chelsea side. She scored in each of her first two games with the side and also assisted in Chelsea’s UWCL quarter-final win against Ajax. Having already played under Emma Hayes, it won’t be a surprise if Macario replaces Purce on the USWNT Olympic roster.

. Jaedyn Shaw

The USWNT’s recent CONCACAF W Gold Cup triumph saw a breakthrough performance from Jaedyn Shaw. The 19-year-old emerged as the US team’s top goal scorer of the tournament and bagged the Golden Ball award for the competition’s best player. Therefore, the San Diego Wave star is a sure-shot candidate on whom Hayes could depend during the Summer Olympics in Paris.

. Olivia Moultrie

Olivia Moultrie is one of the rarest of players who have gone pro at the age of 13! Moultrie is a midfielder, technically. However, her performance at the CONCACAF W Gold Cup proved that coaches can also deploy her as a forward. Showcasing her striking skills, Moultrie scored a double against the Dominican Republic in the group stage of the W Gold Cup. Moultrie also notably received a call-up to the USWNT for the SheBelieves Cup.

. Lily Yohannes

Similar to Moultrie, the 16-year-old Lily Yohannes too is a midfielder. However, during her stint in the Dutch League’s Ajax team, Yohannes has proved her attacking prowess with four goals and three assists in 16 games. Besides, she has now received a call-up to the US team for the SheBelieves Cup. If Yohannes contributes largely to the team’s attack from the midfield, it is not beyond Emma Hayes to try the Ajax star in the US’ forward fleet more often.

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Let us know who you think is the right replacement for Midge Purce in the comments below.

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