5 Players That Could Replace Mallory Swanson at the World Cup
The tragic news of Mallory Swanson’s injury was devastating for everyone involved. Not only is it emotional because of how well Swanson was doing, but it’s also worrisome because the USWNT does not have a clear-cut replacement for her yet. The USWNT is one of the deepest teams in the world; they have a luxury that most teams don’t. A player like Trinity Rodman or even Lynn Williams can step in as established players at the highest level. Here’s a deep dive into five players that could possibly replace Mallory Swanson at the World Cup.
Trinity Rodman
Of all of the players that the USWNT have at their disposal, the player that makes the most sense to replace Mallory Swanson is Trinity Rodman. Rodman provides a similar skill set to Swanson in that she can attack defenders with her dribbling and pace.
One could even argue that Rodman’s ability to pass and feed her teammates is better than Swanson’s. AAddingthose two factors in with the fact that she’d fill the same spot as Swanson in the 4-3-3 makes her the most logical choice.
However, Alex Morgan mentioned in a recent interview on the Snacks Podcast that Vlatko Andonovski is taking club form into account. So if Vlatko deems Rodman worthy of the spot based on her time with the Spirit, it’ll be hers. But based on recent play, Rodman has a little more work to do if she’s to be the clear replacement for Swanson.
Lynn Williams
Due to untimely injuries, Lynn Williams has had an on-and-off relationship with the USWNT. However, any time we’ve seen her suit up, she’s been solid for the Stars and Stripes. Her style of play is also similar to Swanson’s or Rodman’s in the sense that she can play that same position in the 4-3-3 as a right winger.
Questions will be asked about her injuries and if she’s still the same player. Here’s the decision that Vlatko Andonovski will have to make. Do you choose to go with the more experienced player in Williams, who is in better form for Gotham this season? Or do you go with Rodman, who is younger and has more potential? If we’re going off of what Alex Morgan said, as of now, you’d have to think Williams will at least make the final roster. Whether she’ll be the new starter is something to keep an eye on.
Alyssa Thompson
Alyssa Thompson is the biggest wild card on this list, and there is a ton of uncertainty around her at the moment. With such a small sample size, can the USWNT really trust their evaluation of her from what they’ve seen in training and the three games she’s played?
There’s the tape from her NWSL matches as well, and again her skill set fits the mold of Swanson and the other players on this list. Thompson could well be the fastest of the three players; there needs to be a race in the next USWNT training.
Either way, Thompson falls under the high-risk, high-reward category. Either she’ll pay them off tenfold and enter superstar status, or it’ll be a sign that this was too much too soon. Thompson will get plenty of time to show what she can do in the NWSL over the next two months, so she’s got a great chance to make the final roster as well.
Taylor Kornieck
Taylor Kornieck’s role has fluctuated quite a bit since joining the national team. We’ve seen her play as a striker, and we’ve seen her in an attacking midfield role as well. For a brief period, there was a time when Kornieck was being groomed to play the No. 6 as a defensive midfielder. However, with the return of Julie Ertz, I think we can nix the idea of Kornieck playing the No. 6.
Her ability as an attacker does give the USWNT a different look offensively, should they choose to use it. Kornieck could be used in the 4-3-3, but it wouldn’t be playing to her strengths. She has looked best as an attacking midfielder sitting right behind the striker. The reason she burst onto the scene and made the national team was that she showed an ability to score with her feet and use her height to score with her head, plus she can pass too.
Her rapport with Alex Morgan between Orlando and San Diego only helps Kornieck in the long run. She would not be a direct replacement for Swanson, but if the team is in a close game and needs a goal, Kornieck could be the player that does that for USWNT.
Kristie Mewis
Kristie Mewis has a tremendous amount of talent, but we simply haven’t seen her show her skills consistently. Mewis will likely play a role similar to Kornieck in that she’ll be in the midfield rather than upfront. As mentioned above, should the USWNT ever feel the need to change its formation or try something new, they have someone like Mewis to do so.
Mewis as a No. 10, when she’s at her best, is a scary proposition because she can take on and beat defenders, distribute well, and score from long range. There’s a slim chance Mewis could get moved to the wing to truly replace Mallory Swanson in the 4-3-3 if they are totally desperate, but the USWNT has too many talented players to put Mewis there.
Ashley Hatch could also play in that spot, but she’s more of a backup for Alex Morgan. Tough decisions will have to be made by Vlatko Andonovski and his staff as to what direction to go in because they have a plethora of options, each with its pros and cons. Any of these five players can make an impact on the USWNT. The question is, will this staff pick the right one?
Featured image via Getty Images
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