CLEVELAND — The U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) arrived in Cleveland earlier this week ahead of its Thursday night matchup against Paraguay without one of its most recognizable stars. 

Megan Rapinoe, a stalwart for the club’s offense, was not on the USWNT roster. She was left off due to an injury, according to U.S. Soccer. 


What You Need To Know

  • The U.S. Women’s National Team hosts Paraguay in Cleveland on Thursday

  • The USWNT will be without its three leading scorers, including forward Megan Rapinoe

  • Carli Lloyd will be making her final visit to Cleveland as a member of the USWNT

  • The U.S. won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics last month

Also unable to participate in Thursday’s match is goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher and midfielders Julie Ertz and Samantha Mewis due to injuries. 

Forward Christen Press is also off the roster as she opted not to participate. She said on Instagram last week that she is taking a few months away from soccer to focus on her mental health. 

Without Rapinoe, Mewis or Press, the USWNT is without its three leading goal scorers during 2021. The trio provided 21 of the team’s 49 goals so far in 2021.

The USWNT’s fourth-leading goal scorer, Carli Lloyd, will play her final four games with the national club. 

The 39-year-old midfielder announced her retirement last month after leading the U.S. to a bronze medal at the Tokyo Games. She has scored 128 goals in 312 caps for the national team. Lloyd, a member of the national team since 2005, is second for most caps with the team and fourth in goals.

After the national team plays at Cleveland’s FirstEnergy Stadium on Thursday, the two teams will travel across the state and face each other in Cincinnati’s TQL Stadium on Sept. 21.

The U.S. currently is ranked No. 1 in the world. Paraguay is ranked No. 50. 

The U.S. Women's National Team last visited Cleveland on June 12, 2018 and defeated China PR 2-1. The match was attended by 12,335 fans. 

“The work never stops and every game we play has meaning,” said Coach Vlatko Andonovski. “These games are important to welcome back our Olympic Team to play in front of our home fans, but they are also the first steps towards 2023 World Cup qualifying. We all know we have to be at the top of our game to win at the highest levels and the dedication of the entire group to that pursuit will never change.”


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