Macario’s value lies in her ability to operate as both a forward and an attacking midfielder. That flexibility gives the USA another way to change shape without making a substitution.
The report says Macario scored eight goals in 10 appearances after returning last year, the highest total among US players during that period. Her absence therefore affects more than squad depth: it removes a player capable of linking midfield possession with the final third.
The update also says previous knee and ligament problems kept her out of the 2023 World Cup and the 2024 Olympic campaign. The latest setback extends a difficult international availability record.
The USA are scheduled to face reigning World Cup holders Spain in Washington on 10 October and again at Subaru Park on 13 October, the report says. Those fixtures would have offered Macario a demanding test against one of the world’s most technically accomplished sides.
Without her, the USA’s coaching staff must assess other combinations between the central striker, wide attackers and advanced midfielders. The matches will still measure the team’s progress, but Macario’s individual return was set to be one of the central storylines.
For San Diego, the priority now is building a recovery plan that allows Macario to regain sustained fitness rather than rushing another comeback. Her reported absence means the club’s first season with one of the league’s most versatile attackers will be defined by patience.
The next markers are the October Spain fixtures and Macario’s rehabilitation timeline. A consistent return before the next NWSL campaign could reshape both the Wave’s attack and the USA’s options.