The Chicago Red Stars are once again left in a state of confusion. Struggling to find consistency in this season’s NWSL, the stars have pulled off a narrow win against the Portland Thorns who had 14 attempts in the game. However, as the Stars have slowly made their way back into the playoff zone, the club has received a major scare as their marquee player Mallory Swanson was with a shoulder issue. Thus, as the season comes to a vital point, the coach of the club Lorne Donaldson has given her take on the issue.

According to the latest reports, the NWSL coach said, “No, I have no updates. It looked like she landed her shoulder that she did last weekend, it looks like it’s the same one but I have no update” This has hinted that Swanson’s injury yesterday could be a bit worrisome. It was a fight for the ball with Thorns defender Kelli Hubly in the 79th minute that brought the 26-year-old down who landed on her shoulder.

Enduring the pain she then exited the field sobbing in the 83rd minute and went into the locker room. And now, the Stars’ camp and supporters are once again left anxious without much update from the medical team yet. While the 2019 World Cup winner seemed to have gotten back her mojo, it appears that her fans have to keep up with her injuries all the time.

Swanson also missed the 2023 World Cup after suffering an injury to her patellar tendon against Ireland in April last year. Earlier in 2018 she also tore her posterior cruciate ligament which kept her out for a few months. But after undergoing three surgeries in the space of nine months, she was back scoring 4 goals for USNWT in the Olympics leading them to gold. Nevertheless, things haven’t been the same for Swanson after the Paris Games.

Mallory Swanson’s form is a concern for the Red Stars

It’s not just the injury that will trouble the Chicago team, but the USWNT striker has seen a sudden dip in scoring after returning. Although she remarkably began the season, she hasn’t registered a single goal after the Paris Olympics. While she already netted seven times with three assists this season, during this time the team would need their best player to keep scoring. The Colorado-born also missed a penalty yesterday but, the earlier goal and lack of Thorns’ cutting edge saved the Chicago Red Stars.

Meanwhile, the team also doesn’t have a large cushion of points to keep them in the playoff zone. Placed 7th in the tale they are just a point ahead of 8th-placed Bay FC,  and 9th and 10th-placed teams are just 5-6 points away with a game in hand. Therefore, the focus will be on Mallory Swanson’s recovery since she is expected to take them over the line this time. What is your take on this? Let us know in the comments below.