Will Sophia Smith play at the Paris Olympics moving forward? Has her Olympic journey been cut short after the injury? This uncertainty has arisen following the USWNT’s opening match against Zambia. While Emma Hayes and her team were able to pick up a dominant 3-0 win, they also got hit by a significant setback with Sophia Smith’s injury.

In the match against Zambia, the 23-year-old began strongly, contributing an assist to one of Mallory Swanson’s two goals. However, in the 44th minute of the game, she experienced discomfort in her ankle and was subsequently substituted for Lynn Williams. Initially, head coach Emma Hayes refrained from providing updates on her condition, deferring to medical evaluations. As the team prepares for their upcoming clash with Germany, Coach Hayes has shared encouraging news.

Sophia Smith is back in training and participated fully with the team on Saturday ahead of this crucial matchup. Furthermore, it has been confirmed that she will be available to play. However, details regarding the extent of her recovery remain limited. It is yet unclear whether she will start or begin the game from the bench as part of a cautious approach.

Ultimately, Coach Hayes is likely to make this decision closer to kickoff based on the Portland Thorns star’s readiness and overall performance during training sessions. These are some exciting developments for USWNT fans as the team gears up to face a formidable opponent that has emerged as a significant dark horse in the tournament. While reports regarding Sophia Smith have been encouraging, unfortunate news surrounds 19-year-old rising star Jaedyn Shaw.

Will Jaedyn Shaw be back before the Olympics ends?

Shaw was selected as part of the 18-member roster representing the USWNT at the Olympics. However, she sustained an injury before commencing her campaign. It has been reported that during a training session on Wednesday leading up to the match against Zambia, the forward suffered a leg injury. Although initial assessments by team officials indicated that it was not severe, just over ninety minutes before kickoff, USWNT announced her removal from the squad and confirmed Croix Bethune would take her place.

Now latest reports confirm that Jaedyn Shaw is still not back in training with the team. The San Diego Wave star is still being assessed by medical teams and it has been confirmed that she is going to miss the Germany clash too. Coach Emma Hayes has yet to provide any specific information regarding Shaw’s recovery timeline or potential return date.

This is undoubtedly a disappointing turn of events for Jaedyn Shaw, who was looking forward to making her Olympic debut while building on her impressive performance. Fans remain hopeful for her return during either the crucial match against Australia or further into the knockout rounds should the USWNT advance in the tournament.