Megan Rapinoe out for Chile friendlies with rib injury

Megan Rapinoe has been ruled out for the US women’s national team’s upcoming friendlies against Chile after sustaining a rib injury with the Seattle Reign on August 21.

Amy Rodriguez will replace Rapinoe on the roster, updated below.

GOALKEEPERS (3): Adrianna Franch (Portland Thorns FC; 0/0), Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride; 16/0), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars; 32/0)

DEFENDERS (7): Abby Dahlkemper (NC Courage; 22/0), Tierna Davidson (Stanford; 10/0), Hailie Mace (UCLA; 1/0), Kelley O’Hara (Utah Royals FC: 107/2), Becky Sauerbrunn (Utah Royals FC; 141/0), Casey Short (Chicago Red Stars; 24/0), Emily Sonnett (Portland Thorns FC; 20/0)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Morgan Brian (Chicago Red Stars; 77/6), Julie Ertz (Chicago Red Stars; 64/16), Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC; 54/6), Rose Lavelle (Washington Spirit; 11/3), Carli Lloyd (Sky Blue FC; 257/100), Samantha Mewis (NC Courage; 37/7), McCall Zerboni (NC Courage; 5/0)

FORWARDS (6): Crystal Dunn (NC Courage; 67/23), Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC; 136/20), Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride; 145/90), Christen Press (Utah Royals FC; 103/44), Mallory Pugh (Washington Spirit; 35/11), Amy Rodriguez (Utah Royals FC; 131/30)

Rapinoe had to sit out Seattle’s latest game, a 1-1 tie with the North Carolina Courage, although the Reign have fortunately already clinched an NWSL playoff spot. As per US Soccer’s press release, she will still join USWNT camp in this FIFA window for evaluation.

This is a bit of a blow for the WNT in that Rapinoe created all kinds of options for them to pull wide either through looking to her for crosses or letting her drift inside to pull defenders out of shape. This might mean that Ellis will have to lean more heavily on either Mallory Pugh or Christen Press to set up in her current preference for a front three, or perhaps Rodriguez will actually get playing time, given the relative strength of underdog Chile. Perhaps Rodriguez won’t make the final cut to 18 players at all. We’ll find out in a few days as the WNT’s first game against Chile kicks off on Friday, August 31 at 11 PM ET at StubHub Center in Carson, CA. It will air live on ESPN2.