Why is Catarina Macario not playing for the USWNT at SheBelieves Cup?

The U.S. women's national team will play at the 2026 SheBelieves Cup without its top goal-scorer from last year.

Catarina Macario led the USWNT with eight goals from 10 matches in 2025, including five in her final three appearances.

But Macario has had a difficult start to 2026, as an injury and an uncertain club future have slowed her progress.

The Chelsea forward was left off the USWNT's SheBelieves Cup roster, which head coach Emma Hayes said was due to a heel injury.

“My understanding is that there has been a heel injury that I think she’s getting closer and closer with every day, but she’s not available for selection yet at Chelsea,” Hayes said after naming her roster last week.

“I don’t know when that is going to come. I don’t know if it’s one week, two, three weeks away, but I know she’s not available for selection.”

Macario has earned 29 caps for the USWNT since her debut in 2021, scoring 16 goals.

The 26-year-old forward has not played in 2026 for Chelsea, where her contract is set to expire in the summer.

Macario was left off Chelsea's Champions League squad for the knockout stage, which is likely due to her ongoing heel injury.

The forward has made 12 appearances for Chelsea across all competitions this season, including three in the Champions League, scoring two goals.

A recent report from ESPN suggested Macario is close to joining the San Diego Wave. She has also been linked with Bay FC, with her agent telling the San Francisco Chronicle in December that she was in "preliminary talks" with the NWSL side.

The USWNT will face Argentina on March 1 in Nashville, Tennessee, then take on Canada in Columbus, Ohio on March 4. Hayes side will close the tournament against Colombia on March 7 in Harrison, New Jersey.

The U.S. will be looking to regain the title it lost last year after winning five straight editions of the competition.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why is Catarina Macario not playing for the USWNT at SheBelieves Cup?