Catarina Macario will not make her San Diego Wave debut in 2026 after being placed on the NWSL Season-Ending Injury List.
The USWNT forward joined San Diego from Chelsea in March and signed a long-term contract through 2030, making her return to the city where she grew up one of the Wave’s major moves of the year. However, injury problems have prevented Macario from making an appearance for her new club.
San Diego have now confirmed that the 26-year-old’s first appearance for the Wave will have to wait until at least 2027.
Catarina Macario injury status
Why isn’t Catarina Macario playing? Ongoing knee issue
Current status: NWSL Season-Ending Injury List
2026 San Diego appearances: 0
Last competitive appearance: December 2025
Return date: No timetable announced
San Diego contract: Through 2030
Why is Catarina Macario not playing?
Macario is currently unavailable because of an ongoing knee issue that requires further rehabilitation.
San Diego have not disclosed which knee is currently causing the problem or provided detailed information about the injury. ESPN reported that a club spokesperson confirmed Macario underwent a minor procedure earlier in 2026 to address the issue.
The forward had previously appeared on the NWSL availability report with a heel injury, but the Wave specifically cited her ongoing knee issue when announcing that she had been moved to the Season-Ending Injury List.
That means Macario is officially ruled out for the rest of San Diego’s 2026 campaign. Wave general manager and sporting director Camille Ashton said the club’s priority is Macario’s long-term health.
“While we are disappointed that she will not be available this season, we are focused on her health and on supporting her throughout this process.”
When will Catarina Macario return?
There is currently no confirmed date for Macario’s return. San Diego said further updates on her recovery will be provided when appropriate, rather than setting a timetable for her comeback.
Macario signed a long-term contract through 2030 when she joined the Wave, and both the player and club have emphasised taking a longer-term approach to her rehabilitation.
“My focus is on continuing my recovery so that when I do return, I can feel like myself again and give the team and our fans the best version of me,” Macario said.
With her 2026 season officially over, the earliest she could now make her San Diego debut would be during the 2027 campaign.
Macario has dealt with previous knee injuries
The latest setback follows several injury problems that have interrupted Macario’s career in recent years. She tore the ACL in her left knee while playing for Lyon in June 2022. The lengthy recovery ultimately kept her out of the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
Macario joined Chelsea in 2023 while continuing her rehabilitation and eventually made her debut in March 2024.
She was subsequently selected for the United States squad for the 2024 Olympics but withdrew before the tournament because of irritation in her right knee.
Importantly, San Diego have not identified which knee is affected by her current issue, so the latest problem should not automatically be described as a recurrence of either previous injury.
Macario’s most recent competitive appearance for club or country came in December 2025.
Macario yet to make San Diego Wave debut
Macario’s absence is particularly disappointing given the significance of her return to San Diego.
Born in Brazil, she moved to San Diego with her family at the age of 12 and later developed into one of the country’s leading young players. She twice won the MAC Hermann Trophy at Stanford before beginning her professional career with Lyon.
Her move from Chelsea to the Wave in March 2026 therefore represented a return home as well as a return to the NWSL. However, supporters will now have to wait until at least 2027 to see Macario play for San Diego.
Her recovery could also be significant for the United States ahead of the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil, which begins in June.
For now, however, neither Macario nor San Diego have set a date for her return to competitive football.
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