San Diego Wave FC placed forward Catarina Macario on the season-ending list on Monday. The announcement closes a chapter that never really began for the U.S. women's national team attacker, who signed a record-setting contract earlier this year. Her contract was among the first reported to utilize the NWSL's new high-impact player mechanism, and is valued at nearly $8 million through 2030.
San Diego are currently in fourth place on the league table with 42 points, in contention for the NWSL Shield and the NWSL playoffs. Despite the headlines around Macario's acquisition, she never made her club debut in 2026. The 26-year-old Macario took to social media to speak about her status, expressing disappointment but also her gratitude for support during her injury rehab.
She revealed she had a surgical procedure on her knee. "A few months ago, I underwent a minor procedure to properly address an ongoing issue with my knee. I worked incredibly hard with the hope of making it back this season, but ultimately doing this the right way meant keeping the bigger picture in mind," she said on Instagram.
When Catarina Macario signed with the club on a $300,000 transfer from Chelsea FC, she was rehabbing a heel injury. Her San Diego contract announcement was met with excitement and enthusiasm, as Macario grew up in San Diego, with the caveat that the club would work on her timeline to eventual recovery. The club provided the following statement to CBS Sports regarding Macario's recent injury development.
"Catarina was initially sidelined with a heel injury, which is why she was listed that way on the injury report. She later underwent a minor procedure to address an ongoing knee issue, which is ultimately what will keep her out for the remainder of the season ... Beyond this, we won't have any further comment at this time," it read.
Macario's social media update was lengthy and transparent. "To be completely honest, it sucks to find myself in this position again. There's no way around how difficult it is to go through another rehab and spend more time away from the game I love.
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