Sydney Leroux is expecting a child in September, according to her husband’s social media, meaning she will join a growing group of U.S. Women’s World Cup players on the sideline come the Rio Olympics.
Leroux, 25, is the seventh player from the 2015 Women’s World Cup roster of 23 who will be out an extended period of time.
Forward Abby Wambach, midfielders Lauren Holiday and Shannon Boxx and defender Lori Chalupny retired. Midfielder Megan Rapinoe tore her right ACL on Dec. 4 but hopes to be back for Rio. The forward Leroux and another forward, Amy Rodriguez, are both pregnant.
Leroux, 25, was the only member of the 2012 U.S. Olympic champion team that was not on the 2011 Women’s World Cup roster. She was the youngest member of the 18-player team at age 22.
Leroux hasn’t played a match since the World Cup and underwent right ankle surgery in September.
It’s unknown if Rodriguez is out for the Olympics, but if she is, then Alex Morgan is the only forward from the 2012 Olympic team who could come back for Rio. The U.S. also has Christen Press, 27, a forward on the 2015 Women’s World Cup team eyeing her first Olympics.
