The highly anticipated 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup is now just a month away, with the first match set to commence in Australia and New Zealand on July 20th.
The USWNT team, under the guidance of Head Coach Vlatko Andonovski, has completed the selection process for the 23-member squad. The team will compete for its third-consecutive World Cup title, fifth overall.
The roster offers 14 fresh faces and 10 World Cup veterans, with some notable players left out due to injuries.
Becky Sauerbrunn, the USWNT captain, will miss out on a fourth World Cup due to a foot injury. Striker Alex Morgan, now on her fourth World Cup team, expects to take over the captaincy. Megan Rapinoe and Kelley O’Hara also appear in their fourth World Cup for the Stars and Stripes.
Injuries to in-form goal-scorers Mallory Swanson and Catarina Macario weaken the USWNT attack but open the doors to new starters like Trinity Rodman or Lynn Williams and Sophia Smith, the latter who could play as central striker. Newbies Naomi Girma and Alana Cook lead the charge at the back.
Meanwhile, Julie Ertz’s return gives Andonovski much-needed tenacity, and including the promising 18-year-old Alyssa Thompson could prove to be a star in the making. She just joined the team last April.
“What a turn of events in the last 9 months. If you think about in October she was playing youth soccer and now she’ll be on the biggest stage. We’re very excited for her, we’ve been following since U-20 WC,” said coach Andonovski on Thompson.
Can the USWNT win with a bunch of debutants?
Andonovski left plenty of could-be starters off the roster, including the NWSL’s leading goal scorer Ashley Hatch and the ever-versatile Casey Krueger, a potential like-for-like replacement with Sauerbrunn’s injury.
The boss remains determined that his mix of emerging and experienced talent will pay off as the team heads to Australia and New Zealand.
Below is the entire USWNT roster for the 2023 World Cup. The USWNT kicks off the tournament against Vietnam on 7/21, the Netherlands on 7/26, and Portugal on 8/1.
Can this USWNT squad make it a record-fifth World Cup?
Goalkeepers (3)
- Aubrey Kingsbury
- Casey Murphy
- Alyssa Naeher
Defenders (7)
- Alana Cook
- Emily Fox
- Crystal Dunn
- Naomi Girma
- Sofia Huerta
- Kelley O’Hara
- Emily Sonnett
Midfielders (6)
- Savannah Demelo
- Julie Ertz
- Lindsey Horan
- Rose Lavelle
- Kristie Mewis
- Ashley Sanchez
- Andi Sullivan
Forwards (6)
- Alex Morgan
- Megan Rapinoe
- Trinity Rodman
- Sophia Smith
- Alyssa Thompson
- Lynn Williams
Photo: Instagram/USWNT
