The U.S. women’s national soccer team traveling to the World Cup in a few weeks will include some of the biggest names in the sport who already have raised the trophy twice. As revealed Wednesday by Coach Vlatko Andonovski, the 23-strong roster features Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe and a core of players responsible for the program’s durability and excellence.
The delegation headed to New Zealand and Australia for the July 20-Aug. 20 spectacle, though, also will introduce numerous newcomers to soccer’s prized competition.
Andonovski’s selections included two of the game’s most exciting young players, 21-year-old Trinity Rodman and 18-year-old Alyssa Thompson.
What to know about the 2023 women’s World Cup
In all, 14 players will go to their first World Cup, including four representatives from the Washington Spirit: Rodman, midfielders Andi Sullivan (Lorton, Va.) and Ashley Sanchez and goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury.
Others 24 and younger are three probable starters: defenders Emily Fox (Ashburn, Va.) and Naomi Girma and forward Sophia Smith.
The top-ranked United States is seeking to become the first men’s or women’s team to win three consecutive World Cups. Training camp will open Monday in Carson, Calif., leading to the final tuneup July 9 against Wales in San Jose.
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“It’s not going to be easy,” said Smith, 22, adding that the veterans have “made that very clear.”
“They’re going to continue to make that clear to a lot of us young players who’ve never played in a World Cup before,” she said. “That’s great because we need to be prepared. We need to know those things. We need to hear from the veteran players who have been there and done it.”
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According to Soccer America, this squad features the fewest returning World Cup players in program history.
Based in New Zealand for the group stage, the Americans will open against Vietnam, then face the Netherlands in a rematch of the 2019 final and finish with Portugal.
The World Cup expanded by eight teams to 32. European champion England is also among the favorites.
From 2022: USWNT drawn with Netherlands in World Cup group stage
“We already have a target on our backs,” said Morgan, 33, who is preparing for her fourth World Cup. “But there’s some teams that have done incredibly well over the last four years and have made a name for themselves to compete for this trophy. I’m very optimistic with our chances with this roster.”
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The roster is without four certain selections who were ruled out because of injuries: captain Becky Sauerbrunn, winger Mallory Swanson, attacker Catarina Macario and midfielder Sam Mewis.
Rapinoe and midfielder Rose Lavelle also have been nursing injuries, but Andonovski said he expects both to play in the July 9 friendly.
A wealth of depth in the sport’s most decorated program will help compensate for the losses. Rodman, the National Women’s Soccer League rookie of the year in 2021, has received regular invitations to the national team over the past year.
“Since she came in the league, we could see the energy and the creativity and the intensity,” Andonovski said. “Every time when she gets the ball, it’s almost like there is a little expectation [that] something will happen.”
Thompson, who skipped college soccer to become the No. 1 pick by Angel City in the NWSL draft this year, debuted with the national team this past fall.
Off to strong start with Spirit, Ashley Sanchez has eyes on the World Cup
She is the fourth teenager and second youngest to be named to a U.S. World Cup roster, behind current assistant coach Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak (1995).
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Andonovski called Thompson a “player with some exceptional skills and exceptional abilities.”
The combined age of Rodman and Thompson is a bit more than that of Rapinoe, the 2019 World Cup hero who will turn 38 on July 5 and probably is competing in her final major competition.
The biggest roster surprise was midfielder Savannah DeMelo, the third player in U.S. history to receive a World Cup roster berth without previously appearing for the national team. The others were Debbie Keller (1995) and Shannon Boxx (2003).
In her second year as a pro, DeMelo, 25, has enjoyed a standout season with the NWSL’s Racing Louisville. “Her performance in the league,” Andonovski said, “was one of the biggest reasons why she’s on the team.”
Notable players who didn’t make the cut were Spirit striker Ashley Hatch, San Diego Wave midfielder Taylor Kornieck and Chicago Red Stars defender Tierna Davidson, the youngest member of the 2019 World Cup squad.
New mom Julie Ertz, back with the USWNT at last, has a new drive
Hatch’s absence leaves Andonovski without a pure striker to back up Morgan. If necessary, Smith could slide into that slot from her right wing position.
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Sauerbrunn’s injury left a gaping void at center back. Girma and Alana Cook are the projected starters, but there is not much depth. One option would be to use Julie Ertz, who anchored the back line in 2015 before moving to defensive midfield four years later. She returned to the national team this year after taking maternity leave.
“It’s definitely something that is on our mind,” Andonovski said of playing Ertz in the back, “and we will be exploring that option.”
Ertz is among nine selections with World Cup experience, joining Morgan, Rapinoe, Lavelle, goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, defenders Crystal Dunn, Kelley O’Hara and Emily Sonnett, and midfielder Lindsey Horan.
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Seattle-based OL Reign has five representatives on the squad, followed by the Spirit’s four. Horan, from France’s Olympique Lyon, is the only foreign-based player.
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“We want to do something that has never been done before,” Andonovski said. “We believe in the quality of the team. We believe in the support we have, and we think we have what it takes to make it possible.”
2023 USWNT World Cup roster
Goalkeepers: Aubrey Kingsbury (Washington Spirit), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars).
Defenders: Alana Cook (OL Reign), Crystal Dunn (Portland Thorns), Emily Fox (North Carolina Courage), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave), Sofia Huerta (OL Reign), Kelley O’Hara (Gotham FC), Emily Sonnett (OL Reign).
Midfielders: Savannah DeMelo (Racing Louisville), Julie Ertz (Angel City), Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon), Rose Lavelle (OL Reign), Kristie Mewis (Gotham FC), Ashley Sanchez (Washington Spirit), Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit).
Forwards: Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave), Megan Rapinoe (OL Reign), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns), Alyssa Thompson (Angel City), Lynn Williams (Gotham FC).
