In a position that tends to value experience and maturity, 22-year-old Girma has established herself as a player who should figure prominently in the USWNT's future. This will be the 37-year-old's fourth World Cup, and she has hinted it might be her last. Her veteran leadership, experience and temperament mean she will be at this World Cup playing an important role on and off the field. She's the captain and a confidante of Andonovski's. Center backs (4) Becky Sauerbrunn (Portland Thorns): 2 in 2021, she was called upon during the Olympics after an injury to Naeher, a tournament that only seemed to push her further down the depth chart. Her consistency and reliability in the NWSL never translated to the USWNT, but her familiarity and experience with the USWNT keeps her in the mix. Last year it seemed like she got a passing look as someone who could push for the starting spot, but she never could quite state her case and is now solidified as the No. Remember her clutch penalty kick save in the 2019 World Cup semifinal against England? Naeher has proved she can deliver in big moments. Despite there being goalkeepers who have arguably performed better in the NWSL over recent years, Naeher's combination of experience and her recent reps with the USWNT make it clear she is the No. She is the starter, and nothing will change that unless she's physically unable to play. Goalkeepers (3) Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars): ![]() There might be some surprises when Andonovski announces his roster later this month, but here is our roster prediction for who will represent the USWNT when the Women's World Cup starts in Australia and New Zealand on July 20. Coaching decisions mean the USWNT has long been without Tobin Heath, Christen Press, Morgan Brian and several others from the 2019 tournament-winning squad, on top of the retirement of Carli Lloyd and injuries to others. This is also a roster that turns the page from the 2019 World Cup in a big way, which Andonovski always promised he'd do. Will Andonovski give spots to these players and bump the players who took their places over the past year or so? Rose Lavelle has been out since April - will she make it even if she's not 100%? There are a number of players, such as Kelley O'Hara, Julie Ertz, Tierna Davidson and Casey Krueger, who are only just returning to the fold after long absences. Samantha Mewis and Mallory Swanson - two roster locks when healthy - are injured, freeing up spots for players who have never competed in a World Cup. ![]() Some players couldn't make it back - Catarina Macario would've made this roster if she got fit in time from an ACL tear, but she recently announced she won't be ready. Why so many question marks? One big reason is the number of injuries that have plagued the USWNT over the past year. As head coach Vlatko Andonovski said in April after the USWNT's final international friendlies before the World Cup: "We have maybe 10 to 12 players that are fighting for six to seven spots." That's a lot, and it's also a departure from previous tournaments, for which the squad was pretty much set months in advance. Those of us trying to forecast the roster know this is the most unpredictable roster for the USWNT ahead of a major tournament in some time. women's national team should be announced within the next three weeks. The Women's World Cup is now a little more than a month away, and the roster for the U.S. Predicting the USWNT's roster for the 2023 Women's World Cup: Who will make the cut? ![]() You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browser
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