Looking to get back on top after falling short of gold in back-to-back Olympics, the United States is sending its youngest women’s national soccer team to the Olympics since 2008.
With an average age of 26.8, according to U.S. Soccer, this is the fourth-youngest USWNT ever at the Olympics. Much younger than the 2021 team that won bronze with an average age of 30.8.
The hope is that the new infusion of youth will catapult the team back to the top of the world, when it won three straight Olympic gold medals from 2004 to 2012.
Of course, when a team’s average age is so young, there are usually a few players on the extreme end of that spectrum, and this team is no exception, with two players under the age of the youngest player from the 2021 roster — which was Tierna Davidson at 22.
The youngest is 19-year-old Jaedyn Shaw, who will be the fifth-youngest player and fifth teenager to ever play for the USWNT at the Olympics. A forward/midfielder for San Diego FC, Shaw holds the NWSL record for most goals scored by a teenager, surpassing her U.S. teammate Trinity Rodman — who’s only 22 herself.
The next youngest is 20-year-old Korbin Albert, whose selection to the team was a little controversial. Nonetheless, the former Notre Dame standout and Paris St. Germain midfielder has excelled on the pitch.
Ten others from the 18-player roster are also under 30, including Rodman, Jenna Nighswonger (23), Sophia Smith (23), Naomi Germa (24), Davidson (25), Sam Coffey (25), Emily Fox (26), Mallory Swanson (26), Casey Murphy (28) and Rose Lavelle (29).