U.S. women’s national team head coach Vlatko Andonovski has revealed his 23-player roster for the 2023 World Cup, which kicks off next month in Australia and New Zealand.
Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe and Kelley O’Hara each earned a spot on their fourth World Cup roster, with Rapinoe overcoming a late injury concern to return after winning the Golden Ball and Golden Boot at the 2019 World Cup.
Rapinoe, who turns 38 in early July, is the oldest player on the roster. The youngest is 18-year-old forward Alyssa Thompson, who is one of 14 players who were named to their first World Cup squad.
As the USWNT aims to win a third straight World Cup and fifth overall, nine players will return from the 2019 roster that lifted the trophy in France.
Rose Lavelle scored the clincher in the 2019 final against the Netherlands and she returns after overcoming a knee injury that has sidelined her since April.
Lavelle and Rapinoe were the positive stories on the injury front for the USWNT, but the likes of captain Becky Sauerbrunn, 2023 leading scorer Mallory Swanson and rising star Catarina Macario are all missing due to injury.
Julie Ertz completes her return to the USWNT by being named to her third World Cup squad. The midfielder played her first game in April after nearly two years away from the game following the birth of her son.
Racing Louisville star Savannah DeMelo is on the roster, becoming just the third uncapped player in history to make a USWNT World Cup squad.
After a send-off match against Wales on July 9 in San Jose, Calif., the USWNT will head to New Zealand where it kicks off the World Cup against Vietnam on July 21. Andonovski’s team will complete Group E play with matches against the Netherlands on July 26 and Portugal on August 1.
USWNT World Cup roster (club; caps/goals)
Goalkeepers (3): Aubrey Kingsbury (Washington Spirit; 1), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage; 14), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars; 90)
Defenders (7): Alana Cook (OL Reign; 24/1), Crystal Dunn (Portland Thorns FC; 131/24), Emily Fox (North Carolina Courage; 28/1), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC; 15/0), Sofia Huerta (OL Reign; 29/0), Kelley O’Hara (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 157/3), Emily Sonnett (OL Reign; 74/1)
Midfielders (7): Savannah DeMelo (Racing Louisville FC; 0/0), Julie Ertz (Angel City FC; 118/20), Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon; 128/27), Rose Lavelle (OL Reign; 88/24), Kristie Mewis (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 51/7), Ashley Sanchez (Washington Spirit; 24/3), Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit; 44/3)
Forwards (6): Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave FC; 206/121), Megan Rapinoe (OL Reign; 199/63), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit; 17/2), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC; 29/12), Alyssa Thompson (Angel City FC; 3/0), Lynn Williams (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 52/15)
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