Imagine if someone had said three months ago that Julie Ertz and Alyssa Thompson wouldn’t be the biggest surprises on the U.S. women’s roster for next month’s World Cup.
Savannah DeMelo was on the 23-woman squad announced Wednesday, becoming the first uncapped player to make a USWNT roster for the World Cup since Shannon Boxx in 2003.
Most of the other players were expected, especially in light of the injuries to Mallory Swanson (torn patellar tendon) and Becky Sauerbrunn (foot). Thompson, already an established starter in the NWSL despite only graduating from high school last month, gives the Americans another quick and crafty threat offensively. Ertz, who had son Madden in August and returned to the USWNT in April for the first time since the Tokyo Olympics, is a steadying presence in the midfield and also provides insurance on the back line, where she began her national team career.
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Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan and Kelley O’Hara were chosen for their fourth World Cups, but this is clearly a team in transition. Only nine players are holdovers from the team that won a second consecutive World Cup in 2019, and 12 will be playing in their first major international tournament. Eleven have 30 or fewer appearances for the USWNT, though that includes both backup goalkeepers.
“We are expecting the level of play at this World Cup to be the best it’s ever been, and all the teams must keep up with that growth,” U.S. coach Vlatko Andonovski said. “Our players understand the challenges and the competitive environment we are heading into, and they love it. We have a roster with depth and versatility and that will help us take on all the challenges that will be coming our way.”
The World Cup begins July 20 in Australia and New Zealand, and the USWNT opens play two days later in Auckland against Vietnam. It plays the Netherlands July 27 in Wellington for a rematch of the 2019 World Cup final before wrapping up group play Aug. 1 against Portugal.
There is no question the USWNT veterans are some of the best to ever play the game. Rapinoe won both the Golden Ball and Golden Boot after scoring six goals four years ago in France, and was named FIFA’s player of the year later that year. Morgan also had six goals in 2019, and finished third in last year’s player-of-the-year voting.
Rose Lavelle won Bronze Ball honors as the third-best player at the last World Cup. Crystal Dunn is arguably the world’s most versatile player, able to play any position on the field. Lindsey Horan just helped Lyon to the French league title.
But the newcomers, though untested in a major international tournament, have shown incredible potential. Sophia Smith was the youngest player since Mia Hamm to lead the USWNT in scoring last year, when she also was named U.S. Soccer’s Player of the Year and the NWSL’s MVP. Trinity Rodman was a finalist for the Ballon d’Or before her 21st birthday. Naomi Girma is the first player to win both NWSL Rookie of the Year and Defender of the Year.
You can’t really even question Andonovski’s decision to include DeMelo, who has been to training camps with the USWNT but never appeared in a game. DeMelo has six goals since May 1 in NWSL regular-season and Challenge Cup games, and has eight total this year along with two assists.
“Every player has a different journey to get to this point,” Andonovski said.
Andonovski and the USWNT have to hope those different journeys lead to the same place: back to the top of the World Cup podium.
The USWNT World Cup roster
Goalkeepers: Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars); Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage); Aubrey Kingsbury (Washington Spirit).
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 (NJ/NY Gotham); Emily Sonnett (OL Reign).
Midfielders: Savannah DeMelo (Racing Louisville); Julie Ertz (Angel City); Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon); Rose Lavelle (OL Reign); Kristie Mewis (NJ/NY Gotham); 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 (NJ/NY Gotham).