Kristie Mewis is headed to her first World Cup with the U.S. women’s national team. But the wait for the call from head coach Vlatko Andonovski was “very painful,” she shared Wednesday.

After a morning of training for Gotham FC, the 32-year-old midfielder waited alone in her apartment until the call came at 4 p.m.

“So it was a very draining, emotional, wait-around day,” she told reporters Wednesday.

When she answered the FaceTime from Andonovski, who told her she would join the USWNT’s 23-player roster for the tournament in Australia and New Zealand, the emotions hit her.

“I think I started crying before I even saw Vlatko’s face on the FaceTime, just because everything was coming into that moment,” Mewis said. “I feel like I’ve been waiting my whole life to hear those words.”

Kristie 😂

📸: kmewis19/IG pic.twitter.com/epc1W4U1UR

— Just Women’s Sports (@justwsports) June 22, 2023

The countdown to the World Cup roster drop officially started after the USWNT’s April training camp. But for Mewis, the wait seemed much longer.

While she made her debut for the senior national team in 2013, she spent five years off the team and missed out on the 2015 and 2019 World Cups. On Wednesday, she described herself as a “bubble player,” though she has made every USWNT camp since before the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

Of the 14 players making their World Cup debuts for the USWNT in 2023, Mewis is the oldest.

Her parents, her sister — injured USWNT star Sam Mewis — and her girlfriend — Australia star Sam Kerr — served as her “absolute rocks” through the grueling process. She called all of them in turn as soon as she hung up with Andonovski.

“I called my girlfriend immediately. I called my parents. I called my sister,” she said. “They all have been such huge, huge people in my life through this process, because I’m sure I’ve been such a pain in the ass because I’ve been so stressed for so long.”

After the USWNT roster was revealed Wednesday, Kerr congratulated Mewis on Instagram. But she also noted: “Last time I’ll cheer for you is today.”

Kerr is the top player for the Matildas in their home World Cup, which kicks off on July 20. She and Mewis started dating during the COVID-19 pandemic, but they did not go public with their relationship until they made headlines at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. And they’re both ready to give everything they have this summer.

“We’re just raging for the next six months to the World Cup, doing whatever we can,” Kerr told soccer lifestyle magazine Gaffer in an interview with Mewis earlier this year. “We both feel like we’ve been gunning for this World Cup for so long now that it’s kind of going to be like we’re just giving everything for the next six months and then it’s gonna be like a breath of fresh air.”

The Equalizer’s Jeff Kassouf shared Mewis’ full comments on her World Cup call from Wednesday’s Gotham FC news conference.

Kristie Mewis made her #USWNT debut 10 years ago. Last week, she got the call that she was finally going to a World Cup. I asked her about the moment in light of all that waiting... and there was a little more waiting around that day. Her full answer is worth hearing. pic.twitter.com/BYnsYnMy1N

— Jeff Kassouf (@JeffKassouf) June 23, 2023

USWNT manager Emma Hayes announced the roster for three upcoming October friendlies against world No. 13 Iceland and No. 33 Argentina on Thursday, tapping both new and familiar faces for the No. 1 US squad. 

To provide more opportunities and to manage minutes and rest, Hayes increased the training camp to 26 players, though only 23 will dress for each friendly.

With this international window functioning as the team's Olympic gold medal victory tour, every 2024 Olympian automatically earned a roster call-up.

Of the 22 Paris Games players, 18 feature on the October roster. Missing stars Tierna Davidson, Trinity Rodman, and Croix Bethune are currently sidelined with injury, while Crystal Dunn is out with a personal commitment.

Hayes eyes USWNT's future with fresh faces

Youth is the name of the USWNT's October roster game. Just five players are at least 30 years old, three are still teenagers, and 14 have less than 20 senior team appearances. Six have yet to log time in a senior national team match.

The tactical Hayes, whose gold-medal victory was only her 10th match at the USWNT's helm, is known for planning ahead. In line with that, her choice to leverage this trio of friendlies to give potential 2027 World Cup players international experience is unsurprising.

With a "futures camp" already on the books to run concurrently with January's senior team camp, Hayes aims to identify even more top players in the USWNT's pipeline.

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Club play is paramount in USWNT camp invites

Hayes's recent NWSL tour is reflected in her October roster. After impressing in NWSL play this season, three players — defender Alyssa Malonson (Bay FC) and forwards Yazmeen Ryan (Gotham) and Emma Sears (Louisville) — earned their first call-ups.

"The new players coming into camp that weren't part of the Olympic roster are all players who have performed well throughout the NWSL season," Hayes commented on Thursday.

"The importance of what you're doing week in, week out, at the club level, it absolutely matters because you have to perform consistently, or you have to be in environments where you're challenging yourselves every day. That's the big message for me."

Consistently stellar NWSL performances are also why NC Courage midfielder Ashley Sanchez and her 2023 World Cup teammate Alyssa Thompson will return to camp after both failed to make the Olympic cut.

Thompson, in particular, has found her stride with Angel City in recent months. After a goal-scoring drought in the first half of the NWSL season, the 19-year-old forward has notched five goals and one assist over her last eight matches.

Ultimately, this roster — and likely, Hayes's future training camp selections — is a mining mission to find the cream of the incredibly deep US crop of talent.

"I say it privately more than I do publicly," explained the USWNT boss. "The US could quite easily put two teams out."

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October's USWNT roster

• Goalkeepers: Jane Campbell (Houston Dash), Casey Murphy (NC Courage), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)
• Defenders: Emily Fox (Arsenal), Eva Gaetino (Paris Saint-Germain), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave), Casey Krueger (Washington Spirit), Hailie Mace (KC Current), Alyssa Malonson (Bay FC), Jenna Nighswonger (Gotham FC), Emily Sams (Orland Pride), Emily Sonnett (Gotham FC)
• Midfielders: Korbin Albert (Paris Saint-Germain), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns), Hal Hershfelt (Washington Spirit), Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon), Rose Lavelle (Gotham FC), Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns), Ashley Sanchez (NC Courage)
• Forwards: Yazmeen Ryan (Gotham FC), Emma Sears (Racing Louisville), Jaedyn Shaw (San Diego Wave), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns), Mallory Swanson (Chicago Red Stars), Alyssa Thompson (Angel City), Lynn Williams (Gotham FC)

How to watch the USWNT's October friendlies

The USWNT will play twice against Iceland, first in Austin, Texas, on October 24th at 7:30 PM ET, airing on TBS.

Their second match, featuring celebrations for retiring defender Kelley O'Hara and forward Mal Swanson's 100 caps, will take place in Nashville, Tennessee, on October 27th at 5:30 PM ET. Live coverage will air on TNT.

The USWNT will close this international window in Louisville, Kentucky, against Argentina on October 30th. After honoring midfielder Rose Lavelle for her 100th USWNT appearance, the match will kick off at 7 PM ET, also on TNT.

Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu became New York's hero​ on Wednesday, sinking a 28-foot buzzer-beating logo three to notch the WNBA Finals Game 3 win.

The bucket silenced Minnesota's 19,521 record-breaking home crowd and securing a 2-1 series advantage over the Lynx.

“Definitely the biggest shot of my career,” Ionescu said post-game. “And, hopefully, not the last.”

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The most-watched Finals game in 23 years was defined by dramatic momentum swings. The Liberty flipped the script on their Game 1 loss, with Ionescu overcoming a tough shooting night to avoid another overtime finish.

The first half saw Minnesota lead by as many as 15 points. But New York superstar Breanna Stewart's monster 30-point, 11-rebound double-double boosted the Libs to the tight 80-77 victory.

In total, the Liberty only led for 2 minutes and 19 seconds on Wednesday, the second-shortest amount of lead time for a winning team in an WNBA Finals game.

"Obviously, Stewie got us back in there," Liberty coach Sandy Brondello remarked after the game. "But I thought, '[at] the right time, this is Sabrina.' She's a great shooter. What I love about her is that she backs herself. Not everyone can take those big shots and make them. She can."

Can New York go all the way tonight?

In their sixth WNBA Finals trip, the Liberty are on the brink of clinching their first-ever championship this evening — assuming they avoid a winner-take-all Game 5 in Brooklyn on Sunday. 

"Just knowing that we're one win away, that's what's the most motivating," Stewart said on Thursday. "The fact that we have an opportunity to finish this thing tomorrow night."

On the flip side, this is Minnesota's last chance to turn things around. Tonight's Game 4 is now a must-win for the Lynx, who are in danger of falling short of what would be a WNBA record-setting fifth league title. Battling back from a 2-1 series deficit isn't an impossible feat, having been done four previous times in WNBA Finals history, including by Minnesota in 2017.

"It's win or go home at this point," Lynx star Napheesa Collier told reporters. "So we have to come in with the mindset that we’re going to be just as aggressive and then just have faith in that we're going to execute better down the stretch."

How to watch Liberty vs. Lynx in Game 4 of the 2024 WNBA Finals

New York and Minnesota will tip off Game 4 of the 2024 WNBA Finals at 8 PM ET Friday. Live coverage will air on ESPN.

In today’s episode, host Claire Watkins runs down the October roster for the USWNT, discussing comments from head coach Emma Hayes that lays out her vision for the team's long preparation ahead of the 2027 Women's World Cup.

Later, Watkins marvels at yet another incredible 2024 WNBA Finals showdown, as the Liberty take a crucial 2-1 series advantage in their search for the franchise's first WNBA Championship title.

The Late Sub with Claire Watkins brings you the latest news and freshest takes in women’s sports. This is the weekly rundown you’ve been missing, covering the USWNT, NWSL, WNBA, college hoops, and whatever else is popping off in women’s sports each week. Special guest appearances with the biggest names in women’s sports make The Late Sub a must-listen for every fan. Follow Claire on X/Twitter @ScoutRipley and subscribe to the Just Women’s Sports newsletter for more.

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The BBC dropped its 2024 Footballer of the Year shortlist on Tuesday, with three of the five nominees hailing from the NWSL.

Orlando striker Barbra Banda, Portland forward Sophia Smith, and San Diego center back Naomi Girma headline the 10th edition of the traditionally UK-heavy award. Barcelona FC standouts Aitana Bonmatí and Caroline Graham Hansen round out the five-player selection.

A panel that includes coaches, players, journalists, and administrators selects the award's shortlist, with the final winner determined by fan votes.

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Footballer of the Year looks outside the UK

Seven of the nine previous winners of the London-based broadcaster's award played their soccer, whether club or country, in the UK.

Only two-time BBC Footballer of the Year Ada Hegerberg, a Norwegian national and striker for Lyon, has earned the honor without a connection to England.

Hegerberg's 2019 win also came during the only other year when all five of the BBC's Footballer of the Year nominees played outside the UK.

Stellar resumes back the 2024 Footballer of the Year nominees

After winning Olympic gold in Paris this summer, USWNT stars, NWSL game-changers, and longtime friends Smith and Girma have dominated on both international and domestic pitches this year.

Along with her three Olympic goals, Thorns forward Smith has already matched her 2023 NWSL Golden Boot-winning tally of 11 goals in her 2024 campaign — despite being recently hampered by an ankle injury.

Representing the back line, Girma was the only field player to feature in every minute of the 2024 Paris Games, with USWNT boss Emma Hayes calling her "the best defender I have ever seen."

Despite such praise, the 2023 US Soccer Player of the Year was notably snubbed last month from the 2024 Ballon d'Or shortlist. The other four BCC-nominated players feature on both lists.

Meanwhile, with 13 NWSL goals so far this season, Zambian national Banda is a frontrunner for the league's 2024 MVP award. With three hat tricks across the Tokyo and Paris Games, her 10 goals across those tournaments make her Africa's all-time leading Olympic scorer.

As for the Barça athletes, Norwegian national Hansen's injuries left her underrated for much of the 29-year-old's career, but her last two seasons with the Liga F side has seen her score an astounding 45 goals in 55 appearances.

Meanwhile, Bonmatí has secured every possible club-level trophy during her Barcelona career, including three UWCL titles. The 2023 World Cup champion with Spain is also the 2023 Ballon d'Or winner.

How to vote for the BBC 2024 Footballer of the Year

Fans worldwide can cast their votes online now through 5 AM ET on October 28th, with the winner announced on November 26th.