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USWNT roster: Who’s trending up, down after Australia friendlies

Ashley Hatch earned her second and third caps for the USWNT against Australia. (Brad Smith/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

The U.S. women’s national soccer team experienced a changing of the guard for their two-game friendly series against Australia this past week, winning 3-0 on Saturday and drawing 1-1 on Tuesday.

The young roster included 13 players with 10 caps or fewer. Forward Sophia Smith (10 caps) and goalkeeper Bella Bixby (zero caps) were the only two players who didn’t see the field after they were placed in concussion protocol.

The Australia friendlies gave USWNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski a chance to evaluate the less experienced players in a high-pressure environment. Not all of them are coming back, but every veteran should be on notice as the competition for roster and lineup spots ramps up. The team’s next camp is in January, and Andonovsi said he’s already told some of the new players they are invited to attend.

Of the players who were in Australia, here are a few whose stock is trending up, trending down and staying the same based on their performances.

Trending up

GK Casey Murphy

After two stellar debuts, goalkeeper Casey Murphy has skyrocketed into the conversation for the USWNT’s 2023 World Cup roster. She preserved a shutout in the first game, saving at least three tough shots in the final stretch of the first half when her midfielders and backline gave the Matildas too much space in dangerous areas. Her efforts in the second match were no different. She made her best save in the 21st minute, diving to the low right corner to knock the ball off the post and away from traffic. Through a barricade of defenders and forwards, the North Carolina Courage keeper could barely even see the bullet of a shot flying in from outside the 18-yard box. Her poise and ability to make game-saving stops should earn her even more opportunities in 2022.

D Emily Fox

Emily Fox played much better on Tuesday than she did Saturday. In an epic matchup with Australian winger Hayley Raso, the left fullback was more aggressive and confident when making tackles and dribbling up the field. Most impressive was her ability to carry the ball out of pressure, even through three opposing players at a time. Many players would look to pass out of their defensive third in those instances, but Fox has more options because of her speed. To make the World Cup roster, she’ll need to work on taking care of the ball in the attacking zone. The 23-year-old often makes incredible runs up the wing, just like she did with Racing Louisville FC during the NWSL season, only to give the ball away with a bad pass or touch past the end line.

F Midge Purce

NWSL Best XI member Midge Purce stayed consistent from the first match to the second. Not only did she get two assists in two games, but they were almost identical: hard, accurate passes from the end line to the player at the spot, first to Rose Lavelle and next to Hatch. Purce uses her 1v1 skills and off-ball intuition to get herself into those positions. She worked well defensively in the middle of the park with right fullback Sofia Huerta to help the U.S. maintain possession. Andonovski loves versatility, and Purce has it.

F Ashley Hatch

With two goals in her first two starts (a 50 percent caps-to-scoring ratio over three total caps), Ashley Hatch is technically the best finisher on the current squad. What’s tricky about Hatch, though, is she isn’t a consistent 90-minute, or even 70-minute, player. She gets quick bursts of energy that result in goals but isn’t known for her distribution or setups in the attack. Hatch played the majority of both games against Australia. That will change when Catarina Macario returns to training camp. The 22-year-old has the knack for goal and the well-roundedness Andonovski likes in his starters.

D Alana Cook

Alana Cook is as reliable as they come at center back. Even against Australia’s man-marking, she consistently threaded difficult balls to her teammates and read Australia’s forward runs, which is no small task for a player getting her third and fourth caps against a quality international team. It’s especially difficult to mark Sam Kerr, but Cook frustrated the world-class goal scorer in both games and even beat her in a key 1v1 situation.

Trending down

GK Jane Campbell

Jane Campbell came into this camp as the leader of the goalkeeping trio, carrying seven caps over Bella Bixby and Casey Murphy’s zero. Though she hasn’t appeared much for the USWNT, Campbell has been a consistent backup keeper for the team, traveling to the Tokyo Olympics this past summer as the third string. Given how well Murphy played in Australia, Campbell’s backup spot with the team could be in jeopardy once Alyssa Naeher returns from injury.

D Becky Sauerbrunn

It was surprising not to see the veteran get more playing time against Australia considering she’s the most-capped player on the roster with 199 appearances. Lindsey Horan wore the armband for the two friendlies even though Sauerbrunn has been captain for most of this year. She only came onto the pitch in the last few minutes of both games when the USWNT shifted to a five-player backline. It’s highly unlikely Sauerbrunn will be cut from the team before she retires, but she certainly has a position to protect since Andonovski seems to be in the process of rebuilding his defense.

F Ashley Sanchez

Andonovski called up Ashley Sanchez as the only inexperienced midfielder to travel with the team to Australia. The USWNT’s midfield is steady and is the toughest area for a newcomer to crack right now. Sanchez is a hungry player who received her first two caps in Australia, but she isn’t yet at a point in her career where she can force Andonovski’s hand over the midfield mainstays.

The same

M Rose Lavelle, Lindsey Horan, Andi Sullivan

The three who got the most playing time in the midfield over the past two games didn’t do anything to garner high praise, but the experience they brought to a young team, connecting the defensive lines with the attack, was critical to the USWNT’s success.

Rose Lavelle is one of the best midfielders in the world because of her creativity and technical abilities, and she rarely makes a poor decision on the ball, even under heavy pressure at the top of an opponent’s box. Horan, though not as strong of a dribbler as Lavelle is, sets the balance with good ball distribution and defensive work and isn’t afraid to plough through opponents. Reading the field, she was able to change her positioning and strategy as soon as she felt the Matildas were getting too comfortable. Andi Sullivan’s impact in Australia was quieter, but the USWNT also didn’t use her six position enough to their advantage when they had possession.

Jessa Braun is an editorial intern for Just Women’s Sports. She is also the Head of North American Content for the Women’s Sports Alliance. You can find her on Twitter @jessabraun.

Christen Press back training with Angel City FC

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 15: Christen Press #23 of Angel City FC waves to fans following a game between the Portland Thorns and Angel City FC at BMO Stadium on October 15, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katharine Lotze/Getty Images)

Christen Press continues to inch her way back to a return, having returned to training with her club team Angel City. 

Angel City FC coach Becki Tweed said on Wednesday that Press is back with the team full-time as she continues to make her way back from an ACL injury. While she’s still working on rehab, her being back with the team gives staff a better picture of her progress. 

"Christen [Press] is back with us full time which is amazing,” she said. “Having her in and around the team every day, continuing to work hard on rehab ... she's in a space where being in with the team is really important to her and her progression as well.”

The status update comes days after Press posted videos to social media that featured her doing lateral movement in cleats on grass. 

“Look out world she’s on the move !” Press captioned it. 

Press has been sidelined with an ACL injury since 2022, which caused her to miss the 2023 World Cup. She’s since had four separate surgeries to help repair her ACL.

Press told The Athletic a month ago that she’s been “relentless” in her optimism with her recovery despite it being a “slow process.”

“I have a bit of relentless optimism,” she told The Athletic. “I never, ever doubted that I would make it back on any of the timelines I’ve been on."

"Every single time I’ve heard, ‘You have to have surgery,’ I’m completely shocked,” she said. “When somebody asks me how it’s going, I’m like, ‘It’s going great. And it was going great every time. So I don’t know what to tell you anymore!’”

Sophia Smith re-signs with Portland on record deal

(Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports)

Sophia Smith is now the NWSL’s highest-paid player. 

The Portland Thorns announced on Wednesday that they have signed Smith to a new contract through the 2025 season, with an option for 2026. While the terms of the deal were not disclosed, the team did reveal that Smith is now the highest-paid player in the league on an annual basis.

It’s the latest in what has been a series of record-breaking contracts in the NWSL offseason. 

Chicago Red Stars forward Mallory Swanson, Bay FC forward Racheal Kundananji, and Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda all signed multi-year deals worth between $2 million and $2.5 million in total. While Smith’s contract is shorter and not worth as much over the long-term, the annual worth is higher. 

“We are over the moon to have Soph commit again to the Thorns. She is a proven, world-class talent and one that we are excited to have contribute to the team’s continued success,” said head coach Mike Norris in a statement. “We look forward to working with her in a Thorns jersey as she continues to shine as one of the top strikers in the world.”

In just four seasons in the NWSL, Smith has led the Thorns to five trophies – including the 2022 NWSL championship – while winning league and championship MVP in 2022. In 61 appearances with Portland, she has 34 goals – including a brace to start this season against Kansas City. 

She’s also a member of the USWNT, having scored 16 goals in 44 international appearances.  Set to become a free agent at the end of this season, she told ESPN she “thought of all the options” but ultimately Portland felt like the right decision.

"There is no place like Portland," Smith said in a small roundtable interview that included ESPN. "I don't believe there's an environment like Portland to play in and it's a city that's so special to me and a city that I feel like I've grown up in almost and become who I am."

She also told ESPN that the team’s new ownership “changes everything.” The club is now led by the Bhathal family, who bought the club after Merritt Paulson was forced to sell it following his part in the NWSL’s abuse scandal. 

"Since I've been here there has been a lot of things going on with this club -- a lot of not-great things going on with this club -- and I have just been waiting for some stability and some reassurance that this club is headed in the right direction, and the Bhathal family coming in is doing exactly that, if not more,” Smith said. 

"Their vision for this club is so exciting, and you can just tell how passionate they are about making this what it should be and continuing to push the standard in women's soccer globally.”

Caitlin Clark offered $5 million to compete in Ice Cube’s league

IOWA CITY, IOWA- MARCH 25: Guard Caitlin Clark #22 of the Iowa Hawkeyes celebrates as time runs out in the second half against the West Virginia Mountaineers during their second round match-up in the 2024 NCAA Division 1 Women's Basketball Championship at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on March 25, 2024 in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)

Caitlin Clark has been offered $5 million to play in Ice Cube's Big3 league, he confirmed on social media Wednesday after the offer leaked.

"We intended the offer to remain private while Caitlin Clark plays for the championship," Ice Cube wrote on social media. "But I won't deny what's now already out there: BIG3 made a historic offer to Caitlin Clark. Why wouldn't we? Caitlin is a generational athlete who can achieve tremendous success in the BIG3."

While there has yet to be a women's player in the league, both Nancy Lieberman and Lisa Leslie have been part of the league as coaches and won championships.

"The skeptics laughed when we made Nancy Lieberman the first female coach of a men's pro team, and she won the championship in her first year," Ice Cube continued. "Then Lisa Leslie won it all in year two. With our offer, Caitlin Clark can make history and break down even more barriers for women athletes."

Ice Cube, whose name is O’Shea Jackson, says that the offer was made with the intention that Clark be able to compete in the WNBA “offseason.” Clark is largely expected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA draft in April. But it’s unclear how the scheduling of the two leagues would work. 

The 2024 Big3 season is set to tip off on June 15, with 10 games spanning through mid-August. The WNBA regular season, meanwhile, begins on May 14 and ends on Sept. 19.

On “The Pat McAfee Show” on Wednesday, Jackson said that the league has yet to hear back from Clark. 

“We just need an answer, as soon as they are ready to give it to us,” he said. “It’s always 50-50 till we get a no. At the end of the day, it’s a generous offer.”

The offer – as well as the confusion on Jackson’s part about the timing of the WNBA season – caused some current WNBA players to react. 

"It's funny cause I be seeing his son at W games.. they don't talk?" wrote former No. 1 pick Rhyne Howard

"So no other women's basketball player has came to mind in the last 7 years?" wrote Lexie Brown, adding that she'd support if Ice Cube wanted to build a women's iteration of the league. She later discussed it on the Gils Arena Show, noting that his reasoning of wanting to “uplift and support WNBA players and women athletes” is a “cop out.”

Kalani Brown, meanwhile, told Clark to "take that money" and start a women's Big3.

WNBA salaries has been a talking point in recent months as more collegiate stars declare for the league. WNBA stars have often made more money playing abroad than they have in the WNBA. Clark is expected to be the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft on April 15, with a rookie salary of $76,535 for lottery draft picks (Nos. 1-4) that rises to $97,582 by her fourth season. But she also has an NIL valuation of almost $3.5 million.

Diana Taurasi famously skipped the 2015 WNBA season at the request of her Russian club, who paid her more to sit out than she would have made in the W. Her contract with the club was reportedly near $1.5 million per year.

Jackson also seemed to suggest that his league could be an alternative to going abroad

“America’s women athletes should not be forced to spend their off seasons playing in often dismal and dubious foreign countries just to make ends meet,” he wrote. Although it’s unclear whether or not the rapper intends to make offers to additional WNBA players. 

While the league does hold prioritization rules in its CBA, those typically apply only to players playing in overseas leagues. It’s unclear whether or not that would prevent Clark’s participation in the Big3 league.

WNBA players that don’t want to go overseas currently have the option of playing in Athletes Unlimited, which competes in the WNBA offseason.

USC’s Aaliyah Gayles Opens Up About Her Journey Back to Basketball

USC Basketball - Aaliyah Gayles

As part of our 1-v-1 video series, USC’s India Otto sat down to interview her teammate Aaliyah Gayles. Here are five things to know from our conversation with the redshirt freshman guard from Las Vegas.

#1 Aaliyah suffered from a near-death act of violence in 2022.

The incident taught her a lot about herself and the support around her. “[USC] Coach Lindsay [Gottlieb] was one of the first people to fly out there and come see me. That means a lot to me off the court.” 

#2 Her favorite USC memory is when she surprised her teammates after getting out of the hospital.

She left her walker at the door to show she was on the road to returning to the court. “That was my favorite memory because it was family. It was my first time being able to walk to you guys and see you practice.”

#3 There's a reason she wears #3.

#3 was her grandpa’s favorite number and a golden number in her life. Plus, AG3 has a nice ring to it. 

#4 She has a list of basketball GOAT’s:

Candace Parker, Magic Johnson, Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, and Cason Wallace.

#5 There have been many celebrity appearances at USC’s games over the years, especially this season.

Aaliyah’s favorites include Will Ferrell, Kehlani, and Saweetie. And she hopes Lil Durk will come to watch a game soon.

Watch the full conversation on the Just Women’s Sports YouTube channel.

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