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USWNT mock roster 2.0: Projecting the 2023 World Cup team

The USWNT has played its last game before the 2023 World Cup roster is announced in June. (Brad Smith/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

The U.S. women’s national team has wrapped up its final international window before the 2023 World Cup roster is named. Between now and June, players are hard at work with their club teams both in the NWSL and abroad.

USWNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski has made it clear that game minutes matter for roster selection, and he has been actively watching NWSL games, most recently catching two matches in the Pacific Northwest this past weekend.

As player performances and returns from absence become clearer, it’s time for a second stab at projecting Andonovski’s 23-player squad that will make the trip to New Zealand to try to repeat as World Cup champions.

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Alyssa Naeher (Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Goalkeepers (3)

On the roster: Alyssa Naeher, Casey Murphy, Adrianna Franch

First player out: Aubrey Kingsbury

The USWNT goalkeeping position seemed all but wrapped up going into April, but a few NWSL performances have thrown just a shred of doubt into the mix. Naeher and Franch have each had touchy moments for their clubs in recent weeks. Franch wasn’t selected to start for Kansas City in their 2-0 win over the Orlando Pride this weekend, with backup keeper Cassie Miller getting the nod in her place. Also over the weekend, Naeher’s Chicago Red Stars allowed five goals against OL Reign on just five shots on goal.

There’s enough evidence piling up to make U.S. fans slightly nervous, but probably not enough to sway Andonovski from his pre-determined trio of goalkeepers, all of whom have necessary experience at the international level. Casey Murphy, though, might have a clearer road to competing for serious minutes rather than serving primarily as Naeher’s backup if she begins to look like the clear frontrunner in form.

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Kelley O'Hara (Brad Smith/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

Defenders (7)

On the roster: Becky Sauerbrunn, Alana Cook, Naomi Girma, Tierna Davidson, Emily Fox, Crystal Dunn, Kelley O’Hara

First players out: Sofia Huerta, Emily Sonnett, Casey Krueger

Determining who makes the USWNT defense for this year’s World Cup is as much a numbers game as it is a reflection of individual quality. If the U.S. takes seven attackers, they can roster only seven defenders, meaning they can’t provide cover for every position on the backline. If Andonovski wants four center backs along for the ride, that limits his ability to have a relevant backup for every outside back and vice versa.

There are some things we know. Andonovski has indicated his current preferred starting defense is made up of Becky Sauerbrunn and Naomi Girma in the central defense, with Emily Fox and Crystal Dunn on the outside. That leaves others fighting for rotation spots. Tierna Davidson provides flexibility as a center-back/outside-back hybrid, and Alana Cook has gotten too many minutes in the team’s system to be dropped now. The question then lies on the outside, where the U.S. will surely need to rotate throughout the tournament.

The biggest question mark is whether Kelley O’Hara or Casey Krueger has displaced Sofia Huerta, a crossing extraordinaire in the attack but a player who could struggle defensively against top competition. O’Hara’s has steadily built her fitness back up to full 90-minute performances for Gotham in the early going of the NWSL season, and her experience could win out in crunch time. Emily Sonnett has been playing defensive midfield for OL Reign this season, indicating she might not currently have a foothold in the U.S. defense.

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Julie Ertz (Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Midfielders (6)

On the roster: Julie Ertz, Andi Sullivan, Ashley Sanchez, Rose Lavelle, Lindsey Horan, Kristie Mewis

First players out: Taylor Kornieck, Sam Coffey

Fans have long desired two clear defensive midfield candidates to make sure the USWNT midfield is as balanced as possible at the World Cup, and it seems their prayers have been answered. The USWNT is now likely to take two No. 6s in New Zealand, but they are not the two anybody expected. Julie Ertz’s return has flipped the team’s midfield dynamic on its head, with the 31-year-old providing a solid counter-option to Andi Sullivan depending on the team’s opponent.

The good news of Ertz’s return does spell trouble for other midfielders who have been auditioning for various roles, including Taylor Kornieck, who may end up on the outside looking in. Ashley Sanchez doesn’t provide as much versatility, but she’s clearly Rose Lavelle’s attacking midfield backup when the veteran isn’t available. And Kristie Mewis’ major tournament experience might be enough to secure her spot as the final midfielder on the plane to New Zealand.

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Alyssa Thompson (John Todd/USSF/Getty Images)

Forwards (7)

On the roster: Alex Morgan, Sophia Smith, Lynn Williams, Megan Rapinoe, Catarina Macario, Trinity Rodman, Alyssa Thompson

First players out: Ashley Hatch, Midge Purce

With Mallory Swanson now sidelined with a serious knee injury, the U.S. has once again had to scramble to make sure all elements of the attack are covered by players with international experience. The good news is that the winger position is one of the USWNT’s deepest, with quality forwards still likely to just miss out on a trip to the World Cup.

Andonovski called teen phenom Alyssa Thompson up in the wake of Swanson’s injury, appearing to place her higher on the depth chart than Gotham winger Midge Purce. Thompson is still a work in progress, but she plays off Sophia Smith well positionally and has a defensive motor the team could need in a close knockout game. Megan Rapinoe has shown her quality on set pieces hasn’t abated in the latter stages of her career, likely becoming a candidate to help play left wing by committee in Swanson’s absence. Lynn Williams, a player built for Andonovski’s system, has also only solidified her place with an excellent run of form in the NWSL.

The other unknowable factor in the final attacking decision for the U.S. is the status of Catarina Macario, whose timeline for a return to competitive play gets slimmer by the day. Macario has fewer than five matches left in her club season with Olympique Lyon and hasn’t yet indicated a return to full training.

Ashley Hatch, meanwhile, has continued to perform in NWSL, scoring three goals in four games. Despite that, the Spirit forward hasn’t seemed to make much progress in playing time with the U.S. At this moment, I’m still betting on Macario’s promise over Hatch’s known qualities, though the balance between the two players shifts further toward Hatch with every passing day.

Claire Watkins is a Staff Writer at Just Women’s Sports. Follow her on Twitter @ScoutRipley.

WSL and WSL2 Clubs Vote in Favor of English League Expansion

Chelsea FC attacker Aggie Beever-Jones celebrates a goal during a 2025 WSL match.
Despite previous proposals, the expanding WSL will not forgo relegation. (Chris Lee - Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

The Women's Super League (WSL) is growing, with the UK league's top two flights deciding in a Monday expansion vote to enlarge its top tier from 12 to 14 teams ahead of the 2026/27 season.

The number of matches played each season will also balloon from 22 to 26 games to accommodate the incoming clubs, as will established cup competitions.

Monday also saw the WSL vote down a prior proposal to temporarily suspend the relegation and promotion process to accommodate this expansion, deciding instead to adopt a "two up, one down" model for the second-tier WSL2 next season.

As such, the top two finishers of the 2025/26 WSL2 season will automatically join the higher-tier WSL, while the WSL's last-place team will battle the WSL2's third-place club in "a high-profile, high stakes match" for the final spot in the top flight.

After reaching 14 teams, both leagues will return to relegating the last-place WSL finisher while promoting the WSL2's top team for the following season.

Along with the increased investment in club infrastructure, a 14-team WSL keeps pace with the global women's game — most notably, the NWSL, which will become a 16-team league in 2026.

"Our priority was to find a route that would benefit the whole women's game pyramid, and we believe this next evolution of women's professional football will raise minimum standards, create distinction, and incentivize investment across the board," said WSL Football CEO Nikki Doucet.

WNBA Teams Offset Injuries, EuroBasket Departures with Short-Term Contracts

Golden State Valkyries rookie Kaitlyn Chen dribbles the ball up the court during a 2025 WNBA preseason game.
2025 WNBA draftee Kaitlyn Chen returned to the Golden State Valkyries to offset EuroBasket roster departures. (Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)

With EuroBasket set to tip off on Wednesday and injuries mounting league-wide, WNBA teams are filling out dwindling rosters with more short-term contracts — and calling back some familiar faces along the way.

While some European standouts withdrew from EuroBasket consideration — including Phoenix's Satou Sabally and Seattle's Gabby Williams — others, like New York's Leonie Fiebich and Golden State's Temi Fagbenle, will join their national teams for the regional FIBA tournament through the end of June.

Due to these planned absences, WNBA teams temporarily suspend their EuroBasket players' contracts, allowing squads to add others to their rosters.

Players signed due to temporary absences are technically on rest-of-season deals, though the agreements can end whenever the missing athletes return.

In contrast, the league requires that teams release any hardship signings due to injury once squads tally enough healthy original players to satisfy the WNBA's 10-athlete roster minimum.

Featuring a lineup stacked with international talent, Golden State made the most transactions this week, temporarily suspending four regular contracts as 2025 EuroBasket stars departed for the annual competition.

To bolster their depleted bench, the Valkyries brought back 2025 WNBA Draft Cinderella pick Kaitlyn Chen and recent training camp participant Laeticia Amihere on short-term contracts, in addition to guard Aerial Powers and forward Chloe Bibby.

Elsewhere, after losing forward Maddy Siegrist to injury and temporarily suspending the contracts of centers Teaira McCowan and Luisa Geiselsöder, Dallas acquired center Li Yueru from Seattle — with the Wings possibly needing additional hardship signings in the coming days.

The Storm snagged two future draft picks in the Saturday deal — a second-round selection in 2026 and a third-round pick in 2027.

Ultimately, teams are striving to find a balance between stocking up and maintaining consistency, all while operating under the WNBA's roster constraints — with further league expansion fast approaching.

WNBA Commissioner’s Cup Conference Play Comes Down to the Wire

Seattle Storm forward Ezi Magbegor tries to defend a jump-shot from Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier during a 2025 WNBA Commissioner's Cup game.
Napheesa Collier and the Minnesota Lynx will advance to a second straight WNBA Commissioner's Cup final with a Tuesday win. (Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

The 2025 WNBA Commissioner's Cup will wrap up its conference play on Tuesday, as both Eastern and Western teams battle for a ticket to the in-season competition's championship game — and a cut of the $500,000 prize pool.

With 12 of the league's 13 teams facing off across Tuesday's WNBA courts, the results will set the stage by minting the two squads who will battle in the July 1st final showdown.

Reigning Commissioner's Cup champs Minnesota have the West's easiest path, as a win over the Las Vegas Aces will send the Lynx to a second straight final.

Should the Lynx fall to the Aces, however, Seattle can grab the Western Conference berth by beating the Los Angeles Sparks.

Meanwhile in the East, a surging Atlanta could land a trip to the final by topping New York, while the Liberty need both a win over the Dream plus a loss by the Indiana Fever to clinch their own return ticket to the Cup's grand finale.

If New York does take down Atlanta, the Fever could advance to the team's first-ever Commissioner's Cup final by beating the struggling Connecticut Sun.

How to watch Tuesday's 2025 WNBA Commissioner's Cup games

All of Tuesday's six WNBA games count toward the 2025 Commissioner's Cup tally.

The action begins with the Atlanta Dream tipping off against the New York Liberty while the Indiana Fever battles the Connecticut Sun at 7 PM ET, live on WNBA League Pass.

Chicago Sky Star Angel Reese Files Trademark for ‘Mebounds’ to Silence Internet Trolls

Chicago Sky star Angel Reese grabs a rebound during a 2024 WNBA game.
Chicago Sky star Angel Reese is trademarking a term often used to criticize her play. (Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)

Chicago Sky star Angel Reese made headlines this week, with the second-year WNBA forward announcing that she has trademarked word "mebounds" — a slang term opposing fans use to describe Reese rebounding her own missed shots.

"Whoever came up with the 'mebounds' thing, y’all ate that up, because mebounds, rebounds, keybounds...anything that comes off that board, it's mine," Reese said in a TikTok video on Saturday.

"And a brand? That's six figures right there," she continued, referencing her trademark application. "The trolling — I love when y'all do it because the ideas be good!"

Currently averaging 11.9 boards per matchup, Reese is leading the WNBA in rebounds for the second straight season.

Her rookie campaign saw Reese average 13.1 boards per game, a rate that set a single-season league record. She also blasted through the WNBA's consecutive double-double record last season, claiming it with 10 straight before extending it to an impressive 15 games.

Along with the average rebounds record, Reese also broke the single-season total rebounds record previously held by retired Minnesota Lynx legend Sylvia Fowles — a mark that was later surpassed by 2024 MVP A'ja Wilson following Reese's season-ending wrist injury.

"Statistically, all the rebounds that I get aren't always just mine," Reese added in her Saturday social media post. "They're the defense's, too, or somebody else on my team."

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