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USWNT mock roster: Predicting the final 2023 World Cup team

The USWNT is expected to name the final 2023 World Cup roster this month. (Brad Smith/USSF/Getty Images)

After months of speculation, international friendlies and NWSL games, the U.S. women’s national team’s World Cup roster is almost here.

The U.S. has gotten tough injury news, welcome returns and questions surrounding player form during the most recent audition phase, leaving head coach Vlatko Andonovski without clear head-to-head performances on which to base his final decisions. Andonovski has to balance international experience, positional needs and current mentality when making his final selections, and history tells us he’ll favor consistency over everything else.

With all of these factors in mind, here is what I think the final USWNT roster for the 2023 World Cup will look like.

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Aubrey Kingsbury could overtake AD Franch for the third GK spot based on NWSL form. (Russel Lansford/USA TODAY Sports)

Goalkeepers (3)

In: Alyssa Naeher, Casey Murphy, Aubrey Kingsbury
On the bubble: AD Franch

For the first time in 2023, there appears to have been enough of a shift in the USWNT’s goalkeeping outlook that we might see a change to Andonovski’s final roster. Alyssa Naeher, Casey Murphy and Adrianna Franch — the trio that closed out 2022 for the U.S. — have each had mercurial performances in the NWSL this season, raising questions of form going into the World Cup.

Murphy has been the most consistent of the current pool, and Naeher has looked more like herself in recent weeks after a rough start to Chicago’s season. But Franch is still having trouble getting on the field, after being dropped in favor of former backup Cassie Miller, and has not excelled in limited appearances. Aubrey Kingsbury has been very steady for the Washington Spirit and has extensive experience in camp with the USWNT. Andonovski could make a last-minute shift to the hot hand for the third keeper role.

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Casey Krueger could sneak onto the USWNT roster based on her recent play. (Bill Barrett/USSF/Getty Images).

Defenders (7)

In: Naomi Girma, Becky Sauerbrunn, Alana Cook, Emily Fox, Crystal Dunn, Casey Krueger, Emily Sonnett
On the bubble: Tierna Davidson, Sofia Huerta, Kelley O’Hara

With the USWNT’s projected starting group of Girma, Sauerbrunn, Fox and Dunn all healthy heading into the roster announcement, the adjustments Andonovski might make are at the margins of the defense. Alana Cook’s experience with the U.S. system gives her an edge over high NWSL performers like the Spirit’s Sam Staab. Cook has been solid for OL Reign this season, and her comfort level at the international level is difficult to replicate.

The final utility center-back role will likely come down to Emily Sonnett and Tierna Davidson, both of whom have had touchy NWSL seasons thus far. Sonnett has taken on a holding midfield role for OL Reign, without playing many minutes at her preferred center-back position. Davidson has been a regular defensive starter for Chicago but has had trouble alongside the rest of the Red Stars’ defense, which has given up a league-leading 23 goals in 10 games.

Outside back/center-back hybrid Casey Krueger has maintained her personal standard despite Chicago’s struggles and is my sleeper candidate for the final backup outside-back role. Her inclusion would mean Andonovski has placed an emphasis on 1v1 skills over the crossing ability of Sofia Huerta, who has been steady in 2023. The other player competing for that spot, Kelley O’Hara, recently picked up another small injury, raising more questions about her durability.

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Rose Lavelle has been nursing a knee injury since April, causing concern among the fanbase. (Andrew Hancock/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

Midfielders (6)

In: Julie Ertz, Andi Sullivan, Lindsey Horan, Rose Lavelle, Kristie Mewis, Ashley Sanchez
On the bubble: Taylor Kornieck, Sam Coffey, Savannah DeMelo

Rose Lavelle hasn’t played in the NWSL since injuring her knee in mid-April, causing concern among the U.S. fanbase. Still, she hasn’t been officially ruled out from consideration, and she’s a player the USWNT would rely upon in tandem with Ashley Sanchez for creative playmaking in the middle of the pitch.

Julie Ertz also has gotten less playing time in her NWSL return than might have been originally hoped for. The USWNT will likely have to play her alongside presumed starter Andi Sullivan to get the most out of the 31-year-old defensive midfielder. But like with so many other positions, ambiguity in fitness and form around players Andonovski clearly favors has not stopped the U.S. head coach from taking chances in the past, and I expect very little change to the USWNT midfield prior to their first game in New Zealand.

Ertz and Sullivan are the team’s defensive midfield options, Horan and Mewis will play more connecting box-to-box roles, and Sanchez and Lavelle will be asked to provide a creative spark. If any of those players end up not being available, Taylor Kornieck and Sam Coffey will be waiting in the wings.

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Ashley Hatch could earn one of the final forward spots in Catarina Macario's absence. (Brad Smith/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

Forwards (7)

In: Lynn Williams, Alex Morgan, Sophia Smith, Megan Rapinoe, Trinity Rodman, Ashley Hatch, Alyssa Thompson
On the bubble: Jaedyn Shaw, Midge Purce

With Catarina Macario officially removing herself from consideration for the World Cup as she continues to recover from an ACL injury, the question marks on the frontline come down to attacking philosophy. Does Macario’s absence solidify Ashley Hatch’s place as a center-forward backup, or does Andonovski cut the backup role entirely in favor of adding a different winger or creative midfielder? Sophia Smith, Trinity Rodman and Lynn Williams have all spent time in the central attack and have the ability to make switches mid-game.

Hatch has been quietly effective in the NWSL this season and can rotate in the necessary minutes to make sure Alex Morgan can give her legs a break in the group stages. Alyssa Thompson would also give the U.S. additional winger rotation options on the left side with Rodman and Megan Rapinoe, whose ability in dead-ball situations and World Cup experience should earn her a place on the roster.

The injuries to Macario and Mallory Swanson create space for most of the obvious bubble players on the USWNT frontline, with NWSL standout Jaedyn Shaw and Gotham FC forward Midge Purce likely the first few missing out. Purce has been in and out of USWNT camp in the last calendar year. Recently, she’s been dealing with injuries that have kept her off the pitch during the crucial weeks leading up to the final roster decision.

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

Teen Wild Card Victoria Mboko Makes History with 2025 Canadian Open Win

Teen tennis phenom Victoria Mboko celebrates her 2025 Canadian Open semifinals win.
Victoria Mboko earned her first WTA 1000 title by defeating Naomi Osaka in Thursday's 2025 Canadian Open final. (Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)

The 2025 Canadian Open wrapped up with a storybook ending in Montréal, as 18-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko earned her first-ever WTA Tour title by defeating four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka in Thursday's final.

"I would have never thought that I would have made it to the final, let alone win the tournament," Mboko said after battling back to take down Osaka 2-6, 6-4, 6-1. "It just proves that your dreams are closer than they [seem]."

The largely unexpected final matchup capped a 2025 Canadian Open that saw every seeded player fall, with Mboko putting together a dream run that included ousting four Grand Slam champions — Osaka, Sofia Kenin, Elena Rybakina, and Coco Gauff.

Thursday saw Mboko become just the third-ever Canadian to win the event, plus the teen phenom made tennis history as only the third wild-card entrant to ever claim victory in a WTA 1000 tournament.

As for Osaka, despite falling just short of the finish line, the 2025 Canadian Open was a distinct return to form for the fan favorite, who put together her most successful tournament run in three years in Montréal this week.

Both finalists earned a significant rankings bump with their performances this week, with Osaka rising to world No. 25 while Mboko, who started the 2025 season outside the WTA's Top 350, skyrocketed to No. 24.

Having withdrawn from the 2025 Cincinnati Open due to the near-impossible turnaround between Thursday's final in Montréal and their Saturday matches in Ohio, both Mboko and Osaka will enjoy some much-deserved rest before gearing up for the season's final Grand Slam — the 2025 US Open.

The Washington Mystics Trade Aaliyah Edwards In Final Midseason Transaction

Washington Mystics forward Aaliyah Edwards runs down the court during a 2025 WNBA game.
The Washington Mystics traded Aaliyah Edwards to the Connecticut Sun on Thursday. (Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

Thursday's WNBA trade deadline came and went with one final flurry of activity, as the No. 10 Washington Mystics leaned all the way into their rebuild by sending 2024 No. 6 draft pick Aaliyah Edwards to the No. 13 Connecticut Sun.

"Bringing Aaliyah to the Connecticut Sun is more than just a roster move.... Aaliyah is a transformational talent with the mindset and drive that aligns with our vision of building a championship culture," Sun GM Morgan Tuck said in a statement. "Aaliyah is the kind of person and player who can help redefine the future of this organization and we're ready to build that future together."

In return for Edwards, Connecticut sent 2024 No. 5 draft pick Jacy Sheldon to the Mystics, with Washington also receiving the right to a first-round pick swap in 2026 WNBA Draft in the trade deal.

The move follows a Tuesday trade in which the Mystics offloaded their leading scorer Brittney Sykes to the No. 6 Seattle Storm in return for forward Alysha Clark and a 2026 first-round draft pick.

While a few major midseason moves emerged this week, seven of the league's 13 teams decided to forego any trades, with No. 2 New York, No. 3 Atlanta, No. 4 Phoenix, No. 5 Indiana, No. 8 Golden State, No. 9 LA, and No. 11 Chicago holding their rosters steady in the final week of the transaction window.

Basketball Icon Diana Taurasi Talks 2024 Olympic Final Benching in New Docuseries

Team USA veteran Diana Taurasi watches the 2024 Olympic gold-medal game from the bench.
Diana Taurasi did not play a single minute of the 2024 Olympics gold-medal game. (Daniela Porcelli/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Image)

In the new Prime docuseries Taurasi, retired USA and WNBA legend Diana Taurasi opened up about not playing any minutes in her sixth and final Olympic gold-medal game in Paris last summer.

Having won gold at five consecutive past Olympic Games, Taurasi made the 2024 Team USA roster at 42-years-old precisely because of her deep veteran experience on the international stage.

"I always felt like I deserved to be on the team," she said in the third episode of the three-part series. "It was my team for 20 years and I know how to get the job done."

"She's there to lead," fellow retired basketball icon Sue Bird — Taurasi's longtime friend and teammate in those first five Olympic outings — explained during the episode. "She's there to calm everyone down when s—t gets weird because s—t's gonna get weird. It always does."

While Taurasi played minutes off the bench throughout the tournament, she failed to step on the court during the USA's narrow one-point victory over France last August.

"She should have played, 100%. And to be honest, I don't know why they didn't play her," said Bird. "This was the game she was actually brought here for."

"I'm confused by what happened," Taurasi acknowledged. "I never got [an explanation like], 'Hey, you're not going to play because we're going this direction.' Sounds good. I can live with that."

"Maybe it was just my time to get the raw end of the stick," she continued.

"I've done this five other times where I felt like I really earned it," Taurasi concluded. "This one was the one that doesn't belong."

How to watch the docuseries "Taurasi"

All three episodes of Taurasi are currently available to stream on Prime.

Two USWNT Stars Named to 2025 Ballon d’Or Shortlist

USWNT defender Emily Fox walks onto the field for a 2025 friendly.
USWNT and Arsenal defender Emily Fox earned a 2025 Ballon d'Or shortlist nod. (Brace Hemmelgarn/USSF/Getty Images)

The 2025 Ballon d'Or nominations dropped on Thursday, and only two USWNT players earned nods on the 30-athlete shortlist for soccer's most prestigious individual honor.

US and Arsenal defender Emily Fox earned her first career nomination after the 27-year-old won 2024 Olympic gold with the USWNT and the 2024/25 UEFA Women's Champions League with her club side.

With her third career Ballon d'Or nod, USWNT captain Lindsey Heaps joined Fox on Thursday's 2025 list after leading the US in Paris last summer and playing another strong season with OL Lyonnes.

While the first half of 2025 has been admittedly quiet for USWNT without a major continental tournament on the docket this year — and many of the team's heavy hitters sidelined for various reasons — the Ballon d'Or's consideration timeframe includes their Olympic gold-medal run, making the team's lack of nods a bit head-scratching.

It's far from the first time that the award's shortlist has fallen short. Awarded by French magazine France Football, the Ballon d’Or has long been criticized for heavily favoring athletes who play in Europe. Of the 30 2025 nominees, only six play for clubs outside of Europe — five of them in the NWSL.

Notably, only one US player has ever won the Ballon d'Or, with the 2019 trophy lifted by USWNT icon Megan Rapinoe.

Since then, Barcelona FC have maintained a stranglehold on the award, with midfielder Aitana Bonmatí's two straight wins following attacker Alexia Putellas's back-to-back reign.

USWNT drop to No. 2 in world rankings

This week also saw the USWNT cede ground in the overall FIFA rankings, falling to world No. 2 as new No. 1 Spain claimed a narrow lead of less than two points with their 2025 Euro Final appearance.

Like the Ballon d'Or, Thursday's world ranks contained more than a few confusing shifts, with Brazil somehow falling three spots to No. 7 despite winning a fifth straight Copa América title last weekend, and England earning a mere one-spot rise to No. 4 after defeating Spain in last month's Euro.

The 2025 Ballon d'Or Féminin nominees

Sandy Baltimore (Chelsea, France)
Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride, Zambia)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona, Spain)
Lucy Bronze (Chelsea, England)
Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal, Spain)
Klara Bühl (Bayern Munich, Germany)
Sofia Cantore (Washington Spirit, Italy)
Steph Catley (Arsenal, Australia)
Melchie Dumornay (OL Lyonnes, Haiti)
Temwa Chawinga (Kansas City Current, Malawi)
Emily Fox (Arsenal, US)
Cristiana Girelli (Juventus, Italy)
Esther González (Gotham FC, Spain)
Caroline Graham Hansen (Barcelona, Norway)
Hannah Hampton (Chelsea, England)
Pernille Harder (Bayern Munich, Denmark)
Patri Guijarro (Barcelona, Spain)
Amanda Gutierres (Palmeiras, Brazil)
Lindsey Heaps (OL Lyonnes, US)
Chloe Kelly (Arsenal, England)
Frida Maanum (Arsenal, Norway)
Marta (Orlando Pride, Brazil)
Clara Mateo (Paris FC, France)
Ewa Pajor (Barcelona, Poland)
Clàudia Pina (Barcelona, Spain)
Alexia Putellas (Barcelona, Spain)
Alessia Russo (Arsenal, England)
Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (Chelsea, Sweden)
Caroline Weir (Real Madrid, Scotland)
Leah Williamson (Arsenal, England)

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