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Where USWNT’s newest players stand after September friendlies

Hailie Mace earned her first two USWNT caps in friendlies against Nigeria this week. (Ed Zurga/Getty Images)

The U.S. women’s national team wrapped up another successful international window this week. The 2022 Concacaf champions swept their two-game friendly series against Nigeria, 4-0 on Saturday and 2-1 on Tuesday.

While head coach Vlatko Andonovski primarily stuck with his starting rotation from the Concacaf W Championship, several less experienced USWNT players did get opportunities to show what they can do. Most players who were newcomers in November — like Emily Fox, Alana Cook, Sofia Huerta, Ashley Hatch and Ashley Sanchez — have surpassed 10 caps and seem more locked into their roles at this point. But for the seven players who have fewer than 10 caps, it can be harder to tell.

Four got to see the field against Nigeria, two didn’t but have been in the environment before, and one attended camp for the first time.

The FIFA World Cup is less than a year away, and spots on the roster are limited. Here’s where Just Women’s Sports believes the newer players currently stand.

Casey Murphy, goalkeeper (9 caps)

With seven starts in 2022, Murphy has been locked in since her jaw-dropping debut against Australia in November 2021. She started three of five matches at the Concacaf championship in July, including the semifinal against Costa Rica. Against Nigeria, the North Carolina Courage keeper started the second match Tuesday, and although the 2-1 result snapped the USWNT’s nine-game shutout streak, she played a role in keeping that streak alive in the first place, recording seven shutouts in her previous eight caps. Murphy is here to stay.

Sam Coffey, midfielder (1 cap)

Defensive midfielder Sam Coffey played the full 90 minutes in her first cap with the USWNT on Tuesday. In the absence of Julie Ertz, Andonovski has been rotating different players into the six, including Andi Sullivan, Jaelin Howell and Lindsey Horan. Starting the Concacaf championship against Canada in July, Sullivan is the preferred defensive midfielder of the group.

The No. 2 spot is still up in the air, and if Andonovski chooses to bring a backup next summer, Coffey definitely made a case for herself on Tuesday. Her 82 percent passing accuracy with the Portland Thorns this season shined through on the international stage, with the 23-year-old sending dangerous balls into the attacking third and opening up the field with her positioning off the ball.

Naomi Girma, defender (7 caps)

After sitting for the first game against Nigeria, Naomi Girma played the full 90 on Tuesday alongside fellow center back Alana Cook. As always, the No. 1 NWSL draft pick showed her composure on the ball. Andonovski describes her as a calculated defender who knows exactly when to attack the space in front of her and when to hold back. On Tuesday, she demonstrated that boldness, taking the ball herself when she didn’t risk jeopardizing the defensive third.

Andonovski believes Cook, with nine more caps, is “slightly ahead” of the NWSL rookie, but he acknowledges that Girma is making big strides. The USWNT roster will usually feature three center backs, and if Andonovski prioritizes the veteran leadership of Becky Sauerbrunn and Tierna Davidson for the World Cup, he would probably include Cook over Girma at this point. But a lot can change in a year, and anyone who watches San Diego Wave FC knows how well Girma can meet a challenge.

Hailie Mace, defender (5 caps)

Hailie Mace was one of two players on the September roster who had never played an international match under Andonovski before the friendlies against Nigeria. Andonovski said last week that it’s difficult to evaluate new players after just one camp. Mace saw the field in both games, subbing in for Emily Fox in the second halves to earn her fourth and fifth caps.

Two appearances could be interpreted as a good sign, but the first rotation was made to give Fox a break before the second game, and Fox came out of the second match after receiving a hit to the head. Mace was called in to replace veteran defender Kelley O’Hara while she’s sidelined with an injury. Although Mace put in two solid performances, playing dangerous through balls and making good tackles, she’ll likely continue to serve as a replacement player, at least for the next couple of camps. 

Aubrey Kingsbury, goalkeeper (1 cap)

Aubrey Kingsbury seems locked into the roster for now, but in the third goalkeeper spot behind Alyssa Naeher and Casey Murphy. She’s appeared in every camp this year, including the Concacaf tournament, but the Washington Spirit keeper still has only one cap with the USWNT. It was surprising that she didn’t get any time against Nigeria this week. A friendly — especially at her home field in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday — would have been a good opportunity for Kingsbury to get comfortable in a USWNT game setting.

Savannah DeMelo, midfielder (0 caps)

Attending her first USWNT camp, the Racing Louisville midfielder didn’t see the field in either match against Nigeria. It isn’t uncommon for Andonovski to sit players in their first camp, with the intention of easing them into the environment. Although the NWSL rookie has arguably been Louisville’s best player this season, tallying three goals and an assist, it’s not likely that will translate into her getting a spot on the World Cup roster. The USWNT midfield is a tough space to crack into right now, and with players like Crystal Dunn and Sam Mewis on the road to return, the center of the park is about to get even more competitive.

Taylor Kornieck, midfielder (5 caps)

The San Diego Wave midfielder joined the USWNT for the second time this year after helping them win the Concacaf championship in July, though she didn’t see any time against Nigeria. Now that Kornieck been in camp for the June friendlies, the Concacaf tournament and the September window, the coaching staff should have what they need to decide whether she’ll stick around. It wouldn’t be a surprise if she did. She already has a goal with the national team and has built-in chemistry with forward and San Diego teammate Alex Morgan.

Jessa Braun is a contributing writer at Just Women’s Sports covering the NWSL and USWNT. Follow her on Twitter @jessabraun.

USC’s McKenzie Forbes: From Gap Year to the NCAA Tournament

As part of our 1-v-1 video series, USC’s India Otto sat down to interview her teammate McKenzie Forbes. 

Here are five things to know from our conversation with the graduate transfer from Folsom, California.

#1 Inspired by USC’s Head Coach, Lindsay Gottlieb, McKenzie wants to be a basketball coach or work in the front office in the future.

When weighing in on what makes a good coach, McKenzie said x’s and o’s are important but “Coaching is a lot of relationship managing and people managing. I think you have to be a good people person and be able to build those relationships, but also in that same breath, you can’t be afraid to have people dislike you in moments. I think that’s a big part of leadership.”

#2 McKenzie says the trajectory of her career changed when she made the decision to transfer from Cal to Harvard.

 In order to transfer, she was forced to take a gap year and spend a lot of time in the gym. “I completely transformed my body and, going into the Harvard season, felt like I was a completely different player. Going to Harvard and playing in a more mid-major conference, I had the ball in my hands a lot more than I might have if I transferred to another Power 5. It really developed other parts of my game.”

#3 How does McKenzie think USC will do in the Women’s College Basketball Tournament?

“I’m not going to give a typical interview answer. I want a Final Four. We have that potential and capability. Like why not? Why not us? I think we have all the pieces.”

#4 Her older brother, Marcus, was her biggest mentor growing up.

“He was basically my trainer from Elementary school on until he went to college.”

#5 Fun facts about Forbes:

She can juggle and she was the quarterback of her Pop Warner football team. “I was slow but I could throw it!”

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

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.

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