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USWNT roster: Toughest World Cup decisions at every position

Sophia Smith and the USWNT will kick off their World Cup journey on July 21 against Vietnam. (Brad Smith/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

The U.S. women’s national team released its roster for two November friendlies against Germany on Monday. While the 24-player squad is similar to the group that’s taken the field for the U.S. in the past year, head coach Vlatko Andonovski said this week that the roster could look different in three to five months.

As the team prepares for the 2023 FIFA World Cup, Andonovski has been calling in players who have little to no experience on the national team. A handful of veterans from the USWNT’s 2019 World Cup and 2021 Olympic squads are injured, creating opportunities for Andonovski to evaluate other talent. Many of those new players have taken full advantage of the year to prove they belong.

With all the changes, though, have come challenges with establishing chemistry on the field. In their last two friendlies against No. 4 England and No. 6 Spain, the young USWNT struggled on both ends of the pitch, raising questions about Andonovski’s tactics as the team dropped back-to-back games for the first time since 2017.

“We have to work and we have to get better, but there are some things that may change just by changing the personnel,” he said.

As veterans begin to trickle back in over the next few months, and new players continue to prove they belong, Andonovski will have some tough decisions to make. If the 2023 Women’s World Cup follows the same 26-player format as the 2022 Men’s World Cup, an increase from the usual 23-player roster size, some choices won’t be as hard.

Here are the toughest decisions Andonovski will have to make at every position in three to five months, as veterans begin to work their way back into the mix.

Defensive midfield

Julie Ertz, Andi Sullivan, Sam Coffey, Jaelin Howell

The USWNT’s starting six, Julie Ertz, hasn’t been on a U.S. roster since the Tokyo Olympics after recovering from injury and then going on maternity leave. With the two-time U.S. Soccer Player of the Year giving no public indication of her timeline for a return, there’s been speculation about whether she’ll come back at all. On Monday, Andonovski said he’s been in touch with her “this whole time.”

“We want to give Julie time to get back slowly,” he said. “This is not something that we will even discuss. This is time for Julie to enjoy the time as a family. When the time comes, if she’s prepared and she’s anywhere near her best, I know this team will welcome her back.”

In the meantime, Andi Sullivan has been serving as the USWNT’s primary holding midfielder. NWSL rookies Sam Coffey and Jaelin Howell both deserve looks but will have a tough time making the cut against two established veterans.

It would be wise of Andonovski to keep both Ertz and Sullivan. For the Tokyo Olympics and the Concacaf World Cup Qualifying tournament this past summer, he brought only one of the two and paid the price when injuries set in and there was no six to relieve them.

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Julie Ertz hasn't played for the USWNT since the Tokyo Olympics. (Atsushi Tomura/Getty Images)

Midfield

Lindsey Horan, Rose Lavelle, Kristie Mewis, Ashley Sanchez, Sam Mewis, Taylor Kornieck, Savannah DeMelo

A roster of 23 players would likely have six midfielders, including one or two who can play the holding position. Lindsey Horan and Rose Lavelle have been the go-to starters in front of Sullivan this year, and Ashley Sanchez has been given a few starts after getting consistent call-ups since last November.

It wouldn’t be a bad idea for Crystal Dunn, usually a fullback for the national team, to be added to the USWNT’s midfield player pool. One of the most versatile players in the program’s history, Dunn scored the winning goal for the Thorns from the attacking midfield after subbing into the NWSL semifinal game and creating numerous chances throughout the second half.

There hasn’t been much information on Sam Mewis’ injury and recovery timeline, but it’s safe to assume that the 2020 U.S. Soccer Player of the Year will be invited into camp when she’s ready.

Center back

Tierna Davidson, Abby Dahlkemper, Becky Sauerbrunn, Naomi Girma, Alana Cook

Center backs are going to be among the hardest decisions for Andonovski in the coming months. With the coach usually bringing three to each camp, Becky Sauerbrunn, Naomi Girma and Alana Cook have been the call-ups this year while Tierna Davidson and Abby Dahlkemper recover from season-ending injuries.

Davidson, who tore her ACL in the spring, is the closest to returning among the injured veterans. She is expected to be back to full training in mid-November and available for selection for games against New Zealand in January. Andonovski said that she has “the ability to be started on this team.”

Abby Dahlkemper’s latest back injury requires surgery, Andonovski confirmed this week. Once that’s complete, the team will have a better idea of her timeline for a return.

Sauerbrunn has been with the USWNT all year as one of their most valuable leaders. Possibly due to Sauerbrunn’s playing time restrictions, Girma and Cook have received just as much time on the pitch. Andonovski said earlier this fall that Cook had the slight edge over Girma in making the World Cup roster due to experience. Following that comment, Girma made a stronger case for herself against England and Spain during the October window. The San Diego Wave defender then was named NWSL Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, becoming the first player to win two individual awards in the same year.

Fullback

Casey Krueger, Crystal Dunn, Emily Sonnett, Kelley O’Hara, Emily Fox, Sofia Huerta, Carson Pickett, Hailie Mace

There are a lot of decisions to be made at outside back, where it’s likely that four to five players will be chosen. 

On the November roster are Sofia Huerta, Crystal Dunn, Emily Fox and Hailie Mace. Emily Sonnett and Kelley O’Hara are recovering from injuries, and Casey Krueger has been on maternity leave all year. 

Krueger did train with her NWSL club, the Chicago Red Stars, before they were eliminated from the playoffs in October. She hasn’t yet returned to the national team, but Andonovski said he’s “looking forward to seeing her in camp,” so she will likely be back with the USWNT in January. 

Andonovski said this week that Dunn, O’Hara, Huerta and Fox are all potential starters. It wouldn’t be surprising if that group plus Krueger are the top five on his list right now. 

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Emily Sonnett, Kelley O'Hara and Abby Dahlkemper have all been absent from the team due to injuries. (Brad Smith/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

Center forward

Alex Morgan, Catarina Macario, Ashley Hatch

Once Catarina Macario is back on the field in February after recovering from ACL surgery, she will “very likely bump into one of the starting positions if she’s anywhere near her best,” Andonovski said this week. She left the USWNT as a nine, solidifying her case for the position with convincing performances and goals scored, but she has also played in the midfield.

In Macario’s absence, Alex Morgan has consistently started at the nine while leading the NWSL with 15 goals to win the 2022 Golden Boot. Last year’s Golden Boot winner Ashley Hatch, has impressed off the bench, scoring a number of quick goals to boost the USWNT’s momentum.

Macario and Morgan appear to be locks, and it’s possible that Andonovski keeps all three if he names seven forwards to the roster.

Outside forward

Sophia Smith, Mallory Pugh, Megan Rapinoe, Lynn Williams, Christen Press, Tobin Heath, Midge Purce, Trinity Rodman, Alyssa Thompson

The USWNT’s attack has undergone the most change in the past year, as Andonovski has rotated in some new players for evaluation.

Earlier this year, the coach said a player would have to really impress him for Sophia Smith and Mallory Pugh to be removed from their starting positions. He also seems set on having Megan Rapinoe available off the bench, saying that her experience is valuable in mentoring young players like Smith and Pugh.

The final one or two forward spots, meanwhile, are up for grabs. Trinity Rodman has had strong performances off the bench, scoring two goals in nine appearances in the past year. Lynn Williams was also a consistent call-up until suffering a season-ending leg injury in March. Andonovski said in June that he wasn’t planning on calling in Christen Press, even before her ACL tear, but on Monday he included her in his list of absent players.

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Catarina Macario, Sophia Smith and Mallory Pugh were Andonovki (Brad Smith/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

Goalkeeper

Casey Murphy, Alyssa Naeher, Aubrey Kingsbury, AD Franch, Phallon Tullis-Joyce

The talent in the U.S. goalkeeper pool is bottomless. Casey Murphy, Aubrey Kingsbury and Alyssa Naeher have split time between the posts for the USWNT this year. AD Franch was called into the November squad after a stellar NWSL season, joining Murphy and Naeher.

“Very happy for her,” Andonovski said of Franch. “Obviously being in Kansas. City, I had a chance to watch her a little more often live and especially the second part of the season. It was almost like it was her role to carry Kansas City in in tough times. … It was consistent throughout the season, so it was not hard for us after everything, for this camp to decide to call her back in.

“I think this is another opportunity for me to say that yes, the form in the league matters. And if you’re doing well on a consistent basis, you will be called back regardless of what your status was in the past.”

In the case of a 26-player World Cup roster, Andonovski would have the opportunity to name all four of Naeher, Murphy, Franch and Kingsbury to the squad. In terms of NWSL form, Andonovski also indicated earlier in the fall that he has his eye on OL Reign’s Phallon Tullis-Joyce and Racing Louisville’s Katie Lund.

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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