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.

Sam Coffey’s meteoric rise from Penn State attacking midfielder to starting for the USWNT at dm in the matter of a few years is truly wild pic.twitter.com/UGp4GTZhTH

— Claire Watkins (@ScoutRipley) September 6, 2022

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.

August is @naomi_girma's third time in the @NWSL best XI.

This year.

As a rookie. pic.twitter.com/ilY20yYZSd

— San Diego Wave FC (@sandiegowavefc) September 7, 2022

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.

US tennis star and world No. 12 Amanda Anisimova continued her breakthrough 2025 Wimbledon run on Thursday, taking down No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka to punch a ticket to her first career Grand Slam final.

"This doesn't feel real right now," Anisimova said after winning the 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 semifinal thriller. "I don't know how I pulled it out."

"It was such a rollercoaster match," the 23-year-old told ESPN. "[Sabalenka] is such a tough competitor, and I really had to give it my all to fight there to get the win."

As the first US player to reach a Wimbledon final since Serena Williams in 2019 — and the youngest from the US since Williams' 2004 run — Anisimova's meteoric 2025 rise comes just 18 months after she took an extended mental health break from tennis.

"A lot of people told me that you would never make it to the top again if you take so much time away from the game," she said. "So just me being able to prove that you can get back to the top if you prioritize yourself, that's been incredibly special to me."

Anisimova's semifinal win also continues a unique pattern for her home country, as Saturday's championship match is now the fourth straight Grand Slam final to feature a US player — a streak dating back to No. 3 Jessica Pegula's 2024 US Open championship appearance.

Even more, should Anisimova emerge victorious on Saturday, she'll join 2025 Australian Open champion No. 8 Madison Keys and 2025 French Open winner No. 2 Coco Gauff in continuing a US sweep of this year's Grand Slams.

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Anisimova to face Świątek in 2025 Wimbledon final

To do so, however, Anisimova will have to defeat five-time Grand Slam winner and world No. 4 Iga Świątek in what will be the pair's first-ever senior-level match on Saturday.

Like Anisimova, the 24-year-old Polish phenom is on an unexpected Wimbledon run, as the London Slam's grass courts have historically hampered the clay-court specialist.

That said, Świątek dominated her Thursday semifinal against Switzerland's No. 35 Belinda Bencic, booking her spot in Saturday's title match in two quick 6-2, 6-0 sets.

"Tennis keeps surprising me," she said after the match. "I thought I had experienced everything on the court, but I hadn't experienced playing well on grass. That's the first time."

"Honestly, I never even dreamt that it was possible for me to play the [Wimbledon] finals, so I'm just super excited and proud of myself," Świątek added.

As for Anisimova, she's taking her championship match against the decorated Świątek in stride.

"I'm sure it'll be an amazing match. Getting to compete against an unbelievable player again is going to be super special," said the rising US star.

"Obviously I haven't been in a Grand Slam final before, but I've experienced a lot of moments similar and a lot of high-stakes matches," Anisimova noted. "I'm just gonna go out and enjoy every moment and try to not think about what’s on the line."

How to watch the 2025 Wimbledon championship match

With this year's tournament guaranteed to crown a first-time Wimbledon champion, Anisimova will battle Świątek for the London Slam's trophy at 11 AM ET on Saturday.

The final will air live on ESPN.

Legendary USWNT attacker Tobin Heath officially announced her retirement from soccer on Thursday, nearly three years after playing her final professional match.

"Over New Year's, I actually came to the full acceptance that I wasn't going to be playing," the 37-year-old explained on her podcast, The RE-CAP Show.

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In her 13 years with the senior national team, Heath — widely regarded as one of the most technical players in US history — earned two World Cup titles (2015, 2019) and three Olympic medals (gold in 2008 and 2012, and bronze in 2021).

Across her 181 USWNT caps, the 2016 US Soccer Athlete of the Year logged 36 goals and 42 assists, making her final appearance for the States on October 26th, 2021.

At the club level, Heath spent seven seasons with the Portland Thorns, helping the team to NWSL Championships in 2013 and 2017, as well as the 2016 NWSL Shield.

While her career also included European stints with the Première Ligue's PSG as well as WSL sides Manchester United and Arsenal, Heath ended her pro run with the 2022 NWSL Shield-winning Seattle Reign, playing what would be her final soccer match on August 14th of that year.

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Injury ends Heath's soccer career

The end of Heath's career is not what the creative, nutmegging winger anticipated.

"I thought I was literally going to be peeled off the field," Heath told The Athletic on Wednesday.

However, a 2022 serious left knee injury left Heath unable to play soccer — even at a casual level — ultimately forcing her retirement.

"I tried f---ing everything to get back, I spent tens of thousands of dollars and [had] two surgeries, one crazy surgery," Heath said on her podcast. "And the whole time I believed I was going to get back."

"Football is a 360-degree sport, and I can't do it," she told The Athletic. "So that part is the hardest part. The actual playing of soccer is gone."

Heath still working to lift up women's soccer in retirement

Despite coming to terms with the end of her on-pitch career, Heath isn't leaving the world of soccer anytime soon, helping lead the newly launched World Sevens Football and joining FIFA's technical study group for the men's Club World Cup.

Elevating football — particularly the women's game — is a pursuit that began for Heath with the Portland Thorns.

"[Portland] showed what women's sports could be," she explained. "I was dreaming of the world that I wanted to create."

The 2019 World Cup run then solidified that mission, with the USWNT adding a fourth star to their crest while also facing a pressure-cooker of expectations amid political tension and a contentious fight for equal pay.

"You can't feel what we felt...and not believe that you're doing something so f---ing important for the world," said Heath.

"You feel that responsibility — and that's what it is — and you want to keep carrying that responsibility as far forward as you can."

USWNT and Chelsea FC forward Mia Fishel is officially heading back to the States, with the Seattle Reign announcing that the 24-year-old signed with the NWSL club on Thursday.

The multi-year deal will see Fishel join Seattle through the 2029 season on a contract reportedly worth nearly $2.5 million — the largest cumulative deal in NWSL history.

"We're absolutely thrilled to bring Mia into our squad," said Seattle head coach Laura Harvey in a club statement. "Mia's ability to disrupt defenses, finish in different ways makes her a dangerous addition to our group."

"Mia is a player with tremendous upside — a goal-scorer with presence, creativity, and a drive to keep growing," added Reign GM Lesle Gallimore.

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Notably, though the Orlando Pride originally drafted the San Diego product and UCLA alum in 2022, this week's move will see Fishel make her domestic debut, with the young talent opting to start her pro career in Mexico.

In her single season with powerhouse Tigres UANL, Fishel notched 17 goals in 17 games to become the first foreign athlete to win the Liga MX Golden Boot, all while leading the team to a league championship.

Following her Liga MX success, Fishel signed with Chelsea, spending two seasons with the WSL champions — though a February 2024 ACL tear limited the young attacker's impact on both club and country over the last 16 months.

Nicknamed "Big Fish," the NWSL debutant has big plans for her upcoming lengthy tenure with Seattle.

"I knew coming to the States, I'm gonna be on a team for the long run," Fishel told reporters. "I wasn't expecting to just hop from team to team. Like, no, I want to put stakes in the ground. I want to eventually lead this team."

This weekend's WNBA slate will see the No. 8 Indiana Fever aiming to right the ship, as the once-projected postseason contenders try to make a push prior to next weekend's 2025 All-Star break.

Despite seeing Caitlin Clark return from injury on Wednesday, the Fever will enter the weekend on a two-game losing streak.

"You should look yourself in the mirror and find ways you can get better, and then come back to practice tomorrow, and play again on Friday," Clark said after Indiana's 80-61 Wednesday loss to Golden State.

There's no immediate assist in the Fever's upcoming schedule, however, as they kick off the weekend against an Atlanta side that feeds on mismatches in the paint:

• No. 4 Atlanta Dream vs. No. 8 Indiana Fever, Friday at 7:30 PM ET (ION): The Dream can put any team in a blender with their size and stretch capabilities, and Indiana will need solid three-point shooting to upend Atlanta.

• No. 6 Golden State Valkyries vs. No. 9 Las Vegas Aces, Saturday at 4 PM ET (CBS): The short-handed Aces will hope to pounce on Golden State's mercurial road form, as Las Vegas tries to keep climbing the standings following a middling season start.

• No. 4 Atlanta Dream vs. No. 3 New York Liberty, Sunday at 3 PM ET (WNBA League Pass): An injury-hampered New York will try to hold on against the formidable Dream, as the reigning champion Liberty keep battling while waiting for starters to return.