United States at the Women’s World Cup 2023: Best players, fixtures, route to final & more

The USWNT head into the 2023 Women’s World Cup looking to clinch their third consecutive victory in the competition.

Despite suffering from setbacks to this year’s roster with the injuries of captain Becky Sauerbrunn, Catarina Marcario and Mallory Swanson, Vlatko Andonovski’s side are heavy favorites ahead of the competition. 

The squad boasts a healthy balance of experienced players and rookies, as 14 figures look to make their World Cup debut in New Zealand and Australia. While Andonovski will likely depend on veterans Rose Lavelle, Alex Morgan, Lindsey Horan, Julie Ertz and Megan Rapinoe to guide the newcomers on and off the field, opponents should not overlook fresh talents Sophia Smith and Trinity Rodman. 

The pressure is on for the reigning champions, but the Stars and Stripes are used to it by now.

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USWNT’s squad features a real blend of experience and youth. Rapinoe, Morgan and Alyssa Naeher are the wise, experienced heads in the squad, and they balance nicely with the exuberance of youth offered by Smith, Rodman and Alyssa Thompson.

Sophia Smith

Sophia Smith will make her World Cup debut in New Zealand, as the United States take on Vietnam, Portugal and the Netherlands in Group E. 

The Portland Thorns forward has quickly become a force to be reckoned with, scoring 32 goals in 55 games across two and a half seasons in the NWSL. And for the Stars and Stripes, she’s managed 12 goals and four assists in only 30 appearances. 

Smith is lethal on the ball, becoming a defenders worst nightmare when speeding from right wing to connect with Alex Morgan in the final third. Her lack of experience in the world’s biggest stage will not stop Andonovski from including her in the starting eleven.

Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan is one to fear.

The 34-year-old is set to feature in her fourth Women’s World Cup, after taking part in the 2011, 2015 and 2019 editions of the tournament. She’s been a crucial component to the USWNT’s success in recent years, scoring a whopping 121 goals in 207 appearances to propel the Stars and Stripes to the biggest trophies.

She was a standout in 2019, finishing as the joint-top scorer with Megan Rapinoe after the two managed six goals to lift the cup.

In the absence of Becky Sauerbrunn, Morgan was named co-captain for the tournament alongside Lindsey Horan. Though the San Diego Wave player has sported the armband in previous matches, the World Cup will be her first large tournament with the honor. And she’s more than earned it, guiding the USWNT players on and off the field with great goals and a strong voice in the fight for women’s equality.

Naomi Girma

Defenders can be easily overlooked, but Naomi Girma shouldn’t be taken for granted. The San Diego Wave consistently brings stability to the USWNT’s backline, while also being a deceptively quick player with the ability to breakaway seamlessly.

She may be young, but the 2022 NWSL Rookie of the Year will not let inexperience stop her from making the necessary defensive decisions. She’s ruthless at the back, and rarely makes silly mistakes. Alongside Alana Cook, the two are found to frustrate any opponent.

Vlatko Andonovski

The expectations are high for the USWNT head coach as he leads the reigning champions into the 2023 tournament. 

Andonovski underwhelmed during his first major tournament with the American side, guiding the team to a semi-final exit after a 1-0 loss against Canada. Despite the Stars and Stripes holding every statistical advantage during the match, Andonovski couldn’t seal the deal.

The team later went on to endure a three-game losing streak in 2022, the first in 29 years. But the head coach kicked off a comeback by bringing in new, younger players to revolutionize the squad. And it’s worked out so far, as Sophia Smith, Ashley Sanchez and Trinity Rodman continue to stun.

Though the tension to win the tournament remains, Andonovski understands: “Would I be happy with anything short of a third straight win? No, absolutely not,” he said in June. “I mean, there’s only one thing in mind. Our goal is to win the World Cup. There’s no question about it. And I don’t think that anyone on our team thinks anything different.”

The United States should go on to top Group E, after facing Vietnam, the Netherlands and Portugal.

The group stage may even be their biggest challenge of the early rounds, facing runners up of group G afterwards which could be Argentina, Italy, Sweden or South Africa. The American side will likely win, going on to take on either the Group A winners or the runners-up of Group C in the quarter-final, most likely to be either Spain, Japan or Norway.

Japan may just be the most difficult opponent of the bunch, as they look to avenge the 2015 World Cup final.

On to the semi-finals, the Stars and Stripes should await the winners of Group C or Group G, where Spain are to be expected. And then the final, where England, Germany and Canada look to be favorites.

The United States may be among the favorites to win the tournament, but the Netherlands, England and Germany stand in the way. Since 2019, the competition has grown tremendously to make this edition of the World Cup the most fierce yet.

Though the American side is no stranger to pressure, holding a target on their backs since lifting the trophy in 2015, this isn’t the same winning roster. 14 players will look to take center stage in the sport’s biggest tournament, adding a level of inexperience rarely associated with the Stars and Stripes. The first big test will come in the second group stage match, when facing the Netherlands at Sky Stadium in Wellington. Should Andonovski’s side manage a healthy win, the necessary confidence and momentum to reach the late stages of the tournament will follow.

With no sudden injuries, the United States should top Group E and go on to have a relatively open path to the final. But that last game should be worrying. With the possibility to face Germany and England, the American side could find themselves in trouble. Though they’ve beat both teams in the past before, Andonovski’s side will need a near perfect performance to clinch that third trophy.

The coach and players previously said no one boasting the Stars and Strips will be content with anything other than the trophy.

Prediction: Finalists

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