The United States women’s national team is six months away from the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The team recently left their annual January camp with a pair of victories against co-hosts New Zealand . The group will meet again in February to prepare for the 2023 SheBelieves Cup. Head coach Vlatko Andonovski and his team will continue to whittle the pool of players over the coming months in an attempt to finalize a World Cup roster.
The team produced lopsided scoring lines in both games, registering nine goals in their two friendlies against New Zealand, and placed some players in new positions. Let’s take a look at some players who increased their stock ahead of the SheBelieves Cup:
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Trinity Rodman
The winger’s time with the senior women’s national team was short and limited to a role off the bench. In her 12 appearances, she scored 2 goals and registered 3 assists, all three delivered in New Zealand friendlies. SheBelieves Cup could mean more opportunities to see Rodman get more minutes.
Naomi Girma
A rising star at centre-back for club and country, Girma’s 90-minute shift over two matches showed more of what she can bring to the team in distribution. Two clean sheets didn’t provide much to gauge individual battles or overly dangerous scenarios, but it did show that Girma will remain a starting option for the team.
Rose Lavelle
A focal point of the team’s attacking creativity, Lavelle has been a consistent feature in the team’s central third as the coaching staff find solutions with the defensive midfield role. Due to the rotation, we could see Lavelle flex her versatility as she played in the No.8 role and often played lower in the second game against New Zealand.
Out of stock
It is mainly the players who have not played who have seen their stock drop. Due to coaches’ decision rather than actual form, a number of players saw no time at all during the two-game series.
Sam Coffey
She has been called up to camps since June 2022, mostly as a defensive midfield option, but has seen little game time with the team.
Hallie Mace
She returned to squad camps in 2022 as an away option in light of injuries to Emily Fox, Kelley O’Hara and Crystal Dunn who was returning from maternity leave.
Adrian Franch
She was Alyssa Naeher’s backup at the 2019 World Cup and the Tokyo Olympics, but was mostly absent from the squad rosters for almost a year after the Olympics. After a stellar season with Kansas City Current, the Frenchwoman was recalled to the USWNT camps in October 2022. In her three recent roster appearances against England, Spain – and now New Zealand – she hasn’t seen the pitch yet.
Standing still
Ashley Hatch and Midge Purce.
Both forwards had long minutes against New Zealand but the return of injured players to the pool could further complicate their chances of breaking through a 23-man World Cup line-up. Sophia Smith and Megan Rapinoe were unavailable for January camps due to minor foot and ankle injuries, and Alex Morgan was injured late in Game 2.
Lynn Williams
His return to the January camps included a goal, an assist and even a yellow card in his first game back. After a 10-month absence with a hamstring injury, Williams’ return will further reduce World Cup places among the attacking core. A bigger test against Brazil, Canada and Japan in the 2023 SheBelieves Cup could be the final test for some players still considered on the bubble.
