Eighteen-year-old Alyssa Thompson was named Wednesday along with veteran Megan Rapinoe and 21 others to the US roster that will compete next month to do what no nation has done before — lift a third consecutive Women’s World Cup trophy.
Thompson, who has been impressive this season as a rookie with Angel City in the National Women’s Soccer League, is the youngest on the list, while 37-year-old Rapinoe is the oldest.
“I’ve already talked to some other experienced players about how they can marshal this group of players from the age of 18 through (Rapino),” forward Alex Morgan joked. “How can we all come together and be incredibly resilient and go through this World Cup.”
Players were presented with A star-studded social media post This included President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, Taylor Swift, Lil Wayne, and Megan Thee Stallion.
Morgan, 33, and Rapinoe will both be making their fourth World Cup appearance for the No. 1 seeded American team. Morgan stopped short of saying the Americans are the favorites to play in the tournament.
“I think at the end of the day we already have a goal on our backs coming from the World Cup champions. But there are some teams that have done incredibly well over the last four years and made a name for themselves to contend for this trophy.
Defender Kelly O’Hara, 34, also earned a place in her fourth World Cup squad, providing a veteran presence to support the backline in the absence of captain Becky Sauerbrunn, who announced last week that she would not play in the World Cup. due to a stuck foot injury.
The tournament kicks off on July 20 in Australia and New Zealand. Americans are in the fifth group With Vietnam, the Netherlands and Portugal. The United States, who have won four World Cups, will open with Vietnam on July 22 in Auckland.
“We want to do something that hasn’t been done before,” Andonovsky said of the chance to win a third consecutive World Cup title.
Rapinoe is currently battling a calf injury, but should be ready to play in the US team’s farewell match against Wales on July 9 in San Jose, California. Andonovski said she will play a different role than in 2019, when she scored six goals including a penalty in a 2-0 win over the Netherlands in the final.
“She will certainly have different kinds of minutes. But her role, first of all from a leadership point of view, is very important, but also her performance on the field is very valuable to us,” Andonovsky said.
The team was injured in the lead-up to the event. In addition to Sauerbrunn, the United States will be without forward Mallory Swanson, who tore his patellar tendon in her left knee. Swanson scored seven goals this year before getting hurt in an April exhibition match against Ireland.
Catarina Macariu, the talented striker who tore up the AFC Champions League last year while playing for French club Lyon, hasn’t recovered in time to earn a place in the squad. Midfielder Sam Moyes also suffers from a chronic injury and was not available for the World Cup.
They include 22-year-old Sophia Smith, who was named the NWSL Player of the Year and US Soccer Player of the Year 2022, and 21-year-old Trinity Rodman, the US Young Player of the Year. 2021 and the daughter of former NBA star Dennis Rodman.
Thompson is the second-youngest player ever to be named to a World Cup roster, behind US assistant coach Tiffany Roberts Sahaidek, who played in the 1995 World Cup. Thompson was called up to the squad in early April for a match against Ireland, and replaced Swanson.
Surprisingly, 25-year-old Savannah Demelo, who has not yet appeared in a match for the United States, was also included in the list. DeMelo plays for Racing Louisville in the NWSL, and has scored in three of her last four matches. She has five goals in total this season.
DeMelo is the third American player to be named to the World Cup squad without having played in an international match.
“One of the biggest reasons she got on the team was her performance in the league,” Andonovsky said. “And based on the needs we have in terms of opponents and the different situations we may face, we feel that Saf is very important for us going forward.”
List by position with club affiliation:
Goalkeepers: Aubrey Kingsbury (Washington Spirit), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage), Alyssa Neiher (Chicago Red Stars).
Defenders: Alana Cook (OL Reign), Crystal Dunn (Portland Thorns), Emily Fox (North Carolina Courage), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave), Sofia Huerta (OL Reign), Kelley O’Hara (Gotham), Emily Sonnett ( O.L. Reign).
Midfielders: Savannah DeMelo (Racing Louisville FC), Julie Ertz (Angel City), Lindsey Horan (Lyon), Rose Lavelle (OL Ren), Kristi Mewes (Gotham), Ashley Sanchez (Washington Spirit), Andy Sullivan (Washington Spirit).
Forwards: Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave), Megan Rapinoe (OL Ren), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns), Alyssa Thompson (Angel City), Lynn Williams (Gotham FC).
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