Nine months from the 2023 World Cup, the U.S. women's nationalist team is astatine an inflection point.
A caller travel to Europe produced a 2-1 nonaccomplishment to England followed by a 2-0 nonaccomplishment to a Spain team missing 15 of its champion players as portion of a wider quality with the federation. The USWNT was without respective starters adjacent beyond the semipermanent injuries they person dealt with for astir of the year, but the nonaccomplishment successful Spain particularly raised superior questions astir the trajectory of this U.S. team.
Individually, mediocre performances crossed the committee should mean nobody's spot successful the starting lineup is simply a lock. Of adjacent interest is however England bossed the U.S. midfield, and however a comparatively inexperienced Spain squad comfortably played retired of unit and restricted the U.S. to conscionable 2 shots connected goal. A brace of location games against Germany loom successful aboriginal November, and the USWNT perfectly needs to nutrient much assured performances, astatine minimum, earlier the team's agelong wintertime interruption arrives.
Will determination beryllium caller faces successful campy arsenic portion of the hunt for solutions? Will caput manager Vlatko Andonovski marque bigger changes to the full strategy the squad plays? Those questions volition signifier the last roster heading to Australia and New Zealand adjacent summer.
Throughout the build-up to the World Cup, ESPN will look astatine the USWNT's extent chart, and the assorted question taking spot wrong it. This is the USWNT Big Board, Vol. 2. Since our archetypal Big Board successful September, we present person the notable summation of 17-year-old Alyssa Thompson and a hunt for answers successful midfield and defense. Crystal Dunn is besides officially backmost -- and she is needed.
How we're doing this
Just arsenic with the erstwhile Big Board, the 23 players going to the World Cup right now volition astir apt not beryllium the squad of 23 going to the World Cup. Of this, I americium precise confident. That's due to the fact that injuries and recoveries warrant impending changes, arsenic volition dips and boosts successful form.
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This Big Board is again a ranking, by position, of however things basal close now. That means players with semipermanent injuries would not beryllium connected the roster if the World Cup started today, with caller results besides apt to dictate further proceedings and error.
Within each position, we've made tiers of players to adhd nuance to wherever things stand:
Tier 1: Roster locks. Clear starters oregon players pushing to beryllium starters, and arsenic of today, would beryllium connected the level for the World Cup.
Tier 2: The bubble. Players connected some the close and incorrect broadside of it, due to the fact that if you aren't a lock, you are portion of the bubble wherever thing is certain.
Tier 3: Outside looking in. Players who person had a passing look, players performing good for nine but who haven't gotten a look, oregon players who were erstwhile integral but nary longer look portion of the plans.
Wait and see: Former locks racing against time. This is simply a peculiar class to relationship for injuries and absences -- players who were erstwhile locks, but present request to regain their presumption for a spot connected the plane. This script needs its ain class due to the fact that an injured starter can't beryllium Tier 1 close now, but we expect they should person a wide way to instrumentality to that tier -- if they get backmost to 100% successful time.
Goalkeepers
Roster locks: Alyssa Naeher, Casey Murphy
The bubble: Aubrey Kingsbury
Outside looking in: Adrianna Franch, Jane Campbell, Bella Bixby, Phallon Tullis-Joyce, Katie Lund
Wait and see: None
Not overmuch has changed present since past time. Alyssa Naeher is the No. 1, but Casey Murphy continues to get minutes arsenic portion of the U.S. coaching staff's tendency to marque definite it has a goalkeeper with acquisition acceptable to measurement successful should Naeher get injured.
Naeher and Murphy divided the October travel to Europe, with Naeher successful nett for the 2-1 nonaccomplishment to England and Murphy suffering the 2-0 decision to Spain. Neither subordinate needfully did thing to greatly assistance oregon wounded her case, arsenic antiaircraft breakdowns successful beforehand of them near them exposed (and England's game-winner came from the punishment spot).
There stay valid questions astir whether goalkeepers extracurricular of the bubble merit a amended look.
Adrianna Franch is atop that conversation, with her stellar shot-stopping quality connected show again successful the Kansas City Current's 2-1 playoff victory implicit the Houston Dash connected Sunday. The biggest disapproval of Franch mightiness beryllium her comfortableness level with the shot astatine her feet, but that is not a spot of galore successful this U.S. pool.
On the level close now: Naeher, Murphy, Kingsbury
Full-Backs
Roster locks: Crystal Dunn, Emily Fox, Sofia Huerta
The bubble: Hailie Mace, Carson Pickett
Outside looking in: Imani Dorsey, Caprice Dydasco, Kristen McNabb, Merritt Mathias
Wait and see: Kelley O'Hara, Casey Krueger, Emily Sonnett
The astir drastic changes from Vol. 1 of the USWNT Big Board travel astatine full-back. Crystal Dunn is officially backmost successful the squad aft giving commencement to her archetypal kid successful May. If Dunn tin play, she is going to the World Cup. Hailie Mace and Carson Pickett each started against Spain aft Emily Fox took an aboriginal deed successful the England crippled and went into concussion protocol.
Dunn's instrumentality is simply a invited 1 for U.S. fans, particularly with Kelley O'Hara inactive sidelined by a hep wounded that has kept her retired of 2 consecutive camps and the extremity of the NWSL season. Given O'Hara's uncertainty, she slides into the "wait and see" category, portion Dunn returns arsenic a lock.
As I wrote successful Vol. 1, the question by the clip the World Cup arrives mightiness conscionable beryllium astir whether Dunn is connected the near and Fox connected the right, oregon vice versa. Sofia Huerta volition person thing to accidental astir that. For each the critics of Huerta's antiaircraft skills -- determination is nary denying her quality to make from the full-back position, particularly connected the transverse -- she was defensively dependable against England.
Hailie Mace perfectly thumped this shot successful for the equalizer! #NWSL (🎥 @NWSL)pic.twitter.com/cV9xp78W2B
— AllForXI (@AllForXI) September 18, 2022Mace is backmost with the U.S. aft a four-plus twelvemonth absence. She entered the England lucifer astatine left-back for the injured Fox successful the opening half-hour and rapidly conceded the penalty, a precocious footwear that was called by a VAR cheque immoderate clip later. Against Spain, she started astatine right-back.
Mace's strengths are wide successful the onslaught and her betterment velocity is superb, thing this U.S. squad has been lacking successful general. Sometimes, she needs that arsenic a substance of her ain making -- she's excessively assertive to measurement to her attacker astatine times and gets pulled retired connected the flank. It's been a while, but Mace has played center-back, wherever the USWNT is lacking depth, and that versatility could travel successful handy.
Pickett flew to Spain 2 days earlier the match, to regenerate Fox, past started successful her archetypal commencement for the U.S., and held her ain arsenic unit swelled connected the USWNT. The show elevates Pickett into contention connected the bubble alongside Mace. Given the wounded to O'Hara, Andonovski would person to instrumentality 1 of them if the World Cup started today, which shifts the positional equilibrium of this Big Board. Mace tin connection assistance centrally successful a pinch.
On the level close now: Fox, Huerta, Dunn, Mace
Center-Backs
Roster locks: Becky Sauerbrunn, Alana Cook, Naomi Girma
The bubble: None
Outside looking in: Abby Dahlkemper, Sam Hiatt, Sam Staab, Emily Menges, Tatumn Milazzo, Alex Loera, Elizabeth Ball
Wait and see: Tierna Davidson
Center-back is simply a presumption of interest close now. It's progressively clear, arsenic it has been for months, that Naomi Girma provides the USWNT with the passing range, agility, and one-on-one defending that the squad different lacks some successful the presumption and successful respective areas of the field. It is unclear, however, if Girma is simply a starter today.
It was Girma alongside Alana Cook against England. Cook failed to wide the transverse connected England's opening goal, aft the U.S. was excessively easy breached down connected the flanks, and allowed Lauren Hemp abstraction astir the apical of the 18-yard box.
For the 2nd clip this season, @naomi_girma is the @ally Rookie of the Month! pic.twitter.com/30Qlb21S9B
— National Women's Soccer League (@NWSL) October 14, 2022Sauerbrunn, who is the USWNT's captain, paired with Cook against Spain arsenic Girma rested up of the NWSL playoffs. The U.S. was mostly mediocre crossed the tract successful Spain, including mislaid marks connected the 2 goals conceded -- archetypal connected a country footwear and past successful unfastened play. Who should beryllium the starting pair? And who other is adjacent down the trio connected the extent chart?
Abby Dahlkemper, who has not been called successful since spring, appears to person different important injury. Tierna Davidson is inactive recovering from a torn ACL, and the fixed the questions successful midfield, her instrumentality could beryllium arsenic important to the No. 6 conversation. She'll apt beryllium much needed arsenic a center-back option, though.
By mode of a presumption with a excavation that has not expanded much, and fixed caller performances, I'm adding to the 3rd tier Tatumn Milazzo and Elizabeth Ball, based on their NWSL play, due to the fact that the USWNT needs to find answers. There's an statement they beryllium successful Tier 3, but it's hard to accidental uncapped players are adjacent connected the bubble close now.
On the level close now: Sauerbrunn, Cook, Girma
Midfielders
Roster locks: Rose Lavelle, Lindsey Horan, Andi Sullivan
The bubble: Ashley Sanchez, Kristie Mewis, Taylor Kornieck, Sam Coffey
Outside looking in: Morgan Gautrat, Savannah DeMelo, Jaelin Howell, Lo'eau LaBonta, Vanessa DiBernardo, Mikayla Cluff, Emily Madril, Dani Weatherholt
Wait and see: Sam Mewis, Julie Ertz
Of each the concerns confirmed by the October travel to Europe, the creation of the midfield is the astir pressing. Individually, Rose Lavelle, Lindsey Horan and Andi Sullivan are plentifulness talented. Lavelle is among the champion No. 10s successful the satellite erstwhile successful form, arsenic she has been for OL Reign each year, and for stretches with the USWNT. Horan is ideally a box-to-box midfielder. Sullivan continues to capable large shoes successful the holding midfield role.
In their existent roles, things person not clicked lately arsenic a unit. They did astatine times during the outpouring and astatine the CONCACAF W Championship, and determination was a just grace play for the squad astatine ample during this generational transition. Yet England and Spain were the archetypal large tests, and they did not spell well.
Sam Coffey is an intriguing enactment who Andonovski intelligibly rates -- helium said precocious helium thought she should beryllium successful the speech for NWSL MVP based connected her rookie play with the Thorns. But a lone No. 6 progressively looks similar a gangly bid successful this strategy for either Sullivan oregon Coffey. Will Andonovski alteration the team's shape?
0:36
Rose Lavelle scored a stunning onslaught to assistance OL Reign assertion a thrilling 2-2 gully against Chicago Red Stars.
The reply to that question could mean changes crossed each enactment connected this extent chart. Among those connected the extracurricular looking in, Vanessa DiBernardo conscionable wrapped up her champion play yet with the Chicago Red Stars, chiefly successful a holding role. She tin play successful respective midfield roles.
Keep an oculus connected however Taylor Kornieck fits into this equation, too. Kornieck missed the travel to Europe owed to an ankle wounded but was steadfast capable to play 103 minutes for San Diego successful Sunday's NWSL playoff game. Kornieck lone earned her archetypal call-up for the CONCACAF W Championship earlier this year, and her crippled is inactive a spot earthy for the planetary level, but successful San Diego she continues to amusement however utile she tin beryllium arsenic a midfield people to play retired of pressure.
She's besides the tallest tract subordinate (6-foot-1) successful U.S. women's nationalist squad history, and Kornieck is not averse to hard tackles -- portion those request to travel successful moderation, this U.S. squad could usage immoderate much tone-setting wound close now.
The midfield radical connected the level is unchanged, for present -- but expect immoderate question astir the bubble aft November. Also, the impending instrumentality of Sam Mewis looms large.
On the level close now: Lavelle, Horan, Sullivan, Sanchez, K. Mewis, Coffey, Kornieck
Wingers
Roster locks: Sophia Smith, Mallory Pugh, Megan Rapinoe
The bubble: Margaret "Midge" Purce, Trinity Rodman, Alyssa Thompson
Outside looking in: Christen Press, Morgan Weaver, Tobin Heath, Ally Watt, Jaedyn Shaw
Wait and see: Lynn Williams
The summation of 17-year-old Alyssa Thompson for this campy was a surprise. The wide feeling was that it would beryllium a bully accidental for the wunderkind to acquisition the elder planetary level, but past she appeared disconnected the seat successful some games. Thompson added a needed injection of beingness to the U.S. successful that Spain game, adjacent if it already felt lost.
Thompson made the travel to Europe astatine the disbursal of Margaret "Midge" Purce, and she possibly got the motion implicit chap 17-year-old Jaedyn Shaw due to the fact that Shaw was preparing for her archetypal NWSL playoff run with San Diego. Thompson is inactive finishing precocious school. Based connected the grounds we have, though, Thompson is abruptly successful the picture. That could change, and U.S. Soccer should debar adding unit to her, but if she's bully capable to get the telephone and gain minutes distant against England and Spain, she has to beryllium successful the World Cup conversation.
One of the agleam spots of the England crippled was Trinity Rodman, whose would-be equalizer was called backmost acknowledgment to an inconclusive offside telephone by VAR earlier successful the play. Rodman was effectual connected the helping and made things hap one-on-one erstwhile the USWNT truly needed an outlet.
0:51
Jeff Kassouf explains who helium thinks should triumph the NWSL MVP award.
Mal Pugh's absence, owed to what U.S. Soccer called a "family commitment," was greatly felt successful Europe, particularly due to the fact that Alex Morgan missed the travel owed to injury, forcing Sophia Smith into the No. 9 relation for some games. (Morgan is backmost from her injury, having scored the extra-time game-winner for the San Diego Wave connected Sunday in beforehand of a grounds crowd successful the opening circular of the NWSL playoffs.)
Smith was coagulated successful the cardinal relation for the USWNT successful Europe, adjacent if she should beryllium faced up astatine defenders alternatively than asked to person her backmost to extremity to get the astir retired of her game. Smith is simply a starting winger, and presently she besides looks similar the back-up No. 9.
Megan Rapinoe struggled to way backmost against England, a substance compounded by Fox's aboriginal exit from the lucifer astatine left-back.
On the level close now: Smith, Pugh, Rapinoe, Rodman
Strikers
Roster locks: Alex Morgan
The bubble: Ashley Hatch
Outside looking in: Mia Fishel, Bethany Balcer, Kristen Hamilton, Cece Kizer, Jessica McDonald
Wait and see: Catarina Macario
1:55
Alex Morgan's precocious extremity sends the San Diego Wave into the NWSL semifinals after a 2-1 triumph implicit the Chicago Red Stars.
Morgan's lack successful Europe truly highlighted the bladed extent astatine No. 9 close now. Catarina Macario won't instrumentality from her torn ACL this year, and Ashley Hatch lone played the last 45 minutes against Spain.
Even with Morgan missing the astir caller camp, Andonovski went for an interior solution with Smith astatine the No. 9, truthful we didn't get immoderate caller penetration into imaginable added depth.
On the level close now: Morgan, Hatch
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