USWNT 2023 World Cup roster released, debutants catch headlines

The 2023 World Cup just got a little bit more real for USA fans. 

On Wednesday morning, U.S. women's national team head coach Vlatko Andonovski announced his final 23-player roster for this summer's World Cup in Australia & New Zealand. 

Here is the USWNT's 2023 World Cup roster in full:

Goalkeepers (3): Aubrey Kingsbury, Alyssa Naeher, Casey Murphy

Defenders (7): Alana Cook, Crystal Dunn, Emily Fox, Naomi Girma, Kelley O'Hara, Emily Sonnett, Sofia Huerta

Midfielders (6): Julie Ertz, Lindsey Horan, Andi Sullivan, Rose Lavelle, Savannah DeMelo, Kristie Mewis

Forwards (7): Alex Morgan, Trinity Rodman, Megan Rapinoe, Lynn Williams, Alyssa Thompson, Ashley Sanchez, Sophia Smith

A major talking point of the roster is the players who are set to participate in a World Cup for the first time in their careers. There are 14 potential debutants who made the cut. This varies from legendary veterans who narrowly missed out on past tournament rosters, to up-and-coming bright young talents. 

“The task of selecting a World Cup Team is never easy, but I’m proud of the players for their work ethic and focus during the process and of our coaching staff for doing the work to put together the best team possible,” said Andonovski on Wednesday. “It’s the players that make the biggest impact on our environment, they push each other to be better and I know as a group they are extremely motivated to make our country proud at the World Cup. Every player has a different journey to get to this point so our roster has some amazing stories and we have a really good mix of veterans and younger players.”

Lynn Williams, the highest-scoring American in the history of the NWSL, is one of these headline selections. The NJ/NY Gotham FC forward was on the bubble for the 2019 World Cup but found herself just on the wrong side of the cut-off line. Similarly, 32-year-old Kristie Mewis could become the oldest player ever to make a World Cup debut this summer.

Promising young stars Trinity Rodman and Ashley Sanchez of the Washington Spirit are also on a World Cup roster for the first time in their careers. As are probable starters Emily Fox, Andi Sullivan, and likely back-up goalkeepers Aubrey Kingsbury and Casey Murphy. Uncapped Savannah DeMelo is a surprise inclusion, but the debutant-to-be has been one of the most effective players in the NWSL for Racing Louisville this season with five goals and two assists in 11 matches. 

2022 NWSL defender of the year Naomi Girma is slated to not only make her World Cup debut but is a likely starter after captain and center back Becky Sauerbrunn was ruled out of the tournament with a foot injury last week. Many would also place reigning NWSL MVP Sophia Smith in the USA's Best XI. The Portland Thorns forward is another who has been called up for her first World Cup with the USWNT. 

READ MORE: Are we still not talking about Sophia Smith enough?

Rounding out the list of newcomers is Alyssa Thompson. There is an understandable amount of hype surrounding the phenomenon who was selected as the first overall pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft and has taken to the league like a duck to water. Despite Angel City FC struggling this season, the winger has scored three goals, one assist, and has 25 carries into the penalty area, combined with a 57% dribble success rate. 

READ MORE: Angel City FC invest in the future — and in winning now — with No. 1 pick

On Tuesday night, the USWNT social media feeds generated some hype for today's announcement when it teased a video of a rostered player getting ready to set off to New Zealand with the squad for the tournament. The video, shot from a first-person perspective, had the suggested point of view of the 18-year-old Thompson. In the video, the unnamed player is texting her sister with excitement. Thompson has a notable sister, Gisele, who plays on the U.S. U21 women's national team. 

In terms of experience, nine players from the triumphant 2019 World Cup squad are back again. Included in that group is a cohort of veterans that also won the 2015 World Cup: Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, Julie Ertz, Alyssa Naeher, and Kelley O'Hara. 

Should the USA lift the 2023 World Cup, the quintet would join Brazilian men's legend Pelé as the only soccer players to ever win the World Cup three times. 

Andonovski and his players have one final warm-up match against Wales on July 9 in San Jose, Calif. Then, the USWNT will fly to New Zealand and continue preparations for the World Cup group stages. 

Group E action for the USA gets underway on July 21 against Vietnam, followed by a rematch of the 2019 World Cup final versus the Netherlands on July 26, and then finally a tilt with Portugal on August 1. 

Having won the two previous additions of the tournament, in Canada (2015) and France (2019), the number one ranked USA enters the 2023 edition as the heavy favorite to complete an unprecedented three-peat. The World Cup final will take place on August 20, at Stadium Australia, in Sydney.