Biggest Surprises and Snubs of the USWNT 2023 World Cup Roster

Coach Vlatko Andonovski’s squad features a mix of mainstays and unexpected additions, with some top talent just missing the cut.

One month out from the official start, the U.S. women’s national team has solidified its roster for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. On Wednesday, coach Vlatko Andonovski revealed the 23 players that will make the trip Down Under to Australia and New Zealand for the tournament, putting an end to months of speculation.

As with most USWNT roster announcements, Andonovski’s 2023 World Cup team features a mix of mainstays and unexpected additions, with some top talent left on the outside looking in, just missing the cut.

Here are the biggest surprises and snubs of the USWNT 2023 World Cup roster.

Full USWNT World Cup Roster

Goalkeepers: Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage), Aubrey Kingsbury (Washington Spirit)

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 (NJ/NY Gotham), Emily Sonnett (OL Reign)

Midfielders: Savannah DeMelo (Racing Louisville), Julie Ertz (Angel City), Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon), Rose Lavelle (OL Reign), Kristie Mewis (NJ/NY Gotham), Ashley Sanchez (Washington Spirit), Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit)

Forwards: Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave), Megan Rapinoe (OL Reign), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns), Alyssa Thompson (Angel City), Lynn Williams (NJ/NY Gotham)

Surprises

Savannah DeMelo

Despite having zero caps with the senior national team, DeMelo sneaked onto Andonovski’s roster. The 25-year-old essentially dared the USWNT coaching staff to leave her home, putting on an impressive performance to start the 2023 NWSL season, logging five goals and two assists through 11 matches for Racing Louisville. DeMelo has quickly emerged as one of the most in-form U.S. players.

“Her performance in the league is one of the biggest reasons why she is on the team,” said Andonovski. “We see Sav being very important for us going forward.”

While she has yet to make her first appearance with the squad, DeMelo is no stranger to the USWNT environment. Andonovski called the midfielder up for the September and October camps while he was looking to add depth to the No. 6 position, with Julie Ertz out following the Tokyo Olympics after welcoming her first child with husband, Zach Ertz, in August 2022. DeMelo not only adds another goalscoring threat to the midfield but also provides the team with a defensive presence down the spine of the pitch.

Alyssa Thompson

At just 18 years old, Thompson will make her World Cup debut, becoming the second-youngest player to represent the U.S. at the tournament. The No. 1 pick in the 2023 NWSL draft, Thompson is no stranger to the hype—and has thus far lived up to the sky-high expectations. She has three goals (tied for team-high) and one assist to start her rookie campaign with Angel City FC and has proved herself to be lethal in the final third. With Mallory Swanson and Catarina Macario out due to injury, Andonovski needed to bulk up his front line with a burst of youthful energy, and that’s just what Thompson provides.

Aubrey Kingsbury

Kingsbury fell out of the USWNT goalkeeper pool leading up to the World Cup, failing to register a national team call-up in 2023. However, the 31-year-old’s recent NWSL campaign earned her a spot, notching a 73.3 save percentage for the Washington Spirit. Kingsbury also has two NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year awards to her name (’19, ’21) and has one cap with the USWNT, in April ’22 in the form of a 9–0 rout of Uzbekistan. Kingsbury will slot in behind longtime starting goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher and next-up Casey Murphy, rounding out the U.S. World Cup keeper pool.

Snubs

Ashley Hatch

The Spirit striker has been around the USWNT for a while now, making her debut with the group in 2016. Hatch has 19 caps with the senior national team, most of those coming under Andonovski, logging five goals and one assist. The 28-year-old’s breakout year came in ’21, when Hatch led Washington to an NWSL title, clinching the league’s Golden Boot that same season.

Despite appearing in five games and scoring one goal with the USWNT this year, Hatch won’t be making the trip to Australia and New Zealand. While Hatch served as a backup for Morgan as another true No. 9, Andonovski said most forwards on the roster play the No. 9 position for their clubs and that “we’re not worried about having someone to step in and do well if needed.”

Adrianna “A.D.” Franch

Franch was included in the USWNT’s past two major tournaments (the 2019 World Cup and ’20 Summer Games). The 32-year-old has critical big game experience, subbing on when Naeher exited the semifinals of the Tokyo Olympics with an injury, before going on to start in the bronze medal match. After a stellar ’22 NWSL season, which included an appearance in the league title game, Franch began receiving consistent call-ups from Andonovski and the USWNT, seemingly foreshadowing a trip to the World Cup. However, with limited space on the goalkeeping line-up, and with Kingsbury in elite form, Franch narrowly missed Andonovski’s World Cup roster.

Casey Krueger

Krueger’s absence from the World Cup roster isn’t totally surprising given that she’s been working her way to get back after giving birth in July. However, the Red Stars defender has been putting in solid minutes with the NWSL club and has had an impressive start to the season. She is one of the most tried and true defenders in the league and in the USWNT pool—an excellent one-vs.-one player and a stalwart on the back line. Andonovski instead opted for Emily Sonnett, who can also play in the center and on the flanks and has been to a World Cup before.