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<p>This summer, the U.S. women's national team will aim to do what no team has ever done before and win a third successive Women's World Cup title.</p><p>However, things have not been easy for the world champion in recent times, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/uswnt-germany-third-successive-defeat-end-71-match-home-unbeaten-run/blt7597480d91f5cbed" target="_blank">with defeats to England, Spain and Germany in the latter months of 2022 showing the growth of women's soccer in Europe</a>.</p><p>This is still a team packed with talent, though, and there will be high expectations on head coach Vlatko Andonovski at his first World Cup tournament despite recent struggles.</p><p>So, who has trusted to deliver on the big stage and handle the pressure that comes with playing for the USWNT?</p><p><strong>GOAL</strong> breaks down Andonovski's 23-player World Cup squad...</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

USWNT Women's World Cup 2023 roster: Who is Vlatko Andonovski taking to Australia & New Zealand?

<p>It was expected that the most predictable department on this roster would concern the goalkeepers.</p><p>Alyssa Naeher, Casey Murphy and Adrianna Franch is the trio Andonovski has selected for the USWNT's last four camps. However, Aubrey Kingsbury has surprinsingly made the cut instead, at the expense of Franch.</p><p>Naeher and Murphy should compete hard for the starting spot and possibly rotate in the tournament, though it is anticipated that the former will be the team's No.1.</p><table><thead><tr><th>Name</th><th>Club</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Aubrey Kingsbury</td><td>Washington Spirit</td></tr><tr><td>Casey Murphy</td><td>North Carolina Courage</td></tr><tr><td>Alyssa Naeher</td><td>Chicago Red Stars</td></tr></tbody></table>

GOALKEEPERS

<p>There is a lot of experience and quality in the USWNT's defensive options but the team will be without its biggest leader in New Zealand - <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/news/uswnt-captain-becky-sauerbrunn-miss-world-cup-through-injury/bltee0d16831e80b987" target="_blank">captain Becky Sauerbrunn ruled out through injury in June</a>.</p><p>Naomi Girma and Alana Cook should be the center-back partnership, then, with Emily Fox, Crystal Dunn and Sofia Huerta competing to complete the back four.</p><p>Kelley O'Hara and Emily Sonnett, meanwhile, are both back from recent injuries and provide similar depth and versatility.</p><table><thead><tr><th>Name</th><th>Club</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Alana Cook</td><td>OL Reign</td></tr><tr><td>Crystal Dunn</td><td>Portland Thorns</td></tr><tr><td>Emily Fox</td><td>North Carolina Courage</td></tr><tr><td>Naomi Girma</td><td>San Diego Wave</td></tr><tr><td>Sofia Huerta</td><td>OL Reign</td></tr><tr><td>Kelley O'Hara</td><td>Gotham</td></tr><tr><td>Emily Sonnett</td><td>OL Reign</td></tr></tbody></table>

DEFENDERS

<p>There have been a lot of questions surrounding the USWNT's midfield - particularly its base, with Julie Ertz having been out for a while as she became a mother for the first time. She returned in April, though, and is now set to head to her third World Cup.</p><p>Andi Sullivan is another option in that deeper role, one that Rose Lavelle - <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/news/uswnt-rose-lavelle-setback-injury-two-months-2023-women-s-world-cup/blt02f754f051ae979b" target="_blank">in the 23 despite a recent injury problem</a> - has also played.</p><p>Lyon's Lindsey Horan and Ashley Sanchez, Sullivan's Washington Spirit team-mate, are on the roster as expected, with Kristie Mewis also making the cut.</p><p>One of the big surprises is the inclusion of Savannah DeMelo. The Racing Louisville star is in good form but had not been called up since November and is yet to make her USWNT debut.</p><p><a href="https://www.goal.com/en/news/catarina-macario-uswnt-star-confirms-acl-injury-rule-her-out-women-s-world-cup/bltaa5e2887a7056504" target="_blank">Catarina Macario is a notable absentee due to injury</a>.</p><table><thead><tr><th>Name</th><th>Club</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Savannah DeMelo</td><td>Racing Louisville</td></tr><tr><td>Julie Ertz</td><td>Angel City</td></tr><tr><td>Lindsey Horan</td><td>Lyon</td></tr><tr><td>Rose Lavelle</td><td>OL Reign</td></tr><tr><td>Kristie Mewis</td><td>Gotham</td></tr><tr><td>Ashley Sanchez</td><td>Washington Spirit</td></tr><tr><td>Andi Sullivan</td><td>Washington Spirit</td></tr></tbody></table>

MIDFIELDERS

<p>The strength in depth that the USWNT has right now in the forward areas is <em>insane</em>.</p><p><a href="https://www.goal.com/en/news/swanson-uswnt-injury-update-surgery/blte84e00427f133f0f" target="_blank">Sadly, they will be without Mallory Swanson after the in-form forward was carted off with a knee injury in April</a> but this roster still has plenty of firepower, including the 2022 NWSL season's MVP, Sophia Smith, and Golden Boot winner, Alex Morgan.</p><p>Trinity Rodman, one of the most exciting young talents in world football, could take on a bigger role in Swanson's absence. Or perhaps it will be an experienced head like Megan Rapinoe that will be called upon more by Andonovski as a result.</p><p>Rounding out the forward pool are Lynn Williams, who returned in January and has shown good form since, and Alysssa Thompson, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/news/rapinoe-lauds-uswnt-thompson-after-debut-england-wembley/blt439193cb509352b5" target="_blank">the 18-year-old who only made her debut last October</a>. She, too, has been playing brilliantly in the NWSL after being selected first overall in January's draft.</p><table><thead><tr><th>Name</th><th>Club</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Alex Morgan</td><td>San Diego Wave</td></tr><tr><td>Megan Rapinoe</td><td>OL Reign</td></tr><tr><td>Trinity Rodman</td><td>Washington Spirit</td></tr><tr><td>Sophia Smith</td><td>Portland Thorns</td></tr><tr><td>Alyssa Thompson</td><td>Angel City</td></tr><tr><td>Lynn Williams</td><td>Gotham</td></tr></tbody></table>

FORWARDS

<p>Andonovski's USWNT will continue in a 4-3-3 set-up, with <strong>Naeher</strong> likely to take the starting spot in goal.</p><p>With Sauerbrunn out, <strong>Girma </strong>and <strong>Cook</strong> will take the two center-back spots. There are three players vying for two spots when it comes to the outside backs. <strong>Dunn</strong> should start on the left, while <strong>Fox</strong> could edge out Huerta on the opposite flank.</p><p>A trio of <strong>Sullivan</strong>, <strong>Horan</strong> and <strong>Lavelle</strong> feels like a likely combination in midfield, though it is the most intriguing and debatable area of the line-up.</p><p>The forward line is tough to call, too, with <strong>Morgan</strong> to lead the line, <strong>Rodman </strong>to start on the left and <strong>Smith</strong> to operate from the right a possibility.</p><p><em>USWNT XI (4-3-3)</em>: Naeher; Fox, Girma, Cook, Dunn; Sullivan, Horan, Lavelle; Smith, Morgan, Rodman.</p>

EXPECTED XI

<p>Where to start when it comes to the USWNT's injuries?</p><p>As the team's captain, Sauerbrunn is a huge absentee. A two-time World Cup winner, the experienced center-back is key to the team's spine and her off-the-pitch qualities are highlighted by her role as skipper.</p><p>Swanson is another huge miss, having proven to be the USWNT's more reliable goalscorer for the start of 2023. <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/news/catarina-macario-uswnt-star-confirms-acl-injury-rule-her-out-women-s-world-cup/bltaa5e2887a7056504" target="_blank">Macario's recent confirmation that she will miss the tournament is just as big a blow</a>. She might not have played for her country recently, having tore her ACL last June, but she is a generational talent and for the U.S. to be without there is a hit to their hopes of a third World Cup title in a row.</p><p>As for some of the longer time absentees, defender Abby Dahlkemper underwent surgery in November and, while she has since provided a positive update, there is no timeline as for when she will be back on the pitch.</p><p>There is no indication as to when Tobin Heath will be back playing, either. <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/why-did-things-not-work-out-for-uswnt-star-tobin-heath-at-arsenal/blt454e1d7f302882b3" target="_blank">After an injury-plagued spell at Arsenal</a>, she moved back to the U.S. to join OL Reign and had knee surgery in September. <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/uswnt-boss-andonovski-explains-rapinoe-return-and-press-absence-ahead-of-concacaf-w-championship/blt16a52f702654d95c" target="_blank">The same goes for Christen Press, who has been out with an ACL injury since June 2022</a>. </p><p>Sam Mewis, meanwhile, has not featured for club or country since August 2021. The midfielder has been suffering with a knee problem that needed a second surgery in January 2023.</p><p>As for those available but not selected, Adrianna Franch, Tierna Davidson and Ashley Hatch are among the notable names that did not make the cut. Midge Purce hasn't played since April due to a hip injury.</p><table><thead><tr><th>Name</th><th>Club</th><th>Reason</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Abby Dahlkemper</td><td>San Diego Wave</td><td>Injury</td></tr><tr><td>Tierna Davidson</td><td>Chicago Red Stars</td><td>Not selected</td></tr><tr><td>Adrianna Franch</td><td>Kansas City Current</td><td>Not selected</td></tr><tr><td>Ashley Hatch</td><td>Washington Spirit</td><td>Not selected</td></tr><tr><td>Tobin Heath</td><td>OL Reign</td><td>Injury</td></tr><tr><td>Catarina Macario</td><td>Lyon</td><td>Injury</td></tr><tr><td>Sam Mewis</td><td>Kansas City Current</td><td>Injury</td></tr><tr><td>Christen Press</td><td>Angel City</td><td>Injury</td></tr><tr><td>Midge Purce</td><td>Gotham</td><td>Injury</td></tr><tr><td>Becky Sauerbrunn</td><td>Portland Thorns</td><td>Injury</td></tr><tr><td>Mallory Swanson</td><td>Chicago Red Stars</td><td>Injury</td></tr></tbody></table>

NOTABLE ABSENTEES

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