Where does Jaedyn Shaw fit? How gold medal-winning USWNT could line up at the 2027 World Cup

Could Alyssa Naeher stick around through 2027? Sure. Will she? It's hard to imagine.

Naeher will be 39 by the time the next World Cup rolls around, so it's safe to assume that, before then, she'll have passed the torch. Murphy, 28, looks set to take on the No. 1 spot, having waited in the wings as backup for some time. It's a role Naeher broke out of after years in Hope Solo's shadow - can Murphy do the same?

It looked like this would be Nighswonger's big summer, but it wasn't to be. Crystal Dunn held down that left-back spot for one more tournament, leaving Nighswonger to a super-sub role.

Nighswonger's time is coming, though. Dunn is 32 and Nighswonger is nine years her junior. The young fullback is certainly on the rise, making her the favorite for that role for a long time.

We won't even waste time on this one. If she's healthy, Girma starts for the next decade. The 24-year-old is probably the best defender in the world. End of story.

This spot is a bit more open but, for now, it goes to Davidson. Determining Girma's partner was one of the big challenges leading up to the Olympics and, despite injury issues, Davidson did well in France.

There are up-and-comers like Sam Staab and Emily Sams, but, for now, the job is Davidson's as she enters her prime just in time for the next World Cup.

We could go for a big swing and pick Gisele Thompson for this spot, but we still need to see a few more years of development from the 18-year-old Angel City starlet.

Fox, 26, has one hell of a track record. She isn't fantastic on the ball, but she's so, so good at just about everything else. She's a reliable piece to the USWNT puzzle, and she'll remain so this cycle.

She'll be 33 by the next World Cup, but the USWNT's captain isn't going anywhere. Even if she isn't a starter, Horan will almost certainly still be a core part of the team, especially her leadership.

Horan is such a unique player in this team, one that isn't easily replicated. She is an incredible leader and remains one of the best passers on the national team. She wasn't at her very best at the Olympics but was still key to the USWNT's gold medal push.

Her spot is far from secure but, for now, we'll stick with Coffey as the No. 6. She's a strong defensive midfielder, particularly if Hayes is going to be changing formations. Coffey knows her role and plays it well, which is an asset to any team.

If there is more asked of Coffey, that's where things could get complicated. Yet, with a lack of real defensive midfielders in the pipeline right now compared to attacking ones, someone will need to stay back and protect. That person might just be Coffey.

It wasn't quite her summer. Unlucky. Shaw's time is coming, though.

For most of the past year, the 19-year-old looked like the star of the present and future. Injuries prevented that from really taking off at the Olympics but, make no mistake, Shaw's potential is limitless. It's going to be hard to keep her out of the XI going forward, although there are questions about where to put her on the pitch.

Those questions could open the door for Catarina Macario at this spot. Shaw will have to remain healthy to show what he can do in a No. 10 role.

Swanson is back and better than ever and, at just 26, her best days are ahead, too.

Her absence was felt at the last World Cup and her return made all the difference at the Olympics. Her chemistry with those around her makes her so, so valuable, which is why she's likely to hold down this spot in the XI going forward.

After a difficult 2023 World Cup, Smith was fantastic in the Olympics, proving the perfect fit in attack. Hayes showed a lot of trust in this unit by leaving Alex Morgan off the roster, but Smith helped ensure that trust was repaid.

At just 24 years old, she’s still young, leaving plenty of room for one of the world’s most dynamic forwards to keep improving.

You guessed it... the third member of Triple Espresso.

Rodman's ceiling might be unmatched, as the USWNT winger has all the talent in the world at her disposal. Her teammates have hailed her attitude, too. Rodman can legitimately become world-class over the next few years - if she isn't already.

This XI is wildly similar to the Olympic team, and that's by design. By and large, there won't be many changes, although a few young stars can push their way into the XI over the coming years.

We mentioned Gisele Thompson, but her sister Alyssa could be in the mix, too, after already getting World Cup experience in 2023. Olivia Moultrie is a rising USWNT star in midfield, one who looks poised for a bigger role going forward. Lily Yohannes, meanwhile, might just be the most talented youngster of the bunch, and she's just 17.

A new generation took over this summer, but it already looks as if there's another coming up behind them. The pipeline is strong, and, if this summer taught us anything, it's that much can change in a very short period of time.