USWNT 2024 Olympics roster power rankings: Jaedyn Shaw's rise can't be stopped as Korbin Albert tumbles after social media mess

While there are some position battles all over the field for the USWNT, there's no doubt who is taking at least one of those center-backs spots. Naomi Girma is indispensable for the USWNT and is totally locked into the starting XI.

She's one of the best defenders in the world and she's only 23. If healthy, she's in the line-up for the Olympics and for plenty of major tournaments after it - although it remains to be seen who her partner will be.

The current USWNT captain draws more criticism than she deserves, although her comments on the knowledge of American fans earlier this year didn't help. On the field, the matches since the World Cup have shown just how good Horan can be.

In October, she scored a stunning volley against Colombia, one that few in the world could hit. She followed it up with another goal in December, although it was a bit of a lucky one. Her Gold Cup performances, though, were where she truly shone, scoring three goals, including the winner in the final. During the SheBelieves Cup, she was on target once again from the spot.

It remains to be seen if Hayes keeps her as captain, but she's growing into the role, for sure.

Jaedyn Shaw has arrived, and she did it in style. No player in the pool has seen their stock rise like Shaw, who has almost certainly played herself into the Olympic squad. She was the Golden Ball winner at the Gold Cup, for goodness sake; she's already that good.

The old sentiment was that Shaw faces a lot of competition for a roster spot; the new one is that the competition is now facing Shaw. She's versatile enough to play all over the field and good enough to contribute wherever she does start. She's just 19, but Shaw is already a key USWNT player.

When healthy, Rose Lavelle may just be the USWNT's best player. The problem at the World Cup was that she just wasn't fully fit, at least at the start. She's played solid minutes since then, but has still been battling some injury issues to start the NWSL season. If she's fit, though, she'll be in Paris this summer.

After getting a taste of the biggest stage at the World Cup, it feels like Sophia Smith could be ready for a real breakout at the Olympics. She didn't score as much Down Under as many would have expected, but neither did the USWNT, to be fair.

She's had some struggles in front of goal since, too, and went scoreless through most of the Gold Cup. Her finish in the final against Canada, though, was massive. She went on to score two more against the same opponents in the SheBelieves Cup, showing that her confidence is all the way back.

Trinity Rodman has looked like a superstar at times since the World Cup and, at just 21, she's only just getting started. In the winter, she showed flashes, routinely beating defenders in spectacular fashion, while during the Gold Cup, she showed off more of the pure destruction she can create in the final third as well as some much-needed attitude to set the tone for this USWNT.

The World Cup felt like an introduction for Rodman, who admittedly did struggle a bit. All of that seems behind her, though, as she continues to blossom into an incredibly dynamic winger.

Emily Fox will be starting once the Olympics come around. She is such a steady, reliable presence from the full-back position, and she isn't being benched any time soon, especially after solid Gold Cup and SheBelieves Cup performances that saw her do a little bit of everything, as she always does in a USWNT shirt.

A catastrophic injury robbed Swanson of a place at the World Cup last year. Based on what we've seen since her return,, though, there's no stopping her now.

Swanson returned with authority during the SheBelieves Cup, putting in two fantastic displays on the wing. If there were any doubts about her fitness, they evaporated over these two games, and she is ready to be a contributor again.

The Chelsea star is totally unique in the USWNT pool. Her absence was felt at the World Cup and, if healthy, the U.S. will look vastly different with her involved.

The good news is that she is, in fact, healthy and scoring again for Chelsea, which bodes well for her going forward. Her appearance with the USWNT during the SheBelieves Cup was brief, but it was a step in the right direction.

With Hayes making the leap from Chelsea to the USWNT, Macario will certainly be involved if she can prove herself fit enough by this summer.

A 2019 World Cup and 2020 Olympic veteran, Tierna Davidson missed out on last summer's World Cup despite recovering in time from an ACL injury.

She's been back ever since, though, and one has to wonder if she would have started if she was at 100 percent. She was solid at the Gold Cup and looks like Girma's best partner. We'll have to see more of that duo given Girma's injury during the SheBelieves Cup, but that partnership surely has potential.

Alyssa Naeher was the No.1 at the World Cup, and there's no indication that she won't be back for the Olympics. The goalkeeper will be 36 when Paris 2024 rolls around, which means this will likely be her last global tournament. She was left out of the squad in December, but reclaimed her starting spot for almost the entirety of the Gold Cup and both SheBelieves Cup games.

This would be her third Olympics, and she'll hope it'll be the one she finally gets her hands on a gold medal after settling for bronze last time.

Emily Sonnett is so, so versatile, and when she has been on the field, she's been so, so good. Her move into midfield has definitely worked, and the matches since the World Cup showed just how much she can do to control the game against a strong opponent.

Sonnett also provides depth all over the backline, and with the smaller nature of Olympic squads, every roster spot matters, making her even more valuable.

One of the excluded players that definitely could have made a difference at the World Cup, Sam Coffey was called up in September, but failed to see the field.

She did get her chance in October, though, offering a glimpse into what she can add in the midfield. She then offered more than a glimpse in December, scoring a goal - to her own surprise - before stepping into a starting role at the Gold Cup. Her energy there was very, very welcome, even if there are concerns about how she'll fare against the world's elite.

She's in a fantastic club situation with Gotham FC and, as it stands, it looks like Crystal Dunn will remain the USWNT's go-to left-back.

Dunn can also play as a left-winger or midfielder, and maybe we'll get a look at her in the latter position soon. Regardless, her versatility makes her a key player on an 18-player Olympic roster.

After nearly two years out, Dahlkemper made her return in December, and she may just be back for good. After the Gold Cup, though, it seems she and Davidson are battling for a starting spot.

During that Gold Cup, she struggled to cope in th USWNT's bad, bad loss to Mexico. Would that have looked different with a faster, younger centerback in the mix? Almost certainly, but it still didn't help.

Dahlkemper adds some veteran experience to a team that may not have much of that next summer, and due to her relationship with Girma from club level, she may provide an answer at the second centerback spot if it comes down to it.

After a strong start to her professional career with Gotham FC, Nighswonger is also making quite an impression with the USWNT.

She earned her first start against China in December and didn't look out of place, showing her ability to go forward and put the ball into the box. She had an even bigger impact at the Gold Cup, scoring a penalty in the 5-0 opening win over the Dominican Republic before netting the second of three goals against Colombia in the knockouts. She only made a brief cameo off the bench in the SheBelieves Cup, though, which could be something to watch.

Can she win a starting spot? It'll be one of the storylines to keep an eye on.

Alex Morgan has played her way onto the bubble. For a while, that seemed impossible, but the veteran deserves credit for making it happen.

After being left off the initial Gold Cup roster, it seemed Morgan's time was over. An injury reopened the door, though, and she burst through it, using the tournament to show everything she can bring to the team. The pace isn't there like it used to be, but there's still so much Morgan can do.

As things stand, she may still be the best pure No.9 in the pool. The forward picture is overloaded, though, and Morgan will no doubt need a good start in the NWSL to stay in the mix, but it seems she's up for the challenge.

Albert made plenty of headlines during the break, but none for her play. Instead, it was her social media controversy that became the story of the SheBelieves Cup. Now, the big question is how she recovers from it.

Albert did get into both matches, coming on as a late substitute twice during the April matches. Still, prior to this mess, she looked like a potential starter. Now, there are questions about how she'll even fit into this team.

She has a lot of ground to make up off the field before she can worry about her spot on it. With the Olympics around the corner, it's a rough situation.

For the first half of the first game against China in December, it was crazy how good Krueger was. Starting at right-back, she ran up and down the field, creating havoc that led to chance after chance.

The 33-year-old defender was a member of the last Olympics squad and has long been one of the best at her position in the NWSL. As a more attack-minded fullback, she could be a real weapon in France.

It was so, so sad to see Sauerbrunn miss the World Cup, and at age 38, many felt that may have been her last chance at a major tournament. But what if it wasn't?

Sauerbrunn returned in the winter and looked like her old self, so might she have one more run in her? It seems so, and you have to wonder how good the U.S. can be with a partnership of Girma and Sauerbrunn marshaling the backline.

Casey Murphy started in goal for the second friendly against South Africa in September and the second friendly against Colombia in October, which was a good indication that she remains Naeher's primary backup. With Naeher out, she then started the first game against China in December, keeping a clean sheet in the process, but returned to her backup spot during the Gold Cup.

What will the goalkeeping picture look like under Hayes? It feels too soon to say for sure, but it seems that, at 27, Murphy is the heir apparent for when Naeher does end up calling it quits.

Olivia Moultrie may still be 18, but has been on everyone's radar for some time - it's what happens when you start a pro career before you can drive a car.

Moultrie, though, is closing in on becoming a USWNT regular. The Portland Thorns star impressed in her first few caps and then put on quite a show against the Dominican Republic to start the Gold Cup. We haven't seen much of her since, which is somewhat frustrating, but that was enough to make a good impression as she pushes for an Olympics spot.

USWNT fans wondered why Williams didn't play a bigger role at the World Cup, but, if September was any indication, she's ready for a bigger role at the Olympics. Williams was fantastic in the first game against South Africa, offering a glimpse into what might have been. She featured a bit more sparingly in the matches after, but she's very much still in the mix.

At 30, Williams would represent the veteran option among some of the younger attackers on this list, which will be a tough decision to make considering how good those younger names are.

A stunning inclusion in the World Cup squad, DeMelo then surprisingly played significant minutes at last summer's tournament. Now, though, she's battling for her place in midfield.

The Racing Louisville star brings an attacking mindset to the midfield group, and at just 25, she really is just getting started with the USWNT. She may be the best like-for-like Lavelle replacement in the pool but, with Lavelle healthy, that may not be as necessary.

Her exclusion from the Gold Cup and SheBelieves Cup rosters indicates where she is right now: on the bubble.

Cook was one of only three squad members not to get on the field at the World Cup, which was stunning considering the team's issues at centerback. Cook has had some down moments in a USWNT shirt, but she can also be a steady, reliable defender on her day, as evidenced by her performances in October.

She'll be 27 when the Olympics start, just entering her prime, and could legitimately play her way back into the starting XI next to Girma heading towards that tournament. However, her pre-Gold Cup injury robbed her of a big chance to make her case.

Jane Campbell is in a tough spot as the third goalkeeper in line ahead of a competition where you only carry two. Still, not all hope is lost, as the reigning NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year could very well find herself in the squad next summer if she starts the season on a tear or, more likely, if there's an injury to one of the two in front of her.

Swanson's injury made Thompson's ascendance happen sooner than expected. She's just 19 and now has a whole World Cup under her belt. The question, though, is if she's currently one of the five or so best forward options the USWNT can call upon.

In October, she made her case, providing a fantastic assist in the second Colombia friendly. She didn't get nearly enough game time in December, though, and missed out on both the Gold Cup and SheBelieves Cup due to injury.

She can go toe-to-toe with any of the other players in the attacking pool, but the timing of this tournament looks set to work against her.

While she may have been miscast a bit in Andonovski's system, Sullivan is still a helpful presence to have in midfield. Over the next year, the U.S. may flip their midfield personnel, and even if they don't, Sullivan is very much still in the mix as a more defensive presence.

She'll need to beat out some others, though, as there are a few players vying for spots in the center. Her exclusion from the most recent squads is proof that the USWNT midfield is seemingly evolving.

Eva Gaetino is a very new face on this list, having risen through the ranks thanks to her play at Paris Saint-Germain. Her club form got her into the mix for the SheBelieves Cup and, although she didn't play, that first call-up is a sign of her rise.

Just 21 years old and only a few months into her professional career, Gaetino still has a long way to go. She has already scored in the Champions League, though, with her goal against Hacken making her the youngest American to score in that competition.

To sum it all up, Gaetino is one to watch, although these Olympics may just be a bit too soon for her.

Huerta's ability on the ball has kept her in the mix for an Olympic spot. Her ability to cross is a legitimate weapon, but we don't yet know how much Hayes will value that weapon.

At 31, she is very much still in her prime, but with roster spots limited, it remains to be seen how many full-backs the USWNT can really carry, particularly with others rising to the occasion.

Another World Cup veteran, and another player whose role wasn't very big this past summer was Sanchez, who didn't see the field Down Under. So, what does that mean going forward?

She's another player that has remained in the player pool and, at just 25, she'll keep getting better. However, right now, she's a player caught between generations as the old guard hangs on for one more go before a series of young stars take center stage, if they haven't already.

Twenty-five-year-old defender M.A. Vignola is a bit of a late bloomer after foregoing the NWSL to initially begin her career overseas.

Now back in the U.S. with Angel City, Vignola is making a name for herself and earned her first cap during the September camp. She was back in October and December, but didn't see the field before missing out on the Gold Cup and SheBelieves Cup altogether. Don't write her off, though, as there are still some places to fight for at fullback.

Ashley Hatch fell just short of a World Cup spot as she just couldn't quite score the goals needed with the USWNT to force her way in. Hatch is an NWSL Golden Boot winner, though, and she's still around the team, having been called up plenty to close 2023.

If she's scoring during the 2024 NWSL season, she will have to come into consideration.

Kelley O'Hara hasn't officially said goodbye yet, so there's a chance she could be the veteran face in the Olympic squad. She featured three times off the bench at the World Cup, proving that she could still play.

An Olympic run seems unlikely for the 35-year-old, but stranger things have happened with this team.

The third goalkeeper at the World Cup, Kingsbury has been left out of the squad since December, having seemingly been surpassed by Campbell. Because of that, it's tough to see her making a run at the Olympics, particularly with roster spots at a premium.

Young Ajax star Lily Yohannes was a shocking call-up for the SheBelieves Cup. Even though she didn't see the field, her call-up was a big deal.

She's also eligible for the Dutch national team, so giving her this taste of life with the USWNT could be key in keeping her with the program. By joining the team, she became the youngest player to be called in since 16-year-old Sophia Smith joined the squad back in 2017.

This won't be Yohannes' last call-up, and she seems like a player who will be properly integrated post-Olympics.

It looked like her time, but Fishel's Olympic dream is over. Her ACL injury will keep her out for some time, which is a real shame considering how close she was to a starting spot. It really felt like the Gold Cup could have been her moment, particularly with Morgan originally left out of the team.

She'll be back in 2025, and the hope is that she'll have her big breakout when healthy.

Another heartbreaking injury. Purce had been shining for club and country in recent months before blowing out her ACL with Gotham FC. It's a horrible setback for a very good player, one that looked like she had a shot at an Olympic spot. She'll be out for a while now, which feels totally unfair given the form she was in.