Sarina Wiegman, Laura Harvey and the potential candidates to take over as USWNT coach following Vlatko Andonovski's resignation

Probably the best coach in the women's game right now, but also a hire that is essentially a pipedream. Sarina Wiegman is set to lead England into the country's first Women's World Cup final on Sunday, having already won back-to-back European Championships and taken her native Netherlands to the 2019 World Cup final.

Her contract with England runs through 2025 and, with the Olympics just around the corner, is there really any reason for her to leave? The answer is 'probably not', but U.S. Soccer will almost certainly make the call to check just in case.

Probably the most natural hire the USWNT could make, Laura Harvey has coached the U.S. at U20, U23 and senior level, and has worked with Sophia Smith, Trinity Rodman and Naomi Girma during their rises to the top of the game.

Harvey, of course, is close with Andonovski, having worked with him and competed against him, so there could be concern about having too much continuity after a poor World Cup. Her time with OL Reign, though, has proved she's a fantastic coach, and she's already come out and hinted that she'd be interested in the role if offered.

"The U.S. women's national team is probably the top job in the world," she said. "If my name is anywhere near it, that's an honor. But first and foremost, my priority is the Reign." 

Tony Gustavsson led hosts Australia on a magical run through the World Cup, so his stock has never been higher. And, given his USWNT history, he may be the perfect fit.

Gustavsson previously served as an assistant under Jill Ellis from 2014-19 before returning to his native Sweden when Andonovski was hired. In 2020, he took over the Matildas and led them on a fantastic run to the semi-finals of this World Cup after finishing fourth at the Olympics in 2021.

He's another one that may not want to leave a good situation with the Olympics looming and his results with Australia, until this summer, were possibly a bit too inconsistent to overlook. Ellis, though, has already backed him, telling ESPN: "He should definitely be a strong candidate for the job."

One of the top coaches at club level in the women's game, could Emma Hayes be tempted by the biggest job at international level?

Hayes has been the Women's Super League's best coach for years, winning the Manager of the Season award six times, as well as The Best FIFA Football Coach in 2021. She also has a history in the U.S., having previously coached Long Island and Iona at the college level, before managing the Chicago Red Stars in the NWSL.

Prying her away from Chelsea may be impossible, but the USWNT job is one of the few in the world that may be better than coaching the Blues.

Lorne Donaldson has worked wonders with Jamaica, and though he may not be the big name the USWNT are looking for, he deserves consideration

He has a history in the U.S., having coached both Mallory Swanson and Sophia Smith during their youth careers and, given the USWNT's struggles in attack, that makes him a good option. Plus he faces an uncertain future with Jamaica, as their federation looks to figure out a plan going forward after the World Cup.

Of the coaches listed, he has the fewest accolades to his name, but you can't deny how well-coached Jamaica looked at the World Cup this summer.

Another Ellis connection, as Casey Stoney works under the ex-USWNT boss as head coach of the San Diego Wave, where she was named NWSL Coach of the Year in 2022.

Prior to that, she won the WSL with Manchester United, which certainly gives her the resume needed to push for this job. Having found success in two of the world's top leagues, there's no doubt that Stoney, at just 41, is already a heck of a coach.

She doesn't have coaching experience at international level, though, and she may not be interested in leaving the project being built in San Diego. Even so, she's a candidate.

A big look to the past, but there's no denying what Pia Sundhage accomplished with the USWNT. She won two Olympic golds with the U.S., but was unable to capture a World Cup before leaving for the Sweden job in 2012. She spent this past cycle with Brazil, suffering an early and disappointing exit at this summer's World Cup.

Could she return to the USWNT? Would she want to? Would U.S. Soccer want her to as they look to usher in a new era? The answer for all of this is almost certainly no, but hey, stranger things have happened.

Her name is already all over this list, which make you wonder: is there any way Ellis would want to come back?

Once again, it all feels unlikely. She stepped away from the team back in 2019 on a high fresh off a World Cup win, but you also have to remember that, at the time, many USWNT fans weren't too upset to see her leave. There was this growing discussion that Ellis, despite her success, wasn't the right coach, although knowing what we know now, her tenure is looked at significantly more favorably these days.

Is there any reason for her to leave her jobs as San Diego Wave president and U.S. Soccer ambassador to jump back into the hot seat? Not really, but, once again, it's an interesting thought, especially if the U.S. is targeting someone else post-Olympics with Ellis as a possible stopgap until that time.