Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, Abby Wambach and the 25 best USWNT players of the 21st century so far - ranked

The star power of the USWNT shines bright, fueled by world champions, Olympic medalists, pop culture icons and record-breakers

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  25Shannon MacMillen

  A member of the famous '99ers, MacMillen's best season actually came in 2002, when she scored 17 times for the U.S. That goal haul earned her U.S. Soccer's Player of the Year.

  After debuting in 1993, MacMillen played all the way until 2006, finishing with 60 goals across 175 caps. She featured for the U.S. in Sydney in 2000 and at the 2003 World Cup, too, recovering from an ACL tear in just four months to feature in the latter tournament.

  A supersub for large stretches of her career, MacMillen is criminally underrated, but deserves to be here.

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  24Meghan Klingenberg

  She's still chugging along in the NWSL, cementing legendary status with the Portland Thorns. During her seven-year USWNT career, though, Klingenberg made a huge impact.

  A World Cup winner in 2015, Klingenberg was named to the FIFPro Women's World 11 that year, having earned her place among the best in the world. Her run wasn't as long as some of the others on this list but, when you earn that type of recognition, you've solidified your place as a true USWNT great.

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  23Crystal Dunn

  Fullback, winger, central midfielder - whatever you needed, Dunn could provide it.

  With 155 caps (and counting) on her resume, Dunn has a World Cup and two Olympic medals in her trophy cabinet, too. Her versatility was, at most times, a blessing and, at some, a curse, as she was asked to play a role rather than shine as much as she could in other spots on the field.

  Even so, Dunn has achieved legendary status as a player while also serving as a game-changing role model for Black players of all ages.

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  22Cindy Parlow Cone

  Some may know her as U.S. Soccer president now but, long before that, she was one hell of a player.

  The former midfielder scored 75 goals across her 158 caps, earning her place in the National Soccer Hall of Fame with her contributions on the field. Those included an Olympic Gold and World Cup in the 20th century, but Parlow Cone was a key figure right up until her retirement in 2006.

  All told, she's one of the most influential figures in modern American soccer as she continues to shape U.S. soccer from her current role.

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  21Ali Krieger

  The defender earned 108 caps during her 13-year USWNT career, representing at three World Cups. She won two of them, too, while earning numerous individual honors for her performances in big tournaments. Her best run undoubtedly came in 2015, when she started every game and held opponents scoreless for a record 540 consecutive minutes.

  Capable of playing either as a right-back or central defender, Krieger was a key player for the U.S. for a decade, providing leadership and stability to some of the USWNT's best teams.

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  20Rose Lavelle

  She burst onto the scene in 2019 and, by the time she wraps up, she could be higher up on this list.

  Injuries have limited Lavelle a bit in recent years, but her run with the U.S. so far speaks for itself. She was a key player in that 2019 World Cup run and in the most recent Olympic gold this summer, having established herself as one of the game's most dynamic midfielders. The U.S. is a much better team with Lavelle in it, and the good news is that she should be in it for a few more years.

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  19Sam Mewis

  Her run with the USWNT lasted just 83 caps across seven years, far fewer than some on this list, but there's no denying that Mewis, at her peak, was right there with the best in the world.

  A World Cup winner and an Olympic medalist, Mewis was U.S. Soccer's Player of the Year in 2020, joining some incredible company in winning that award. Shortly after, though, injuries began to take their toll. If health was on her side, she'd have been much higher on the list but, even without it, her impact particularly from 2017-20 was unmatched.

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  18Tiffany Milbrett

  A 2018 Hall of Famer, Milbrett did some of her best work before the turn of the century but, in those first few years of the 2000s, she was dominant. U.S. Soccer's Player of the Year in 2000 and 2001.

  Milbrett scored 68 of her 100 goals in the 20th century, but that still left 42 for the 21st. She still ranks among the USWNT's best in multiple offensive categories after playing in three World Cups, winning, of course, in 1999. Milbrett was overshadowed at points by some her more famous teammates but make no mistake: she was just as good.

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  17Lindsey Horan

  The USWNT's current captain is still writing her story and, and the chapters she's written so far are enough to earn legendary status.

  With 161 caps and 36 goals to her name and counting, Horan has bridged the gap between the USWNT and Europe, bringing a unique style of play to either side. After winning the World Cup in 2019, she captained the USWNT to an Olympic gold last summer while also collecting U.S. Soccer Player of the Year in 2021.

  Horan could still be a key piece by the time the 2027 World Cup rolls around. If so, she'll have rocketed up this list.

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  16Shannon Boxx

  Defensive midfielders are never given proper credit, but when you finish just behind Marta and Birgit Prinz in FIFA's World Player of the Year voting, you did something right.
  That's what Boxx did in 2005, finishing third in the competition that year. She generally finished first on a team level, though, winning three Olympic golds and a World Cup trophy throughout her 12-year USWNT career. Throughout most of her career, Boxx also battled Lupus, which didn't prevent her from becoming an all-time great and earning an induction into the Hall of Fame in 2022.

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  15Alyssa Naeher

  The USWNT's recently retired "Uncle" went out on a high note, only furthering her legacy in the final months of her national team career.

  Tasked with following another big-name goalkeeper, Naeher went on to make 115 appearances for the USWNT while winning two World Cups and a gold medal. For years, she was the best goalkeeper in CONCACAF and arguably one of the best in the world, and she saved her best run for last as he starred for the U.S. at the Olympics this summer.

  Naeher steps away having added to the legacy of that No. 1 shirt, and the U.S. won't be the same without her.

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  14Lauren Holiday

  One of the toughest players the USWNT ever had, on and off the field. A two-time Olympic gold medalist and a World Cup winner, Holiday was U.S. Soccer's Athlete of the Year in 2014, her second to last with the USWNT. Three years prior, she was named to the World Cup All-Star Team, despite the U.S. finishing second that year in Germany.

  In addition to her USWNT exploits, she was also the first player in NWSL history to have her jersey retired. That says something, doesn't it?

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  13Tobin Heath

  Perhaps the most talented player on the ball we've seen wear a USWNT shirt, Heath made magic whenever she had a chance to dribble.

  Blessed with incredible skill, Heath was an absolute weapon on the wing throughout her 181 caps, despite scoring only 36 goals. Heath was always looking to embarrass anyone in front of her, and she did so often at the highest levels imaginable. The 2016 Player of the Year, she won two Olympic golds and two World Cups and, to put it lightly, she always did it with style.

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  12Heather O'Reilly

  Few have ever worn the USWNT shirt as many times as O'Reilly but this isn't just about longevity. No, the former midfielder was really, really good.

  A three-time gold medalist, one-time World Cup winner and a Puskas Award nominee, O'Reilly did it all throughout her 231 USWNT caps. She's near the top of the leaderboard in assists, too, showing just how influential she was as a creative player. Her assist to Alex Morgan in the 2012 Olympic semifinal was almost certainly her most impactful pass, while her goal in the 2008 Olympics helped the U.S. upset Brazil in the semifinal round.

  Whether you're looking for quality or quantity, O'Reilly had it all.

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  11Becky Sauerbrunn

  For years, Sauerbrunn was ever-present. She was the rock in the USWNT defense, the heart and soul of a team that so often relied on her leadership and stability.

  She appeared for the U.S. as recently as this spring, despite her proper career highlight coming all the way back in 2015, when she played every minute en route to a World Cup win. Arguably the best defender the American game has seen, Sauerbrunn has made 219 appearances for the U.S., and is still in line for a proper send-off from the team.

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  10Julie Ertz

  She arrived as Julie Johnston in 2013. She left as Julie Ertz in 2013, having achieved legendary status.

  A two-time U.S. Soccer Player of the Year and a two-time FIFPRO Women's World XI selection, Ertz was the star of the USWNT spine for years, either as a midfielder or central defender. She played every minute of the 2015 World Cup, earning an All-Star Team selection and was once again a member of the 2019 World Cup squad.

  At her peak, Ertz was a force that could change games all over the field, and she remained that way right up until her final tournament in 2023.

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  9Brianna Scurry

  Scurry is a hard one to rank, largely because her career was split between the 20th and 21st centuries. The easiest way to put it? She was an icon in either century.

  Everyone knows her role in 1999, but she remained with the USWNT right up until 2008, featuring in four major tournaments this century. While players are often measured in medals, though, Scurry's impact is something much larger. Scurry kickstarted a run of incredible goalkeepers for the USWNT and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2017, having served as a trailblazer for fans all over the world during her time in a USWNT shirt.

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  8Christie Pearce

  Many USWNT fans will remember her as Christie Rampone. They'll also remember her for being a serial winner.

  Three Olympic gold medals and two World Cup trophies made up one heck of a resume. The defender played in five World Cups and four Olympics, and she never finished lower than third in any of them. The USWNT's third-most capped player with 311, Pearce was a key part of each of those runs, spanning generations to continue the USWNT's winning legacy.

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  7Hope Solo

  When it comes to the USWNT's goalkeeping record book, just about every mark has "Solo" next to it.

  Appearances, starts, wins, shutouts, longest undefeated streak - Solo did it all throughout her 16-year career. Widely viewed as the best goalkeeper in the world for stretches of that run, Solo won two World Cup Golden Gloves under the bright lights, winning one of those tournaments.

  Her national team career ended in controversy, but don't let that distract you from the fact that Solo was great. Not good - great.

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  6Kristine Lilly

  When your career spans four decades, it's because you were nothing short of incredible. That's one way to describe Lilly, for sure.

  After debuting in 1987, Lilly was with the U.S. all the way through 2010, amassing 354 caps and 130 goals. She is the most-capped player in history, on the men's or women's side, and her 130 international goals are fourth all-time for the USWNT.

  With two Olympic medals and two World Cup appearances in the 21st century, this list doesn't account for what was certainly her prime. The fact that she's this high, though, shows just how good she was even in the final decade of her career.

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  5Megan Rapinoe

  She's not the top player on this list, but she's the most iconic. For a generation of fans, Rapineo was the face of the USWNT, both due to her off-field impact and the on-field memories she created.

  Her off-field work speaks for itself, so we'll just focus on the field. She won the Ballon d'Or and FIFA's Best Women's Player award in 2019 after claiming the World Cup's Golden Boot and Golden Ball during the USWNT's triumphant run. It was a run of dominance unlike any the USWNT had seen, and Rapinoe always made sure to let the rest of the world know she was doing it, too.

  She was never shy about much of anything and never backed down, which is why her legacy is defined by her impact just as much as her goals or assists.

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  4Carli Lloyd

  How good was Carli Lloyd? Where do you even begin? Is it the World Cup final hat-trick against Japan? Probably. It was perhaps the biggest big-game performance the women's game has ever seen, but one of many Lloyd put forth during her 316-cap USWNT career.

  She received the Golden Boot for her role at the 2015 World Cup while reaching plenty of heights even outside of that brief moment in time. From start to finish, Lloyd was a force of nature on the field, and will always be remembered as a player who could put the USWNT on her back at just about any time - and she did so often in the biggest moments.

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  3Alex Morgan

  She emerged as the USWNT's Baby Horse, and she left as its fifth-highest goalscorer. That's Alex Morgan for ya.

  Throughout her 14-year USWNT career, Morgan was the face of American soccer for many, making nearly as many waves off the field as she did on it. After becoming the youngest player on the 2011 World Cup roster, Morgan properly broke through one year later, scoring 28 goals while providing 21 assists in 2012 as the U.S. collected a gold medal. She was named to the Best XI for both the 2015 and 2019 World Cup triumphs, too, proving herself as a player more than capable of leading the line under the bright lights.

  Morgan stepped away from the game this fall, having scored 123 goals across 224 USWNT appearances to etch her name in this team's illustrious history.

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  2Mia Hamm

  Despite playing 13 of her 17 years before the cutoff date, Hamm is still this high on the list. That's how you know how good she was.

  Hamm began the 2000s as the women's game's most famous player, and she didn't slow down from there. She scored five times during the 2000 Olympics, five more at the 2003 World Cup and six more times at the 2004 Olympics to help the USWNT capture gold. It was an absolutely ridiculous run, one that led to her claiming FIFA World Player of the Year in 2001 and 2002.

  She's unquestionably the USWNT's GOAT. However, when looking at just the 21st century, there's a player that finishes just ahead of her.

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  1Abby Wambach

  She's the USWNT's all-time top goalscorer, a six-time U.S. Soccer Player of the Year, the 2012 FIFA World Player of the Year, a World Cup winner and a two-time Olympic gold medalist.

  And, since you've made it this far, Abby Wambach is also the USWNT's best player of the 21st century.

  Her resume is unmatched, particularly on an individual level. With 184 caps in 255 games, Wambach wasn't just a compiler. No, her goal rate was actually incredible, including in major tournaments in which she scored 22 goals in 30 games across five competitions. If the U.S. needed a goal, Wambach always provided it - and they got their hands on plenty of trophies thanks to Wambach's feet and, at times, head.

  Because of that, Wambach has earned this spot. She's the USWNT's best 21st-century player... at least so far.