The most familiar names - Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, Julie Ertz - are on the U.S. roster once again. But this World Cup is as much about the U.S. women’s newcomers as it is their established stars. This will be the first major international tournament for Sophia Smith, Naomi Girma, Trinity Rodman and Alyssa Thompson, players who will be the faces and forces of the USWNT for the next decade or more. How the USWNT fares in Australia and New Zealand and whether it becomes the first team to win three consecutive titles, will depend on whether this new generation is as good as advertised. And whether they’ve absorbed the lessons and the legacy established by those who came before them. 

The most familiar names - Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, Julie Ertz - are on the U.S. roster once again.

But this World Cup is as much about the U.S. women’s newcomers as it is their established stars. This will be the first major international tournament for Sophia Smith, Naomi Girma, Trinity Rodman and Alyssa Thompson, players who will be the faces and forces of the USWNT for the next decade or more. 

But this World Cup is as much about the U.S. women’s newcomers as it is their established stars. This will be the first major international tournament for Sophia Smith, Naomi Girma, Trinity Rodman and Alyssa Thompson, players who will be the faces and forces of the USWNT for the next decade or more. How the USWNT fares in Australia and New Zealand and whether it becomes the first team to win three consecutive titles, will depend on whether this new generation is as good as advertised. And whether they’ve absorbed the lessons and the legacy established by those who came before them. 

How the USWNT fares in Australia and New Zealand, and whether it becomes the first team to win three consecutive titles, will depend on whether this new generation is as good as advertised.

And whether those players have absorbed the lessons and the legacy established by those who came before them. 

Looking for the next big thing in US Soccer? Sophia Smith is it. Last year, the 22-year-old became the youngest player to lead the USWNT in scoring since the OG Mia Hamm, racking up 11 goals in 17 games. Smith also won US Soccer Player of the Year and was the NWSL’s MVP.

Yes, Trinity Rodman’s dad is THAT Rodman, but the forward has made a name all for herself. She’s already got a highlight reel’s worth of goals in NWSL play, and she’s a creator for her teammates on the USWNT.

She was a finalist for the prestigious Ballon d’Or before her 21st birthday, and there are sure to be more accolades like that in her future.

Good luck trying to get anything past Naomi Girma. In only her second year with the USWNT, and in the NWSL, Girma has established herself as one of the world’s best defenders. She was the NWSL’s 2022 Defender of the Year and Rookie of the Year, the first time ever a player has won both those awards in the same year.

How good is Alyssa Thompson? Well, she’d already made multiple appearances with the USWNT before graduating from high school. She was the No. 1 pick in the NWSL draft this spring, and needed all of five minutes before she scored her first goal as a pro.