Alyssa Thompson, 18, was among 23 players selected Wednesday for the United States team that will defend its title at the Women’s World Cup next month.
Thompson, who has been impressive this season as a rookie for Angel City in the National Women’s Soccer League, joins veterans Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe on manager Vlatko Andonovski’s shortlist.
“We want to do something that has never been done before. We believe in the quality of the team and the support we have and we believe we have what it takes to make it happen,” Andonovski said of the chance to win a third consecutive World Cup. cup title.
Alyssa Thompson #28 of the United States moving with the ball during an international friendly match between Ireland and the United States at CITYPARK on April 11, 2023 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Robin Alam/ISI Photos/Getty Images))
The players were introduced with a star-studded social media post that included President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, Taylor Swift, Lil Wayne and Megan Thee Stallion.
Alex Morgan #13 of the United States reacts during the first half of the women’s international friendly match against Germany at DRV PNK Stadium on November 10, 2022 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Eric Espada/Getty Images)
Morgan, 33, and Rapinoe, 37, will make their fourth World Cup appearance.
Defender Kelley O’Hara, 34, also earned a spot on her fourth World Cup squad as a veteran presence to bolster the back line in the absence of veteran defender and team captain Becky Sauerbrunn, who announced the last week that he will not play in the World Cup due to a persistent foot injury.
The tournament begins on July 20 in Australia and New Zealand. The Americans are in Group E with Vietnam, the Netherlands and Portugal. The United States opens with Vietnam on July 22 in Auckland.
The team has been hit by injuries in the run up to the event. In addition to Sauerbrunn, the United States will be without forward Mallory Swanson, who tore the patellar tendon in her left knee. Swanson has scored seven goals this year before picking up an injury in an April exhibition game against Ireland.
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Catarina Macario, a talented forward who tore her ACL last year while playing for her French club Lyon, did not recover in time for a place in the team. Midfielder Sam Mewis also has a nagging injury and was unavailable for the World Cup.
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Some of the youngsters include Sophia Smith, 22, who was named NWSL Most Valuable Player and US Soccer Player of the Year for 2022, and Trinity Rodman, 21, US Soccer Young Player of the Year for 2021 and daughter of former NBA star Dennis Rodman.
Megan Rapinoe #15 of OL Reign controls the ball against Angel City FC in the second half of the 2023 NWSL Challenge Cup at BMO Stadium on April 19, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Thompson is the second-youngest player to be named to a World Cup roster, behind US assistant coach Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak, who played in the 1995 World Cup. Thompson was called up to the team early April for a match against Ireland, taking Swanson’s place.
«Alyssa, what a turn of events in the last nine months. If you think back to October, she was playing youth soccer and now, in July, she’s going to be on the biggest stage in women’s soccer,» Andonovski said in a conference call. with reporters.
Midfielder Julie Ertz, who was on the team that won the title in 2019, made the squad after returning to the team in April after a long layoff for the birth of her son.
A surprise inclusion on the list was 25-year-old Savannah DeMelo, who has yet to appear in a game for the United States. DeMelo plays for Racing Louisville in the NWSL and has scored in three of the last four NWSL games. She has five total goals this season.
DeMelo is only the third player from the US to be named to a World Cup team without playing in an international-level game.
«His performance in the league was one of the main reasons why he is in the team,» Andonovski said. «And based on the needs that we have in terms of the opponents and the different situations that we may face, we see that Sav is very important for us going forward.»
The payroll by position with club affiliation:
Goalkeepers: Aubrey Kingsbury (Washington Spirit), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)
Defenders: Alana Cook (OL Reign), Crystal Dunn (Portland Thorns), Emily Fox (North Carolina Courage), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave), Sofia Huerta (OL Reign), Kelley O’Hara (Gotham), Emily Sonnett ( OL reign).
Midfielders: Savannah DeMelo (Racing Louisville FC), Julie Ertz (Angel City), Lindsey Horan (Lyon), Rose Lavelle, (OL Reign), Kristie Mewis (Gotham), Ashley Sanchez (Washington Spirit), Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit) .
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Forwards: Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave), Megan Rapinoe (OL Reign), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns), Alyssa Thompson (Angel City), Lynn Williams (Gotham FC).