Who Could Be the USWNT’s Break-Out Star This World Cup?
The 2023 Women’s World Cup is underway, with each team playing one group stage match. The USWNT looks a bit different this tournament, with a lot of youth and new faces. The World Cup roster has 14 players that are playing in their first World Cup. During the World Cup, players can rise to stardom with moments of greatness as they hope to lead their county to lift the trophy at the end of the tournament. Some players are more familiar than others, but all have an opportunity to rise to greatness at the international stage. We look at some players that could stand out from the rest and be the USWNT’s WWC star.
Trinity Rodman
Since joining the NWSL at 18, Rodman has been a star for the Washington Spirit. Rodman is a tremendous attacking threat, and she’s consistently creating chances, whether it be for her club team or the USWNT.
Rodman represented the U.S. at the youth level with the U-17 and U-20 teams before making her senior team debut in 2022. Since then, she’s made 19 appearances, scoring four goals and tallying three assists.
The forward made her World Cup debut when the USWNT opened up play against Vietnam. She played 74 minutes in the 3-0 win. She’ll be a massive piece of this USWNT offense for a long time.
Savannah DeMelo
DeMelo has quickly jumped on the scene, she was a bit of a dark horse to be included in the World Cup roster, but she deserved a spot. Her form with Racing Louisville made it impossible not to take DeMelo to Australia/New Zealand. Coming into the tournament, DeMelo is in exceptional form.
She’s been terrific for Racing and has the potential to be a great midfielder for the USWNT. This season for Louisville, she has five goals and two assists in 12 regular season matches.
When DeMelo was named to the World Cup roster, she had yet to have made her first appearance for the USWNT. She made her first start for the senior team in the group-stage match against Vietnam. She’s got good composure on the ball, and she’s able to be an attacking threat.
Sophia Smith
Many regard Sophia Smith as the next big star for the USWNT. She’s been able to show up big time for both the USWNT and the Portland Thorns. There’s possibly not a striker in the world that’s in better form than Smith at the moment. Her numbers are impressive, having scored ten goals and tallied five assists in 13 games for the Thorns.
She made her USWNT senior debut in 2020 and has gone on to appear in 31 games so far, scoring 14 goals and five assists. In 2022 she was named the Biosteel U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year.
She hit the ground running in her first World Cup appearance, scoring two goals and registering an assist against Vietnam. Smith has the potential to walk away with the Golden Boot when the tournament is over. The question is, will she keep up her goal-scoring ways the rest of the tournament?
Lynn Williams
Williams has proven herself as a goalscorer, but she hasn’t been given a fair chance by the USWNT on the big stage. This is her first World Cup after narrowly missing out in 2019.
She’s sitting in third place all-time in terms of goals scored in the NWSL, with 60 since joining the league in 2015. Williams will likely play the role of the super sub during the World Cup, but she’s capable of playing meaningful minutes and scoring goals for the U.S. during this tournament.
Williams made her first appearance for the USWNT in 2016. She’s earned 53 caps and scored 15 goals while registering 12 assists.
The World Cup requires teams to utilize their depth, with teams playing many games in a short period. Williams will be a great player for the U.S. this tournament, whether she’s used as a starter or substitute.
Ashley Sanchez
Ashley Sanchez brings unique versatility and creativity to the team. She plays for the Washington Spirit and has scored four goals in 13 matches for the club.
She’s made 25 appearances for the USWNT and scored three goals. As a midfielder, she has a lot of competition, but when she’s put on the field, she has an eye for slotting balls through and grabbing assists.
Like Williams, Sanchez has yet to appear in this World Cup but could be brought on as a sub and make a huge difference. Only time will tell if Sanchez will take the chance to shine.
Alyssa Thompson
Thompson is the youngest player on the roster, but you wouldn’t know that by her play. She’s a talented forward that has emerged on the scene, and she’ll be a star on the national team for a long time.
At just 17, she was taken with the first overall pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft by Angel City. This season she’s appeared in 13 regular season games and scored three goals.
She earned her first cap with the USWNT in 2022 against England. So far, she’s made five appearances. Like Lynn Williams, Thompson can be the super sub this team needs throughout a difficult tournament.
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