Recasting the 2015 USWNT: Which Players Would Fill Those Boots Now?
We’ve all been talking a lot about the future of the USWNT program these last few years. How the world is changing and how the standards we have set are starting to catch up to us in some very real ways. It’s impossible not to compare this current roster to the teams that have come before. Leaning into that, we are recasting the 2015 FIFA World Cup squad with today’s players—both on and off the current roster—with who we think would fill whose boots with the Olympics just six weeks away. These picks aren’t solely based on position, but also take into account personality, play style, and the energy they bring to the team.
Hope Solo – Alyssa Naeher
Honestly, no surprise here. Even though Naeher was on the squad back in 2015 she didn’t get her chance to shine. Now, even though she is injured, she is the go-to keeper for the USWNT. It is so important to have a commanding force in the net and that is exactly what Solo was for all those years and what Naeher has now proven herself to be.
Ali Krieger – Sam Staab
Krieger’s defensive style was so smart, knowing just when to bite down and when to lay off. Staab may not be on everyone’s radar just yet, but she will be before long. Staab has been one of the top defenders no matter where she plays for years now. Now, only in her fourth season as a pro, she’s getting more comfortable in her game, and we’re seeing that power come through.
Julie Ertz – Taylor Flint
Julie Ertz is known for being deadly on a set piece. It was all but guaranteed that she would convert on a header. Who better to fill that position than 6’1″ Taylor Flint? Height aside, Flint, much like Ertz, knows how to hold down that midline and has a strong and aggressive presence. She is great for a smart pass and making up space, just like we saw Ertz do for years.
Becky Sauerbrunn – Naomi Girma
One of the most tried and true players for the USWNT backline, Becky Sauerbrunn’s successor has got to be Naomi Girma. Girma has only been with the senior squad for a short time but her vision and ability to shut down a forward is the stuff legendary athletes are made of. Sauerbrunn ran that back line for years and Girma has the chops to do just the same.
Tobin Heath – Lynn Williams
Two underrated (in my opinion) but completely amazing players. Heath has such a strong legacy behind her with the USWNT and Williams should have so much more love on her name internationally than it does have. They’re both imposing forces on the pitch and know when to crash in and when to make space. They have game faces and focus that we need, especially in do-or-die moments.
Megan Rapinoe – Sophia Smith
These are some of the biggest boots to fill, so hear us out. Rapinoe is one of the greatest to come out of this program, but along with her skill she is known for her spirit. She knew when to be serious and when to get silly and we see a lot of that in Sophia Smith. Both lightning-quick and with plenty of finesse on the ball these two
Alex Morgan – Croix Bethune
Even though 2015 was Morgan’s second World Cup, she was still viewed by many as the fresh legs of the USWNT. Croix Bethune is the current wunderkind and we haven’t seen anyone take the world by storm quite like this since Morgan herself. Bethune doesn’t have the height Morgan does, but she is just as fast, if not faster, and has incredible handling. Young players are what franchises are built on and we are certainly seeing the start of something truly stellar with Bethune.
Kelley O’Hara – Trinity Rodman
Kelley O’Hara is one of the fiercest players to ever lace-up for this team, and now we see a lot of that in Trinity Rodman. The physicality of these two players is part of what makes them so valuable to this team. O’Hara does what needs to be done to get the ball and score some points, and Rodman absolutely shares that mentality. These are the boss players who make moments happen.
Abby Wambach – Lindsey Horan
This one comes down to leadership. Even though this was Wambach’s last season and she played as a sub, the squad couldn’t have done this without her. Horan and Wambach share the presence, passion, and confidence. Horan really stepped into her own as one of the more established players on a younger team in this last World Cup. Just think about that set-piece conversion after her heated exchange with the Netherlands in the last World Cup.
Who would you put in for the rest of the starting lineup? Do you think we missed someone or need to switch something up? Let us know!
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