USWNT Summer Series Recap and Who Will Make the Olympic Roster?

The Olympics are right around the corner with a little more than a month remaining before the USWNT begin their quest for Gold. As a nice tune up otherwise known as the Summer Series, the USWNT went toe-to-toe with Portugal, Jamaica and Nigeria. The end result was three wins in three games, with some great performances as a team. Who will make the Olympics roster? How many tough choices does Vlatko Andonovski have? Here’s the answers to those questions and more in our USWNT Summer Series Recap.

Many expected the USWNT to score more than once and demolish Portugal in the first game. Instead, we witnessed the exact opposite with the Americans failing to take their chances with 26 shots and only goal one. They left it till late but Sam Mewis headed the ball in from close range on a nice corner kick from Christen Press. It wasn’t pretty but wins like these are still important for the team’s psyche moving forward, because every game/win won’t be perfect and they have to be able to win when the game gets ugly.

In the second match, the USWNT were too much for Jamaica and jumped all over them from the opening whistle. Within the first 30 seconds, Lavelle and Horan were involved on the right wing before Lavelle played in this beautiful ball. Lloyd was left unmarked for an easy finish.

.@CarliLloyd didn’t give some people the chance to sit down ? pic.twitter.com/dj8slTcLp9

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) June 14, 2021

After Lindsey Horan converted from the penalty spot to make it 2-0, Midge Purce was able to make it 3-0 with a calm finish. Jamaica gave the USWNT too much space and Midge Purce made them pay.

It’s the composure for me ? pic.twitter.com/ZR46q17MHn

— NJ/NY Gotham FC (@GothamFC) June 14, 2021

After the third goal, Jamaica deserve credit for keeping it at 3-0 with their defense and goalkeeping. The USWNT could’ve easily had more if it wasn’t for Jamaica’s effort.

In the final match, the USWNT shifted their sights to the Nigerians after dispatching the Reggae Girlz.

The Nigerians came out to play and did not back down from the USWNT. With 5 first half shots Asisat Oshoala and Francisca Ordega playing a key role, Nigeria kept the game open. As for the Americans they were frustrated for most of the half and it looked like it would go 0-0 into halftime before Christen Press scored a great goal.

On the mark ?

With that goal, @ChristenPress pushes her ?? career total to 61, breaking a tie with Shannon MacMillan to take sole possession of 9th on the #USWNT all-time scoring charts ? pic.twitter.com/0UjYhvZsHH

— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) June 17, 2021

Based on the momentum from the first goal, it seemed as though the United States would add to their 1-0. However, even with Alex Morgan, Catarina Macario and Lynn Williams, coming on, only one or two clear chances were created. The Nigerians deployed a nice offside trap that the USWNT could not seem to conquer with the timing of their runs. In the end, Lynn Williams would add a late goal to make it 2-0 after Nigeria committed too many forward.

Three wins in three games for the USWNT and while each performance wasn’t perfect, it gave Vlatko Andonovski another chance to evaluate different players in different positions. Both Lidnsey Horan and Emily Sonnett got chances in the No. 6 role in case Julie Ertz isn’t 100%.

With the USWNT handling their business in the Summer Series, we are all in suspense as to who will be among the 18 players selected for the Olympics. The team is likely taking two goalkeepers. A case could be made for Ashlyn Harris over Adrianna Franch solely based on their level of play in the NWSL so far this season. Otherwise it’s hard to take Harris over Franch in that situation.

The first 15 spots are all names you would expect and players who likely won’t get left off the roster. The real question is who takes the last three spots? While Carli Lloyd is busy making everyone angry, the bottom line is she can still score goals.

There will come a time at the Olympics when the USWNT will need a goal in a pinch and Lloyd is one of the only players left who can do that. Kristie Mewis has been in great form for the last year and half, she just slightly deserves the nod over Lynn Williams.

If this was last year, Williams would for sure be getting a spot with how she played under Vlatko. The striker did make things interesting by scoring that late goal, she could at least make Vlatko think twice.

Emily Sonnett or Alana Cook could be the last player taken to shore things up defensively and keep the roster balanced. The main reason for choosing Sonnett over Cook is the major competition experience which will come in handy. Based on the talent pool, there’s always one player who will get left off the roster who should’ve ended up going. All told, the USWNT seems more than ready to be the first nation ever to win the World Cup and Olympics in the same 4-year cycle.

Rohtas’s Picks!

1) Naeher

2) S. Mewis

3) Sauerbrunn

4) O’Hara

5) Dahlkemper

6) Horan

7) Ertz

8) Davidson

9) Morgan

10) Franch

11) Rapinoe

12) Lavelle

13) Dunn

14) Purce

15) Press

16) Lloyd

17) K. Mewis

18) Sonnett