The old guard is still very much part of the United States women's national team. There are nine players returning from the team that won the 2019 Women's World Cup and five from the team that won it four years prior. Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, Julie Ertz, Rose Lavelle, Lindsey Horan... it's a who's who of superstar names that have already dominated on the biggest stage.
But this summer isn't really about the old guard. For the USWNT to succeed at the 2023 tournament, for them to contend for a third consecutive World Cup crown, they'll need several new faces to become stars in their own right.
The USWNT's fate may just come down to the rise of those new faces, all of whom are capable of being the breakout star of this summer's tournament. The U.S. has several up-and-comers that seem ready to be the next faces of the team. Four years from now, we may be looking back at how Sophia Smith or Trinity Rodman became the latest player to put their names alongside Morgan, Rapinoe, Ertz, Lavelle and Horan.
Ahead of the USWNT's World Cup opener against Vietnam, GOAL has you covered with an introduction to the rising American stars that look set for a breakout in New Zealand...