The U.S. women’s national team will appear in the 2022 SheBelieves Cup without some of the biggest names in the sport, with head coach Vlatko Andonovski preferring to give younger players the experience.
Missing from the 23-player tournament roster are veterans such as Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, Tobin Heath, Samantha Mewis, Christen Press and Julie Ertz — longtime stalwarts of the team. Andonovski got a look at the youngsters at training camp last month in Austin, Texas, and wants to see more of them, he told ESPN.
“All these players are very good players — we know that they’ve done so much for this team,” Andonovski said of the experienced players. “But right now I want to give a chance to players like Sophia Smith and Mal Pugh and Catarina Macario, players that have earned their spot on the national team or earn their spot back.
“I want to give them maximum minutes or whatever minimum they earn so we can evaluate every aspect of their game, in the training environment or game setting.”
The SheBelieves Cup will be played Feb. 17 and 20 in Carson, Calif., and Feb. 23 at Frisco, Texas. The Czech Republic, New Zealand and Iceland join the U.S. in the competition.
On the roster are 21 players from the National Women’s Soccer League, plus Macario and midfielder Lindsey Horan.
The 2022 SheBelieves Cup USWNT roster, with club, caps and goals listed:
Goalkeepers: Aubrey Kingsbury (Washington Spirit; 0), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage; 2), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars; 78)
Defenders: Alana Cook (OL Reign; 4/0), Abby Dahlkemper (San Diego Wave FC; 77/0), Tierna Davidson (Chicago Red Stars; 45/1), Emily Fox (Racing Louisville FC; 8/0), Sofia Huerta (OL Reign; 9/0), Kelley O’Hara (Washington Spirit; 148/2), Emily Sonnett (Washington Spirit; 63/0), Becky Sauerbrunn (Portland Thorns FC; 199/0)
Midfielders: Morgan Gautrat (Chicago Red Stars; 87/8), Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyonnais, France; 108/25), Rose Lavelle (OL Reign; 68/18), Catarina Macario (Olympique Lyonnais; 12/3), Kristie Mewis (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 33/4), Ashley Sanchez (Washington Spirit; 2/0), Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit; 22/2)
Forwards: Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit; 4/2), Mallory Pugh (Chicago Red Stars; 67/18), Margaret Purce (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 9/2), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC; 10/1), Lynn Williams (Kansas City Current; 45/14)
–Field Level Media