The U.S. women’s national team is back in action this April and Vlatko Andonovski announced his 26-player squad for a pair of home friendlies against the Republic of Ireland.
Julie Ertz, Sophia Smith, and Mallory Swanson headlined Andonovski’s squad for April 8th and 11th’s friendlies in Austin, Texas and St. Louis, Missouri respectively. These matches will be the final international matches for the USWNT players before Andonovski and his staff choose their 23-player World Cup roster in early summer.
It will be the first head-to-head meeting between the USWNT and the Republic of Ireland since August 2019.
“It’s exciting to get the group back together and we’re getting closer to how we want to look this summer,” said Andonovski. “The team is gelling and getting these players back in camp, all who know the environment very well, is just going to make it more competitive and turn the intensity up a notch. I know there is a lot of pressure on the players as the competition for World Cup spots increases, but that’s not something we shy away from. We talk about it, and we embrace it, as we all know these players make each other better.”
Ertz is back for her first USWNT involvement since the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 while defender Casey Kreuger is back for her first camp since October 2021. Veteran defender Kelley O’Hara is also back in the squad after being sidelined since last summer with an injury.
Tierna Davidson is seeking her first USWNT cap since the 2022 SheBelieves Cup while reigning NWSL MVP Sophia Smith is back after missing the USWNT’s matches earlier this winter.
The Republic of Ireland qualified for the 2023 Women’s World Cup for the first time in program history. After finishing second in UEFA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Group A behind group winners Sweden, the Republic of Ireland defeated rivals Scotland in a one-game World Cup playoff.
Here is a closer look at the full USWNT roster:
GOALKEEPERS: Adrianna Franch (Kansas City Current; 10), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage; 13), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars; 89)
DEFENDERS: Alana Cook (OL Reign; 23/0), Tierna Davidson (Chicago Red Stars; 48/1), Emily Fox (North Carolina Courage; 27/0), Crystal Dunn (Portland Thorns FC; 130/24), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC; 14/0), Sofia Huerta (OL Reign; 28/0), Casey Krueger (Chicago Red Stars; 37/0), Kelley O’Hara (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 156/3), Becky Sauerbrunn (Portland Thorns FC; 214/0), Emily Sonnett (OL Reign; 73/1)
MIDFIELDERS: Julie Ertz (Unattached; 116/20), Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon, FRA; 126/26), Taylor Kornieck (San Diego Wave FC; 12/2), Rose Lavelle (OL Reign; 87/24), Kristie Mewis (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 50/7), Ashley Sanchez (Washington Spirit; 22/3), Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit; 42/3)
FORWARDS: Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit; 17/5), Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave FC; 204/121), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit; 15/2), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC; 27/12), Mallory Swanson (Chicago Red Stars; 87/32), Lynn Williams (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 52/15)
Ertz is my favorite player on the roster but I doubt she will be fit for the world cup after an almost 2-year absence. Unfortunately, I see a general trend of playing the old faces no matter what even if they have been injured or simply gotten really old. I hope I am wrong, but things are not looking good for us if we have to rely on older, injured, and older and injured players.
It’s no secret who the US women’s MVP is and has been since the 2019 World Cup. It’ll be interesting to see if the unattached Julie Ertz can make a big comeback so late in the cycle and fill that critical hole in US women’s midfield. The friendlies are in early April, which gives her very little time to get into play fitness, let alone WWC match fitness. If she performs well and up to expectations, then consider giving her a spot, even as the late game sub.