USWNT names 23-player squad for SheBelieves Cup

With the SheBelieves Cup starting in the middle of February, USWNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski announced his squad for the three games in the competition.

It is almost an entirely NWSL-based group of players. The squad is just about a mirror of the side that went down to New Zealand for a pair of friendlies against one of the 2023 World Cup hosts. While down there, the United States won both games by a combined scoreline of 9-0. The one change is Megan Rapinoe’s return to the USWNT, taking the place of midfielder Sam Coffey.

During this miniature tournament, Rapinoe will have the chance to break 200 caps for the USWNT. She is currently on 197. If she can play all three games, she will be the 14th player in USWNT history to hit two centuries of appearances with the United States. Alex Morgan accomplished that feat on the trip to New Zealand.

Perhaps the general lack of change to the squad shows that Andonovski is locking in his squad for this summer’s World Cup. A team of experience, with five players above 100 caps and more that have at least 50.

USWNT Squad for SheBelieves Cup

Goalkeepers

• Adrianna French (Kansas City Current), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage) and Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)

Defenders

• Alana Cook (OL Reign), Emily Fox (North Carolina Courage), Crystal Dunn (Portland Thorns FC), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave), Sofia Huerta (OL Reign), Becky Sauerbrunn (Portland Thorns) and Emily Sonnett (OL Reign)

Midfielders

• Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon), Taylor Kornieck (San Diego Wave), Rose Lavelle (OL Reign), Kristie Mewis (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Ashley Sanchez (Washington Spirit) and Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit.)

Forwards

• Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit), Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave), Midge Purce (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Megan Rapinoe (OL Reign), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Mallory Swanson (Chicago Red Stars) and Lynn Williams (NJ/NY Gotham FC)

Watch the SheBelieves Cup

The annual competition has perhaps its best field in the 2023 tournament. With the United States as the No. 1 team in FIFA’s Women’s World Rankings, it is playing against Canada (No. 6), Brazil (No. 9) and Japan (No. 11).

In the SheBelieves Cup, each team plays the other three once. The games are back-to-back on the same day at the same venue. The first matchday is Feb. 16 at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, FL. Then, the competition moves to Geodis Park in Nashville, TN, on Feb. 19. Finally, the last matchday is on Feb. 22 from Toyota Stadium in Frisco, TX.

All of the games in the SheBelieves Cup TV schedule are available on HBO Max. It is the first big event for US Soccer in its new deal with Warner Bros. Discovery. The USWNT made its debut on HBO Max in those friendlies against New Zealand. Games are also available in Spanish on Peacock.

PHOTO: IMAGO / ZUMA Wire