A look at the next generation of USWNT prospects
WOMEN'S
Tyler Snipes
2 Yrs Ago
When it comes to the aging core of the U.S. women’s national team, the writing has been on the wall for some time.
While several teams across the globe would love to claim the Olympic bronze medal, the accomplishment will barely be worth a mention when you tell the story of the generation of players involved and the era that is swiftly coming to an end.
Head coach Vlatko Andonovski was hired in 2019 with trust that he will steer the ship in this very moment, where some of the currently rostered icons will become part of the past instead of the present, let alone future.
Fortunately for him, the United States has a deep talent pool and there is no shortage of promising players on the horizon. For some, the future is already here.
22-year-old defender Tierna Davidson already has a World Cup cycle under her name and had a couple of strong showings in the Olympics. 21-year-old Catarina Macario also made the trip to Tokyo and collected the valuable experience of earning major tournament minutes.
It remains to be seen how much turnover is expected, but there should be plenty of room for youngsters to step in as positions begin to open up when Andonovski and company eye in on the next competitive cycle.
Revisiting the Olympic snubs is another conversation to be had a later time, but there are some early standouts that suggest the future is in safe hands as some of the young American talent matures into seasoned veterans.
Here is a closer look at five young players who did not make the Olympic trip to Tokyo, but who could play their way into the picture for the 2023 World Cup:
Sophia Smith, Forward, Portland Thorns
The 20-year-old Stanford University product was present in the camps leading up to the Olympics but was buried in the depth chat by Alex Morgan and Carli Lloyd.
A true out-and-out striker with a flair for the big finishes, Smith has already earned four goals in eight appearances in NWSL play.
The first-overall 2020 NWSL draft pick has been in the U.S. youth ranks since 2017.
Trinity Rodman, Forward, Washington Spirit
Rodman began her professional journey ahead of the 2021 NWSL campaign after opting to forgo her college years and jump straight into the draft at just 18 years old.
So far, the bet on herself has paid off.
In addition to earning starts regularly in her rookie season, she has become one of the dangerous wingers the league has to offer. So far in 2021, Rodman has already contributed four goals and two assists to what is looking primed to be a playoff bound Spirit side.
Emily Fox, Defender/Midfielder, Racing Louisville
Drafted as a defensive midfielder from North Carolina University in 2021, Fox has established herself as a right back in Racing Louisville's inaugural campaign.
While Racing is taking its lumps as an expansion team, its defense has been put under pressure and surrendered more goals than intended.
Several players have had to make adjustments to find a way into the USWNT fold. Fox has proven to be serviceable on two lines all by the age of 23 and that should serve her well as positions begin to open.
Alana Cook, Defender, OL Reign
After spending her first three professional seasons at French giant PSG, Cook is one of the first names on the team sheet at Reign so far in 2021, starting all eight games.
No stranger to the USWNT fold - Cook, like Smith, could have proven to be a sensible Tokyo callup.
One of the things that has made the current USWNT configuration so successful is a center back pairing you can write in ink. Can Cook and Davidson make a link that resembles one like Becky Sauerbrunn and Abby Dahlkemper?
Jaelin Howell, Midfielder, Florida State University
One place of concern in the USWNT pipeline is in the holding midfielder position, and it seems Howell is primed to be the most natural fit to be Julie Ertz’s understudy.
She opted to stay in college in the 2021 draft, but easily would have been a top five pick had she decided to make the jump.
Howell more than on the radar, despite her collegiate status. She was seen in this year’s 2021 SheBelieves Cup and made two appearances as a substitute.