Assessing the USWNT roster heading into the 2019 World Cup

With 2019 underway, the Women’s World Cup is quickly approaching. Let’s take a look at the USWNT roster to start the year.

The time has come. The USWNT will finally be back at the World Cup to defend their title after winning their third World Cup in 2015. Before then, 10 games must be played, which means there’s a lot of time for the roster to change. Here’s a look at how things currently stand, and what which players’ spots are under threat.

Goalkeepers: Jane Campbell, Adrianna Franch, Ashlyn Harris, Alyssa Naeher

There are no real surprises here in the goalkeeper group. Barring serious injury, Alyssa Naeher should be the number 1 heading into France. Ashlyn Harris will most likely be her backup, but that could very well change. The biggest question will be who’s the third goalkeeper in France. Adrianna Franch has been in camp a lot more than Jane Campbell has recently, but she still hasn’t been capped. If head coach Jill Ellis goes based off of NWSL play, Franch should have the edge right now.

Defenders: Abby Dahlkemper, Tierna Davidson, Crystal Dunn, Emily Fox, Kelley O’Hara, Becky Sauerbrunn, Casey Short, Emily Sonnett

The defense has been pretty much the same for a while now. The biggest question is who will be in the center for the U.S. Will the youngsters Abby Dahlkemper and Tierna Davidson get the edge, with Becky Sauerbrunn left on the bench? Or will Davidson find herself the odd one out? Right now, the most likely partnership is probably Dahlkemper and Sauerbrunn. While Davidson was the No. 1 pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft, she’s coming off a broken ankle and will need some time to get back up to speed. It will be interesting to see how she develops in the next few months.

When it comes to outside backs, Kelley O’Hara and Crystal Dunn are most likely to get the start on the flanks. Jill Ellis likes to have her outside backs get very involved in the offense and those two are probably best equipped to handle both sides of the system. As long as they can stay healthy, expect them to be the starters.

Midfielders: Morgan Brian, Danielle Colaprico, Julie Ertz, Lindsey Horan, Rose Lavelle, Samantha Mewis, McCall Zerboni, Andi Sullivan

It’s a crowded field in this midfield group. With Ellis seemingly set on playing three in the middle, it’s no surprise to see so many central midfielders in this group. The three names to keep an eye on are Danielle Colaprico, McCall Zerboni and Andi Sullivan.

Danielle Colaprico earned her first two caps this past November and is tied for fewest caps among field players. Her NWSL play speaks for itself and she has good chemistry with her Chicago Red Stars teammate Julie Ertz. As for McCall Zerboni, she’s returning to the USWNT roster after recovering from a broken elbow.

She fractured it against Chile in September. If she sees minutes in the upcoming January friendlies, it will be her first game action since her injury. It will be interesting to see how she does going up for challenges in the air or sliding on the ground. Then there’s Sullivan. Once considered to be the future of the national team, Sullivan had a poor 2018 and has kind of fallen out of favor with Ellis. She was a late addition to the January roster and has been in camp in Europe. Sullivan has the talent to be in consideration for the team that heads to France, but she has a lot of work between now and June to beat out some of the other names.

Forwards: Tobin Heath, Carli Lloyd, Jessica McDonald, Alex Morgan, Christen Press, Mallory Pugh, Megan Rapinoe

It’s very unlikely the U.S. bring seven forwards to France. Tobin Heath, Alex Morgan, Christen Press and Megan Rapinoe are likely the four in the race to become the starting three come June. That leaves Carli Lloyd, Mallory Pugh and Jessica McDonald competing for those last sports. Lloyd probably has a leg up because of her place in the U.S. leadership pool. Pugh has more caps and more goals than McDonald, so barring any injury, McDonald probably finds herself on the outside looking in when it comes to the forward corps. Expect it to be Heath, Morgan and Rapinoe in the starting lineup moving forward.

The USWNT have 10 games over the next five months in preparation for France in June. A lot can change between now and then with injuries and NWSL play. But this is what the roster looks like to start 2019.