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Solidifying herself among the best: The rise of Naomi Girma on the USWNT

By Caden Charpentier

HARRISON, NJ - NOVEMBER 13: Naomi Girma #12 of the United States enters the field for warmups before a game between Germany and USWNT at Red Bull Arena on November 13, 2022 in Harrison, New Jersey. (Photo by Howard Smith/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
HARRISON, NJ - NOVEMBER 13: Naomi Girma #12 of the United States enters the field for warmups before a game between Germany and USWNT at Red Bull Arena on November 13, 2022 in Harrison, New Jersey. (Photo by Howard Smith/ISI Photos/Getty Images) /
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AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND – JANUARY 21: Paige Satchell of New Zealand competes with Naomi Girma of USA during the womens International Friendly match between New Zealand Football Ferns and United States at Eden Park on January 21, 2023 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND – JANUARY 21: Paige Satchell of New Zealand competes with Naomi Girma of USA during the womens International Friendly match between New Zealand Football Ferns and United States at Eden Park on January 21, 2023 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images) /

Out of all the USWNT standouts during 2022, 22-year-old central defender, Naomi Girma may have shined the brightest. 

Just a little over a year ago, Naomi Girma was a talented NWSL draft prospect that many USWNT fans had not seen in senior international action. Few would have thought back in 2021 that Girma would be arguably the most undroppable defender in Vlatko Andonovski’s starting XI, but that is the current situation of the USWNT.

She was called up for the first time back in December 2019 but was forced to withdraw due to an injury. Girma made her first appearance for the national team when she contributed 90 minutes in a 9-0 triumph over Uzbekistan in mid-April of 2022.

https://twitter.com/USWNT/status/1514058982326943744?s=20&t=g_D0MBl5JCRnVlfrs3Y39g

Since then, Girma has started in 10 out of her last 12 matches with the USWNT, including two 90-minute shifts in the group stage of the CONCACAF W-Championship this past summer. The San Jose native collected an assist with a right-footed through ball to Sophia Smith to open up the scoring against a talented Jamaican side.

Before Girma came into the fold of the USWNT, there were questions about what the center back position would look like with Tierna Davidson, and Abby Dahlkemper suffering significant injuries.

The 22-year-old has completely changed the game for Andonovski’s side, solidifying herself as a must-start player when the World Cup begins in late July. The question for Andonovski right now should be who is going to pair with Girma in the center of the back four.

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