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Andonovski names 23-player USWNT roster for SheBelieves Cup roster

© Brett Phibbs-USA TODAY Sports

On Wednesday morning, the U.S. women’s national team and head coach Vlatko Andonovski announced the 23-player roster representing the host nation at the SheBelieves Cup. The SheBelieves Cup will take place Feb. 16-22 with the U.S., Canada, Brazil and Japan.

The differences between this month’s roster and the one that went to New Zealand in January is the exclusion of defender Hailie Mace (Kansas City Current) and midfielder Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns), and the inclusion of Megan Rapinoe (OL Reign).

Forward and 2022 NWSL MVP Sophia Smith is also not on the roster. Smith was left off the January roster and has been recovering from a foot injury. Andonovski talked to press today and confirmed that Smith could’ve gotten minutes during the tournament but that the team didn’t want to rush to get her back and risk further injury.

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Today’s update on forward Catarina Macario, who is expected to be heading to the World Cup with the U.S. team this summer and who tore her ACL last June, was that she was still in Qatar at the FIFA center rehabbing but is already training with a ball on the field. Andonovski expects her back with Lyon mid-February and hopefully getting game time later in March.

There is no FIFA window in March, but Andonovski did say, “We expect to see her back or eligible for selection for April camp, same for Soph and a couple of other players as well like Kelley O’Hara, Christen [Press] and Tobin [Heath]. They’re all in the return to play.”

Additionally, defender Tierna Davidson (Chicago Red Stars) will be joining the team for training for the first time since her ACL tear in March 2022, but will not be available to play.

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As for players who are still in the player pool and not on the roster right now, Andonovski mentioned midfielders Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns), Jaelin Howell (Racing Louisville), and Savannah DeMelo (Racing Louisville) as “very much in the pool… we’re still evaluating and analyzing… These are all players that are in consideration.” Another player that was named as in contention for the World Cup squad but not on the roster was defender Casey Krueger (Chicago Red Stars), who missed the 2022 NWSL season on maternity leave.

The SheBelieves Cup kicks off action on Thursday, Feb. 16. Canada, Brazil and Japan will face off against the hosting U.S. in a round-robin tournament. The tournament will be a good test for the U.S., with Canada being ranked No. 6 by FIFA, Brazil at No. 9 and Japan at No. 11. These will be the first matches on home soil for the U.S. this year in the build-up to the Women’s World Cup this summer.

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“All three of these matches are great opportunities for the players and coaches as we enter the final stretch to choose the World Cup roster,” Andonovski said. “To get to play three top teams, all who are in the World Cup, over seven days, will test our team mentally and physically, and that’s exactly what we need at this point in our preparations. We still have a few players in the pool recovering from injuries, but we are confident that they will be ready for selection for our April matches.”

Alex Morgan will be honored for hitting her 200th cap in the friendlies against Germany in November before the USWNT’s opening match against Canada on February 16th. Megan Rapinoe is currently at 197 caps, if she appears in all three matches for the USWNT, she’ll become the 14th member to join the USA’s 200-cap club.

The full roster is listed below.

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U.S. women’s national team SheBelieve Cup roster 2023

Goalkeepers (3): Adrianna Franch (Kansas City Current; 10), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage; 12), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars; 87)

Defenders (7): Alana Cook (OL Reign; 21/0), Emily Fox (North Carolina Courage; 24/0), Crystal Dunn (Portland Thorns FC; 128/24), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC; 12/0), Sofia Huerta (OL Reign; 27/0), Becky Sauerbrunn (Portland Thorns FC; 212/0), Emily Sonnett (OL Reign; 70/1)

Midfielders (6): Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon, FRA; 123/26), Taylor Kornieck (San Diego Wave FC; 9/2), Rose Lavelle (OL Reign; 86/24), Kristie Mewis (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 47/7), Ashley Sanchez (Washington Spirit; 19/3), Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit; 39/3)

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Forwards (7): Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit; 15/5), Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave FC; 201/120), Midge Purce (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 22/4), Megan Rapinoe (OL Reign; 197/63), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit; 12/2), Mallory Swanson (Chicago Red Stars; 84/28), Lynn Williams (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 49/15)

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