With the Women’s World Cup set to take place in July and August, the SheBelieves Cup gives the American women a great opportunity to go up against some world class competition on American soil as they look to win their sixth title in eight competitions.
The 2023 edition of the Cup will see the USWNT go up against three highly rated teams in the FIFA rankings. The tournament will open on Thursday afternoon with Japan, ranked number nine, taking on the Brazilian ladies who are the world’s 11th best team. The action will get underway at 4 p.m. EST at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Florida. This game will then be followed by the number one team, USA hosting their neighbors to the north, Canada. They are ranked sixth.
Three days later the four teams will take to the field at GEODIS Park, Nashville, Tennessee. First up will be the USA against Japan, followed by Canada against Brazil. The tournament will then finish in Frisco, Texas with the Canadians against Japan, then the Americans against the South Americans.
The winners will be decided by total points with three for a win and one for a tie. The first tiebreaker will be goal difference, then total goals scored.
The USA, who are defending the cup that they won last year, will also defend their World Cup title in Australia and New Zealand this summer.
The roster for the Cup is as follows:
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, France; 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)
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)