Editor’s Note: “Plane to Australia/New Zealand” is FOX Sports’ biweekly characteristic monitoring the progress of gamers hoping to make the United States girls’s nationwide crew’s 23-player roster for the 2023 FIFA World Cup.
With only a few spots up for grabs on Vlatko Andonovski’s World Cup roster, maybe nobody is making a greater argument for an invite than Alyssa Thompson. The 18-year-old highschool senior has scored three targets in 5 video games for Angel City, together with two in the final two matches.
The factor about Thompson’s targets is that all of them appear to teeter on being probably the most epic aim of the NWSL weekend. Take the one she scored in Angel City’s 3-2 win over the Kansas City Current on Sunday. Thompson ran down a go deep into the field, reduce the ball again to her proper foot on the top line to beat the defender, after which shot the ball at an unattainable angle that hit the far publish and bounced into the aim.
Andonovski admittedly deliberate on constructing the USWNT round Sophia Smith and Mallory Swanson, however with Swanson recovering from patellar tendon surgical procedure and unavailable for this summer time’s World Cup, Andonovoski has to get artistic by utilizing a couple of completely different gamers to fill her spot. Thompson is making a robust case.
With that mentioned, here is the place the USWNT participant pool stands:
FIRST CLASS
Goalkeepers
Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)
Yes, Naeher allowed two targets in a 2-1 loss to Gotham over the weekend. But the solar was in her face whereas defending the south finish aim at SeatGeek Stadium.
Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage)
Same factor goes for Murphy. She allowed three targets in a 3-3 tie in opposition to the Thorns over the weekend, however two of them got here from USWNT teammate Crystal Dunn. Silver lining?
Defenders
Still beginning each match for the first-place Reign.
Crystal Dunn (Portland Thorns)
Dunn is tied for first in the league with 4 targets, which is similar quantity as Alex Morgan, Sophia Smith, Ashley Hatch and Lynn Williams.
Emily Fox (North Carolina Courage)
Fox remains to be beginning each match for the Courage. She additionally had an help on the profitable aim in a 1-0 win over Houston on April 28.
Girma has but to return off the sphere for the Wave, taking part in the complete 90 minutes in each recreation to this point this season.
Becky Sauerbrunn (Portland Thorns)
Sauerbrunn didn’t play for the Thorns this weekend on account of a foot harm. She’s anticipated to be out for a few weeks.
Midfielders
Horan got here off the bench in Lyon’s 3-0 win over Dijon on Saturday.
Lavelle has nonetheless not performed for her membership since struggling a knock in opposition to Ireland in the course of the April FIFA window.
Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit)
Sullivan has began all six matches for the Spirit this season. She’s performed virtually each minute, however was subbed off in the 86th throughout a 3-1 win over the Wave on Sunday.
Forwards
Morgan has scored 4 targets in 5 video games for the Wave, all of which had been from contained in the field.
Rapinoe made her second begin in as many video games in a 2-0 win over the Houston Dash on May 6. She performed 75 minutes, probably the most since a minor harm saved her out of the April friendlies.
Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit)
Rodman is prepared for the large stage. The 20-year-old turned the youngest participant in NWSL historical past to succeed in 10 targets and 10 assists, passing Sam Kerr. Here’s the one she scored in a 3-1 win over the Wave (she additionally had an help).
Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns)
Smith continues to dominate, main the league in assists (5), pictures (28) and pictures on aim (19). She’s second (tied with Morgan, Dunn and Hatch) with 4 targets.
Williams is sort of actually scoring each probability she will get for Gotham. She tallied her 103rd aim contribution (aim or help) over the weekend giving her probably the most in NWSL historical past. Which is why we’re shifting her as much as top notch.
ECONOMY
Goalkeepers
Adrianna Franch (Kansas City Current)
Franch has not performed in the final three video games for the Current.
Defenders
Tierna Davison (Chicago Red Stars)
Davidson, who has performed 90 minutes in 5 of six Red Stars video games, is doing all the pieces she will be able to to make this roster after recovering from an ACL tear final yr.
Huerta has performed almost each minute at outdoors again for the Reign this season.
Midfielders
Ertz missed Angel City’s recreation on May 7, however worry not, it was for good cause. She and husband Zach Ertz had been in Philadelphia for the grand opening of House of Hope, which can present “needed services and programs” to the neighborhood’s underserved youth and households.
Ashley Sanchez (Washington Spirit)
Sanchez scored her first aim of the season (which was assisted by finest buddy Trinity Rodman) in a 3-1 win over the Wave on May 6.
Forwards
The 18-year-old’s case for a seat on the aircraft will get stronger each match she performs.
STANDBY LIST
Defenders
Casey Krueger (Chicago Red Stars)
Krueger has performed the complete 90 minutes in 5 of six video games for the Red Stars.
O’Hara has began 5 of six video games for Gotham, which has received three of its final 4.
Sonnett has began each recreation for the first-place Reign.
Midfielders
Macario has nonetheless not performed a match — nor has she been accessible — for Lyon.
Mewis has began each membership recreation this season.
Taylor Kornieck (San Diego Wave)
Kornieck has missed the previous couple of matches for the Wave with an stomach harm.
Forwards
Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit)
Hatch is tied for second in the league in scoring (4 targets). Her newest got here in a 1-1 draw vs. Chicago on April 29.
Press, who tore her ACL final yr, has nonetheless not performed a daily season match for Angel City in 2023. She lately advised ESPN she’s had some setbacks however is getting her physique again and expects to affix her crew quickly.
Laken Litman covers faculty soccer, faculty basketball and soccer for FOX Sports. She beforehand wrote for Sports Illustrated, USA Today and The Indianapolis Star. She is the writer of “Strong Like a Woman,” printed in spring 2022 to mark the fiftieth anniversary of Title IX. Follow her on Twitter @LakenLitman.
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