The United States women's national team has announced its 23-player roster for the upcoming 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup, and it features some familiar names alongside promising new talents. San Diego Wave defender Naomi Girma, Lyon midfielder Lindsey Horan, and Portland Thorns forward Sophia Smith are among those headlining the squad.
The tournament, set to run from February 17 to March 10, will kick off with the USWNT facing the winner of Guyana and Dominican Republic on February 20. This will be followed by matches against Argentina on February 23 and a group stage finale against Mexico three days later. All games will be held at the prestigious Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.
However, there were a few notable exclusions from the roster. San Diego Wave forward Alex Morgan, as well as Portland Thorns defender Becky Sauerbrunn, were left off the squad for the second consecutive training camp. It seems the interim manager, Twila Kilgore, is keen to explore different options and shake things up within the team.
Kilgore, who will remain in charge until manager-in-waiting Emma Hayes completes her duties with Chelsea in May, expressed her excitement about the tournament. She sees it as an excellent opportunity for the team to gain valuable match experience and adapt to the short turnaround times between games, closely resembling the format of the Olympic Games.
'We are going to take our next steps together as we continue to evolve our style of play and provide opportunities for players to grow into possible future roles and partnerships,' Kilgore stated. 'There is something special about tournament play and what it can bring out of players.'
The roster includes 21 players who were part of the USWNT's successful December camp, where they secured two victories over China. The experienced goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher and defender Crystal Dunn also make their return, with Dunn having recovered from a minor injury sustained at the end of last year.
One of Kilgore's primary objectives is to infuse some fresh blood into the team, which explains the inclusion of seven players with fewer than seven international caps. This group of promising young players consists of forward Jaedyn Shaw (San Diego Wave), midfielder Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns), midfielder Korbin Albert (Paris Saint-Germain), and forward Mia Fishel (Chelsea), among others.
Before the tournament commences, three non-rostered players will have the opportunity to train with the USWNT. This group includes forward Mallory Swanson (Chicago Red Stars), midfielder Savannah DeMelo (Racing Louisville), and defender Gisele Thompson (Angel City FC)—the younger sister of USWNT forward Alyssa Thompson. Swanson's return is particularly significant as she has recovered from a serious injury that forced her to miss the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.
In terms of the tournament structure, the top two finishers from each of the three groups, along with the two best third-place teams, will advance to the knockout stage. The quarterfinals will take place at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on March 2 and 3, followed by the semifinals and final at San Diego's Snapdragon Stadium on March 6 and 10, respectively.
The United States women's national team is gearing up for an exciting and challenging competition. With a blend of experienced players and talented newcomers, they will look to showcase their skills and aim for gold in the Concacaf W Gold Cup.
