COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The 18-woman roster for the USA Olympic soccer team going to Paris has been finalized.
Manager Emma Hayes, who became the USWNT boss in mid-May, has picked the team she hopes will earn the Americans its first Olympic gold in soccer since 2012. With a new boss also comes a new roster with nine players set to make their Olympic debuts.
While veterans like goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, midfielder Lindsey Horan, and forward Crystal Dunn are returning to the Olympics, multiple young stars such as defender Naomi Girma and forwards Trinity Rodman and Sophia Smith will be making their Olympic debuts this summer in Paris.
Cincinnati native Rose Lavelle also made the cut and is set to compete at her second Olympic games. One notable name left off the team sheet is Alex Morgan, who misses out on a US squad for an Olympics or World Cup for the first time since 2008.
US women’s Olympic soccer roster
Goalkeepers (2): Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)
Defenders (6): Tierna Davidson (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Emily Fox (Arsenal), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC), Casey Krueger (Washington Spirit), Jenna Nighswonger (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Emily Sonnett (NJ/NY Gotham FC)
Midfielders (5): Korbin Albert (Paris Saint-Germain), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC), Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon), Rose Lavelle (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Catarina Macario (Chelsea FC)
Forwards (5): Crystal Dunn (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Jaedyn Shaw (San Diego Wave FC), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC), Mallory Swanson (Chicago Red Stars)
After winning four gold medals in the first five Olympic soccer tournaments, the US women have not made the final at the last two Olympics. In Rio 2016, the Americans fell to Sweden in the quarterfinals on penalty kicks. At Tokyo in 2021, Canada beat the USA in the semifinals but the Americans went home with a bronze medal after beating Australia.
The US women open its Olympic campaign on July 25 against Zambia in Nice at 3 p.m. You can watch Olympic soccer action on NBC4, Peacock, and NBC Universal channels.
