Predicting the USWNT Olympic Roster 100 Days from Paris 2024 (2024)

The next time we see the United States women's national team take the field, Emma Hayes will be leading them from the sidelines.

Currently finishing her final season in charge of Chelsea in the Women's Super League in England, Hayes will be faced with a difficult decision after a handful of friendly matches in June and July: Who goes to the 2024 Olympics in Paris?

Paring down a talented player pool to just 18 roster spots is a brutal process, but it's an essential one after failure at both the last Olympics in Tokyo and the 2023 Women's World Cup.

Here, with 100 days until the Paris Games begin, we're taking a crack at building a potential roster for the USWNT ahead of this summer's action.

Maybe the most talented position group in the already deep player pool, the U.S. isn't short on high-level forwards.

Sophia Smith brings hugely valuable positional flexibility to a tight 18-player squad. She spent tons of time playing out wide under manager Vlatko Andonovski in the last tournament cycle, but she plays as a striker for the Portland Thorns in the NWSL.

After a brace in the SheBelieves Cup final against Canada and continued success through the middle with Portland, there's no doubt she will find a way to contribute in Paris.

Mallory Swanson looked excellent in her return for the USWNT in the SheBelieves Cup, creating real problems for Japan in the semifinals.

The 25-year-old was in red-hot form before going down with a knee injury last April and seems to have picked up right where she left off.

If Smith is playing through the middle, Trinity Rodman could suit up opposite Swanson on the wing. Her defensive intensity mixed with a diverse attacking skill set makes Rodman such a valuable option on the right side.

Finally, Catarina Macario and Alex Morgan bring different traits to the No. 9 spot. The former creates, while the latter thrives slashing in behind. This Olympics might act as a sendoff for Morgan, who will be 35 when the Games begin.

Just missed the cut: Lynn Williams, Alyssa Thompson

Sam Coffey has emerged as a go-to option at the No. 6 position for the United States. Her ability to create rhythm is an asset for the team as it look to grow in its possession play.

Emily Sonnett doesn't have many obvious elite skills (her ball-winning is close), but she is almost certainly a lock for Paris. She has played as a fullback, a center back, a single-pivot, half of a double-pivot and has spent time as a free No. 8 for Gotham this season. Her versatility is hugely useful in a small squad.

Though not quite to Sonnett's level, Lindsey Horan adds some positional flexibility to the equation. She can sit in a double pivot or push higher as more of a No. 10—though her pin-point ball progression makes her a better fit deeper in midfield.

Speaking of the No. 10 spot, Jaedyn Shaw has been a revelation for the U.S. in this cycle. The 19-year-old is truly elite, with superb vision, passing range, off-ball movement and goalscoring. She is a locked-in starter.

Fitness continues to be an issue for Rose Lavelle, but she's a nice option as a reserve attacking midfielder. Few players in the world can rival her skill in tight spots.

Just missed the cut: Korbin Albert, Olivia Moultrie, Savannah DeMelo

There weren't many positives for the United States in its failed 2023 Women's World Cup run that ended in the round of 16. But there was at least one: Naomi Girma.

The San Diego Wave center back is the first name on the USWNT's team sheet any time she's healthy. With great awareness, speed and real on-ball threat, she is one of the most complete central defenders on the planet.

Abby Dahlkemper, Girma's partner at the back at club level for San Diego is a strong choice to start next to her this summer. Dahlkemper doesn't have her teammate's elite defensive instincts, but she brings plenty of experience and a relatively well-rounded skill set to the team. Because the USWNT will be pressed for space in this squad, it's tempting to let Sonnett lap up minutes as the third center back. But to add a little extra cover, Tierna Davidson is the obvious choice to round out the middle of the backline.

Looking to the fullback spots, all three of Emily Fox, Jenna Nighswonger, and Crystal Dunn can play at both right back and left back. Dunn can also pop up in central midfield, while Fox and Nighswonger can play as outside center backs in a three-back system. There's versatility galore between these fullbacks.

Just missed the cut: Casey Krueger, Alana Cook

Alyssa Naeher has her shortcomings. At 35, she's nowhere near as explosive as she once was, and her decision-making is far from perfect. She's been passed up by the Houston Dash's Jane Campbell and Racing Louisville's Katie Lund as a shot-stopper. Those are all flaws that should give Hayes pause about starting her moving forward.

That said, she also does stuff like this:

And for as long as she does stuff like this (granted, those Canada penalties were far from textbook), it's going to be very difficult for someone to unseat her as the United States' starting goalkeeper.

Will Naeher still be the go-to option come the 2027 Women's World Cup? I'm skeptical. But will she start in Paris? I'm almost certain of it.

Casey Murphy looks like the No. 2 for this team. She's the most recent U.S. goalkeeper other than Naeher to start a match (Murphy started in the W Gold Cup group stage vs. Argentina in February). Still, her spot isn't guaranteed if Hayes takes a liking to Campbell, Lund or another option.

Just missed the cut: Jane Campbell, Katie Lund, Aubrey Kingsbury