The U.S. women’s national team will close out 2023 with two friendly matches against China PR. The first game begins on Saturday, December 2nd at DRV PNK Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Kickoff is 3:00 p.m. ET and will air on TNT, Telemundo and Universo. Streaming options are available in English on Max and in Spanish on Peacock. The reporting will also be available on FDP radio.
Despite a disappointing end to the World Cup, the USA has yet to lose a regular season game in 2023 and enters the games against China PR with a record of 12 wins, 4 draws and 0 losses and an entertaining 3-0 win against Colombia in 2023 The last game took place on October 29th.
With all eyes looking forward to the soon-to-be Paris Olympics in 2024 and Emma Hayes recently announced as the 10th head coach in U.S. Women’s National Team history, the U.S. is looking to close out 2023 with a strong roster and plenty of fresh ones Faces and players who want to prove themselves in the national team environment.
Following the game in Ft. Lauderdale, the teams will travel to Frisco, Texas, where the USA will play its final game of 2023 at Toyota Stadium on December 5 (8:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. CT on TruTV, Universo, Max and Peacock).
Fans can also watch the action from Sunday’s game in San Diego via X (formerly Twitter – @USWNT), Instagram (@USWNT), Facebook and the official US Soccer app.
U.S. WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM ROLES BY POSITION (CLUB; BOUNDARIES/GOALS)
GOALKEEPER (3): Jane Campbell (Houston Dash; 7), Aubrey Kingsbury (Washington Spirit; 1), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage; 16)
DEFENSE (7): Alana Cook (OL Reign; 29/1), Abby Dahlkemper (San Diego Wave FC; 79/0), Tierna Davidson (Chicago Red Stars; 50/1), Emily Fox (North Carolina Courage; 37/1), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC; 24/0), Casey Krueger (Chicago Red Stars; 41/0), MA Vignola (Angel City FC; 1/0)
MIDFIELDER (8): Korbin Albert (Paris Saint-Germain, FRA; 0/0), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC; 5/0), Savannah DeMelo (Racing Louisville FC; 6/0), Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon, FRA; 137/30 ), Rose Lavelle (OL Reign; 91/24), Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns FC; 0/0), Jenna Nighswonger (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 0/0), Emily Sonnett (OL Reign; 81/2)
FORWARD (8): Mia Fishel (Chelsea FC, ENG; 2/1), Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit; 21/5), Midge Purce (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 24/4), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit; 26/6), Jaedyn Shaw (San Diego Wave FC; 2/1), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC; 36/14), Alyssa Thompson (Angel City FC; 8/0), Lynn Williams (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 58/17)
HAYES announced as USWNT head coach
After A global search process resulted in U.S. Soccer athletic director Matt Crocker Hayes being officially announced on November 14 as the 10th head coach in U.S. Women’s National Team history. The long-time head coach of English powerhouse Chelsea FC, Hayes began her coaching career in the United States in the early 2000s and will take the helm of the USWNT more than two decades later. Because of her connection with Chelsea, Hayes will finish the 2023-24 Women’s Super League season in England and then officially join the U.S. team two months before the start of the 2024 Olympics. US Soccer has implemented a comprehensive plan and process to maximize productivity in all aspects of the USWNT’s advancement toward the Olympics. A key part of that is interim head coach Twila Kilgore remaining in her role and then joining Hayes’ full-time assistant coach roster at the end of May.
TWENTY-SIX IS INVITED TO COMPLETE 2023
Kilgore, who will lead the USWNT for the next five months, has named a squad for these 2023 finals that includes just thirteen 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup players and five – Abby Dahlkemper, Tierna Davidson, Lindsey Horan, Rose Lavelle and Emily Sonnett – includes – who were part of the 2019 Women’s World Cup team.
The roster includes two midfielders – 2023 NWSL Newcomer of the Year Jenna Nighswonger and Paris Saint-Germain’s Korbin Albert – who have been selected for their first full national team training camp. The squad also marks the return of several veterans: Lavelle, who was added to the squad for the first time since the 2023 World Cup after recovering from injury, Davidson, who suffered a facial injury that kept her out of the USWNT’s October camp, and Dahlkemper, who was the first in U.S. squad since April 2022 after recovering from major back surgery to help the San Diego Wave win the 2023 NWSL regular season title.
Kilgore and her team will select 23 players to play in Saturday’s game in Ft. Lauderdale.
DOMINANT DEFENSE
After keeping two clean sheets in October’s games against Colombia, the USWNT enters Saturday’s game at DRV PNK Stadium having allowed just two goals this year, against Brazil in the 2023 SheBelieves Cup final on February 22nd and against the Netherlands The group stage of the World Cup will take place on July 27th. With just two goals allowed in 16 games and a goals allowed rate of 0.13 per game, the U.S. is on pace to break the current annual (10-game minimum) record of 0.40 goals allowed per game set in 2016 , when the USA allowed 10 goals in 25 games. With only two games left on the 2023 schedule, the U.S. will set a new annual record if it allows fewer than six goals in the final two games of the year.
The USA has posted 14 shutouts this year, nine coming to Alyssa Naeher and five to Casey Murphy. In addition to outstanding goalkeeping, the U.S. defense was dominant, allowing just two shots on goal throughout the entire 2023 World Cup. The U.S. held South Africa to just one shot on goal combined in the two friendlies in September and limited Colombia to two shots on goal each last month. Center back Naomi Girma, who won NWSL Rookie and Defender of the Year honors in 2022 and was named Defender of the Year again in 2023, has started 14 games for the USWNT this year, while fullback Emily Fox has started 13 and Second on the team is total 1,236 minutes played in 2023.
Overall, the USA has allowed just 21 total shots on goal in 16 games so far this year, the fewest in a full year (min. 10 games) since at least 2017 and the fewest overall since 2020, when the USA allowed 15 shots on goal in nine games the international calendar has been shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
INSIDE THE SERIES: USA vs. CHINA PR
The United States and China PR are the second-most common opponents in U.S. Women’s National Team history, having faced each other 58 times. The only nation the U.S. has faced more often is Canada, where there have been a total of 64 meetings between North American opponents.
However, this will be the first meeting between the two teams since June 12, 2018, when the USA defeated China VR 2-1 at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio, with goals from Megan Rapinoe and Tobin Heath. The more than five-year gap is the longest in the history of the rivalry, which dates back to 1986.
The USA leads the all-time series between the two teams with a record of 36 wins, 13 draws and 9 losses, outscoring the Chinese by 99 points to 37. In the first 29 meetings of the series, the USA achieved twelve wins, the People’s Republic of China eight and nine draws between the teams. In the last 29 meetings, the USA has a record of 24W-4D-1L, with the only loss being a 1-0 defeat in New Orleans on December 16, 2015 in the farewell game of legendary forward Abby Wambach.
The United States and China have met a total of seven times at world championships – four times at the World Cup – including the 1999 World Cup final – and three times at the Olympics – including the 1996 gold medal game.
Overall, the U.S. is undefeated in its last 23 games against Asian Football Confederation opponents, with 17 wins and six draws during that span.
GOLD CUP EXPECTED
Following these two games against China PR, the USWNT’s next games will be in the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup, the region’s new flagship competition for women’s national teams. The tournament will run from February 17 to March 10 and will be played at four venues: BMO Stadium and Dignity Health Sports Park in the Los Angeles area, Shell Energy Stadium in Houston, Texas, and Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego.
The 12-team competition features eight teams from Concacaf and four from South America. Six teams – Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Paraguay and the USA – have already qualified for the group stage, while El Salvador has secured its place in the preliminary rounds.
After preliminary round games on Feb. 17 to determine the final participant in each group, a round-robin group game will be held Feb. 20-28 with the U.S. topping Group A at Dignity Health Sports Park. Brazil headlines Group B at Snapdragon Stadium and Canada tops Group C at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston. The remaining teams in each group and the order of play will be determined during the official draw on December 11th.
Following the group phase, the group winners, runners-up and the two best third-place teams advance to the quarter-finals of the tournament. The Knockout Phase begins with the quarterfinals at BMO Stadium on March 2 and 3, followed by the semifinals and final at Snapdragon Stadium on March 6 and 10, respectively. Quarterfinal pairings will be determined based on group stage placement, with the team with the most points facing the national team with the fewest points (1v8, 2v7, 3v6 and 4v5).
WAY TO PARIS
With less than eight months until the start of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, the USWNT is in the midst of preparations for that tournament and the pursuit of a fifth Olympic gold medal. The Olympic football tournament consists of 12 teams and will be played from July 24th to August 10th at seven different venues across France: Parc des Princes in Paris, Stade de Lyon, Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in Saint-Etienne, Stade de Marseille, Stade de Nice, Stade de Bordeaux and Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes. The U.S. is one of just five teams already qualified for Paris, joining hosts France, South American qualifiers Brazil and Colombia, and Canada, which secured Concacaf’s second Olympic berth by beating Jamaica in a two-game Playoff during the international match in September defeated Fenster.
The United States qualified for Paris by winning the 2022 Concacaf W Championship in Monterrey, Mexico, which served as the region’s qualifier for the 2023 Olympics and World Cup. Eighteen players from that September camp squad were part of the USA’s roster for that tournament, where the USA advanced through the group stage, defeated Costa Rica 3-0 in the semifinals, and then beat Canada 1-0 in the championship game for an automatic berth for the 2024 Summer Games.
The remaining seven teams in the Olympic field (two from Europe, two from Asia, two from Africa and one from Oceania) will be determined in early 2024, with the official draw to follow.
2023 USWNT MEDIA GUIDE
The 2023 U.S. Women’s National Team Media Guide is available to download. The Media Guide provides the entire history and statistics of the USWNT, as well as complete biographies of the technical staff and current top players, information about the United States Youth Women’s National Teams, and general important information about US Soccer.
USA RECORD NOTES
- Lindsey Horan (137 caps) is the only player on this squad with more than 100 caps and one of only six players on this squad with 50 or more caps. The others are Rose Lavelle (91 caps), Emily Sonnett (81), Abby Dahlkemper (79), Lynn Williams (58) and Tierna Davidson (50).
- Eleven players called up for this camp have fewer than ten caps, including three uncapped players: 18-year-old midfielder Olivia Moultrie, 20-year-old midfielder Korbin Albert and 23-year-old midfielder Jenna Nighswonger.
- Only four players on this squad are in their 30s, led by 33-year-old defender Casey Krueger, who is also the only mother on this squad. The squad also includes three teenagers: 18-year-old Moultrie and 19-year-olds Alyssa Thompson and Jaedyn Shaw, while the remaining 19 players are in their 20s.
- In 18 games in 2022 and 16 so far in 2023 – 34 games total – the USWNT has scored 47 goals from players 24 years old or younger. Over the course of 2019, 2020 and 2021 – 57 games in total – the USWNT scored a total of 10 goals from players under the age of 24.
- In total, 20 of the USA’s 31 goals in 2023 (65%) were scored or assisted by a player under the age of 25.
- Nine players in this squad – Naomi Girma, Sophia Smith, Nighswonger, Mia Fishel, Trinity Rodman, Albert, Thompson, Shaw and Moultrie – were born after the historic 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which celebrates its 25th anniversary next year.
- Horan is the top scorer on this list with 30 international goals, followed by Lavelle with 24, Williams with 17 and Smith with 14.
- Fourteen different players have scored for the USA so far in 2023, led by seven goals from Mallory Swanson, four each from Rodman and Horan, three from Williams, two goals each from Lavelle, Smith and Alex Morgan and one goal each from Shaw. Sonnet, Emily Fox, Alana Cook, Ashley Hatch, Mia Fishel and Taylor Kornieck.
- Nine different players have recorded an assist for the USA this year, led by five from Morgan, four from Lavelle, three from Rodman, two from Smith and one each from Horan, Williams, Fox, Sonnett, Thompson, Ashley Sanchez, Andi Sullivan and Sofia Huerta.
- In total, 18 players were directly involved in a goal for the USWNT this year, led by seven goal involvements each from Morgan (two goals and five assists), Swanson (seven goals) and Rodman (four goals, three assists). Lavelle is next with a total of six goal involvements (two goals, four assists), followed by Horan with five (four goals, one assist).
- A total of thirteen clubs are represented in this squad – Olympique Lyon and Paris Saint-Germain from France, Chelsea FC from England and ten different NWSL clubs, led by three players each from NJ/NY Gotham FC, OL Reign, Washington Spirit and San Diego Wave FC and Portland Thorns FC.
- Twelve players on this squad were selected to the NWSL Best and Rookie of the Year Nighswonger.
IN FOCUS: CHINA PR | FIVE THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW
FIFA World Ranking: 15
AFC ranking: 3
Olympic appearances: 6 (1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2016, 2020)
Best Olympic result: Silver medal (1996)
Balance sheet vs. USA: 9W-13D-36L (GF: 37, GA: 99)
Last meeting against USA: June 12, 2018 (2-1 USA win in Cleveland, Ohio)
Head Coach: Wang Jun (CHN)
CHINA PR WOMEN’S NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM LINEUP BY POSITION
Goalkeeper (3): 12-Xu Huan (Jiangsu FC), 22-Pan Hongyan (Beijing WFC), 32-Gao Jingyao (Changchun WFC)
Defender (6): 2-Li Mengwen (Brighton & Hove Albion FC, England), 3-Dou Jiaxing (Jiangsu FC), 5-Liu Yanqiu (Wuhan Jianghan University FC), 8-Yao Wei (Wuhan Jianghan University FC), 25-Wang Siqian ( Shanghai WFC), 26-Li Tingyingge (Shanghai WFC)
Midfielder (3): 9-Shen Mengyu (Celtic FC, Scotland), 23-Tang Jiali (Levante Las Planas, Spain), 28-Wang Aifang (Liaoning FC)
Forward (8): 7-Wang Yanwen (Beijing WFC), 11-Wang Shanshan (Wuhan Jianghan University FC), 17-Yan Jinjin (Shanghai WFC), 18-Shen Menglu (Celtic FC, Scotland), 19-Zhang Linyan (Tottenham Hotspur FC, England). ). ), 20-Wu Rigumula (Central Coast Mariners FC, Australia), 24-Jin Kun (Jiangsu FC), 27-Huo Yuexin (Jiangsu FC)
CHINA PR RECORD NOTES
- China found it difficult to score goals at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. It lost to Denmark 1-0, beat Haiti 1-0 and then lost to England 6-1, finishing third in Group D and failing to advance. Racing Louisville FC’s Wang Shuang scored both of China’s goals in Australia.
- China will miss the 2024 Paris Olympics after finishing third in Group B in the second round of the AFC Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Despite hosting the group in Xiamen, China lost to North Korea 2-1, beat Thailand 3-0 and then drew 1-1 with South Korea – a must-win game.
- The Steel Roses, who were among the best teams in the world in the 1990s and lost to the United States in two world finals (the 1996 Olympics and the 1999 Women’s World Cup), hit a rough patch a few years ago and missed both Finals 2011 Women’s World Cup and the 2012 Olympics, but has experienced a resurgence since then, despite having had five head coaches from 2015 to the present.
- After failing to qualify for the Olympics, China parted ways with Shui Qingxia, who had held the post since November 2021. The former WNT player, who played on China’s silver medal-winning team at the 1996 Olympics, was the first Chinese woman to serve as coach of the national team. She led the team to victory at the 2022 AFC Asian Women’s Cup, the country’s first Women’s Asian Cup title in 16 years. She was the 17th female coach in team history. The French Elisabeth Loisel and the Swedish Marika Domanski-Lyfors were previously coaches of the China WNT. Current interim coach Wang Jun is China’s U-20 WNT head coach.
- In this Chinese squad, six players play their club football outside the country, five in Europe and one in Australia. Two – midfielder Shen Menguy plays and striker Shen Menglu – plays in Scotland for Celtic FC, while defender Li Mengwen plays in the English Women’s Super League with Brighton Hove & Albion and striker Zhang Linyan plays for English club Tottenham Hotspur.