USWNT positional battles: lineup spots up for grabs in SheBelieves Cup final vs. Canada

The U.S. women’s national team’s era of experimentation is nearing its end, and that was clearly evident in their 2-1 win over Japan on Saturday, as the U.S. put together one of its most promising performances after the Women’s World Cup. However, Tuesday’s SheBelieves Cup final against Canada offers one of the last opportunities for the USWNT to tinker with its lineup, both out of obligation to the experiment and out of necessity given the players available.

One change to the lineup could come in defense after Naomi Girma came off with a right thigh sprain in the 18th minute of Saturday’s win. Interim head coach Twila Kilgore described her status as “day to day,” but the injury could provide an opportunity to examine the center back depth chart. Sam Coffey and Mallory Swanson are available for selection on Tuesday, but the former was assessed for concussion after the match and the latter may not be fit enough to start a second match in quick succession, so those circumstances could open up other spots in the rankings . field.

Even with the potential absences, Kilgore could view her final game in charge as an opportunity to hand starting roles to perceived locks like goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher and right back Emily Fox. There is still an opportunity to answer some questions in every area of ​​the field, including one about where Jaedyn Shaw’s best role lies, as she continues to be the shining star of a new generation of players. Kilgore’s picks could reveal the coaching staff’s true preferences, rather than just an opportunity to explore as many of the team’s variations as possible.

Here’s a look at the starting spots up for grabs in the SheBelieves Cup final against Canada.

Center defender

Abby Dahlkemper came on in place of Girma on Saturday and slotted in nicely alongside Tierna Davidson, nearly taking a lead in the race to be a substitute for the first-choice pair. However, the USWNT are quite deep in this position, meaning the answer to who would start in Girma’s place – if necessary – is not exactly clear yet.

If Dahlkemper gets the nod on Tuesday, a strong showing against Canada could count as a serious vote of confidence. The other centre-back in the camp is 21-year-old Eva Gaetino, who is still waiting for her first cap. A start in a final (or a decisive exhibition match before the Olympics, depending on who you ask) might be too ambitious in terms of first caps, so Dahlkemper could lead her in the depth chart for now. The big question mark in this category remains Alana Cook, who did not recover quickly enough from a minor injury for this camp, but has been in the USWNT fold for a while.

Kilgore appears to prefer a four-man defense, but three men at the back isn’t out of the question as she did just that during the USWNT’s wins over China in December. Dahlkemper and Fox started alongside Girma once, while Jenna Nighswonger played alongside Girma and Davidson another time. Doing so might open up spots on the flanks, where the USWNT is a bit undermanned but still has options like Crystal Dunn, Casey Krueger and Trinity Rodman around.

Left behind

Assuming Kilgore remains with four at the back, Tuesday’s decision could tip the scales toward one player. Dunn and Nighswonger split their time in the position during the Concacaf W Gold Cup and the latter got the nod on Saturday, again demonstrating her attacking attributes. The performance against Japan also showcased Nighswonger’s defensive vulnerabilities as she was the one exposed when Kiko Seike counter-attacked and scored a minute into the match.

A fresh start for Nighswonger could serve as an inkling that she is the front-runner for the position, while picking Dunn could suggest the battle is still on. The choice to play with three players at the back probably opens up space for both, but even then there is always room for Dunn. Her unique versatility means she could play in midfield. She has rarely played more advanced for the national team, but has played almost exclusively in midfield in the NWSL, most recently as a left winger for NJ/NY Gotham FC, while Nighswonger plays at left back.

Wide forward

Saturday’s midfield was designed to accommodate Swanson, but the strong performance from trio Sam Coffey, Lindsey Horan and Shaw was perhaps the biggest lesson of the match. If Coffey is healthy enough to do so, this group should get another outing, especially since the USWNT is currently understaffed at 10 – Rose Lavelle is out with an injury, while Catarina Macario might not be ready to start if she continues her return from an ACL tear.

Swanson would normally be a contender to start again, but it is unclear whether she is fit enough to start two games in quick succession. The USWNT usually has more options here with Lynn Williams, but even without her, she missed this roster while she recovers from injury. There’s a spot that could go straight to Sophia Smith or even Dunn.

If Smith returns to the lineup, the front three would look much the same as it did during the World Cup: Smith and Trinity Rodman on the wings, while Alex Morgan plays more centrally. That group didn’t produce much in last year’s competition, but it may be worth exploring whether results would be different if the shape and personnel behind them changed, at least while the USWNT waits for other players to return to fitness.