Updated Predictions For the USWNT Olympic Roster for Paris 2024 (2024)

The Emma Hayes era has officially begun for the U.S. women's national team.

The United States faced South Korea in a pair of friendlies over the last several days, winning 4-0 in the first meeting and 3-0 in the second. In addition to the tactical setup — the USWNT's use of a 3-2-5 shape in possession that became a 4-4-2 in defense was especially notable —and press-conference banter from Hayes, we learned which players the new manager may lean on at this summer's Olympics in France.

As we said in our last roster predictions piece back in April, paring down an incredibly talented player pool to just 18 roster slots is a brutal process. Still, with the U.S.'s Olympic roster due to drop before their pair of send-off friendlies next month, it's time to start building the squad.

So let's get to predicting, shall we?

When Trinity Rodman, Mallory Swanson, and Sophia Smith all subbed on in the 62nd minute of Tuesday's 3-0 win, you could almost feel the fear radiating from South Korea's half of the field. Those three represent the best and most dynamic attackers that the United States has to offer. The trio is lighting quick, incredibly skilled on the ball, and is showing signs of improved connections and control in tight spots.

After starting together on Saturday (Smith played as the striker, Swanson played in the left halfspace, and Rodman played wide on the right side), Hayes took a look at a few other attackers to begin the match on Tuesday. But once the above three came off the bench, it looked like an entirely different game. Smith quickly scored to make it 2-0. Rodman then picked up the assist for the third goal off of a corner kick routine.

Hayes' willingness to use Smith as a striker helps get all three on the field together, giving the United States one of the most aggressive and incisive attackers in the world.

Alex Morgan didn't shine in her start for the U.S. on Tuesday, but there's likely still room for her in the squad as a veteran leader.

We're still very, very early into the Hayes era, but it's becoming increasingly clear that Sam Coffey and Lindsey Horan will be the United States' first-choice pairing in central midfield at the Olympics.

The two started together in the USWNT's 4-0 win over South Korea, with Coffey setting the tempo and Horan freelancing through the middle or even pulling wide to get on the ball and break lines. There's too much depth in the pure attacking midfield spots for Horan to be used higher up the field, so her fit alongside Coffey in the double pivot is a natural one.

Korbin Albert is more of a default pick here than anything else. She appeared in both of the June friendlies, coming off the bench on Saturday and starting next to Horan on Tuesday. Despite not adding much on the ball, Albert has played in each of the United States' last 11 matches. Her defensive work could be valuable in France, though.

Higher up the field, Catarina Macario enjoyed her first start for the USWNT in more than two years. Finally back from injury, the Chelsea playmaker started as the right-sided No. 10 on Saturday and looked smooth on the ball and effective with her set-piece deliveries. Macario's comfort in possession as both an attacking midfielder and a false nine makes her invaluable.

Jaedyn Shaw wasn't at her best in these friendlies, but has been a revelation in the NWSL with San Diego and was excellent in both the Concacaf W Gold Cup and in the SheBelieves Cup earlier this year. She's in line for minutes at the Olympics — as is Rose Lavelle. Assuming she's fit (which is rarely a safe assumption with Lavelle), her existing chemistry with the U.S.'s best attackers and her silky smooth touch in tight spots make her an obvious addition to the squad.

There's plenty for Hayes and USWNT fans to feel good about in this defensive depth chart.

Naomi Girma is still a written-in-ink starter for the United States in the middle of the backline. She started as the central center back in the U.S.'s 3-2-5 possession shape in the first game of this window and looked wonderfully composed on the ball, all while continuing to be her same lock-down defensive self at the other end. Girma is a complete player. Expect her to be pushing for the Best XI at the Olympics.

With Abby Dahlkemper left off the U.S.'s most recent roster, Tierna Davidson looks like a lock as the other pure center back in the XI. Davidson was effective on the ball against South Korea, much like Girma, and looked at home next to the San Diego Wave stalwart.

Emily Sonnett, who can deputize in any position in the backline or at the base of midfield, played as a center back in the USWNT's second match against South Korea and was listed as a defender on U.S. Soccer's roster release for the June camp. She'll be in France, too.

Moving toward the fullback positions, Emily Fox, Jenna Nighswonger, and Crystal Dunn bring a delightful amount of flexibility to the outside of the defense. Fox wasn't the cleanest in this window, but she thrives as a stay-at-home fullback on the right side. Nighswonger, for her part, looked very adaptable playing high and wide on the left, bombing forward from her fullback spot to join the frontline in possession. The same goes for Dunn, who played on both sides across the U.S.'s two most recent friendlies.

It's hard to imagine a more flexible trio of outside backs, which is a huge asset for an 18-player roster.

Alyssa Naeher missed this June international window with a thigh injury, so we haven't actually seen her under Hayes just yet. Jane Campbell, Aubrey Kingsbury, and Casey Murphy all enjoyed call-ups in the absence of the Chicago Red Stars starter.

If we look back, however, Naeher continued to get starts at the international level after Hayes was announced as the USWNT's new manager last year. Even though interim manager Twila Kilgore was leading the charge for the United States between that announcement and this most recent international window, Hayes had input in the U.S.'s rosters.

Naeher is still in the plans for the United States as they prepare for the Olympics, there's no doubt about that.

"I know exactly who Alyssa Naeher is," Hayes said after the first match of the window. "Been an established world-class goalkeeper for several years. An injury prevented her from being here. If she wasn't injured, she for sure would be in this camp."

I'm betting she'll be the starter in France.

It's difficult to choose a backup goalkeeper, given that Jane Campbell and Casey Murphy each started a game against South Korea. Still, I'm going with Murphy. She produced a big save in the first half on Tuesday and is more experienced at the international level.