Coming off its first Olympic gold medal in 12 years, the core of a reinvigorated USMNT looks primed for more success
It's been four whole days since the U.S. women's national team won Olympic Gold so, naturally, it's well past time to move on. Well, not really. There are still celebrations and parades to schedule. The party is just beginning.
But in full candor, the road to the next tournament has already begun. The World Cup will be back before you know it and, after seeing what Emma Hayes accomplished just in a few weeks time, it's hard not to wonder what she can pull off with a few years of preparation.
Hayes and the USWNT taught us this summer that change can happen quickly. Just a few short months ago, the U.S. was down on its luck and in need of soul-searching. Now, they're champions once again. Gold medals in hand, they're on top of the world.
But what will that world look like in three years? How will this USWNT group evolve on the road to the 2027 World Cup? GOAL takes a look.
Getty ImagesGK: Casey Murphy
Could Alyssa Naeher stick around through 2027? Sure. Will she? It's hard to imagine.
Naeher will be 39 by the time the next World Cup rolls around, so it's safe to assume that, before then, she'll have passed the torch. Murphy, 28, looks set to take on the No. 1 spot, having waited in the wings as backup for some time. It's a role Naeher broke out of after years in Hope Solo's shadow – can Murphy do the same?
AdvertisementGetty ImagesLB: Jenna Nighswonger
It looked like this would be Nighswonger's big summer, but it wasn't to be. Crystal Dunn held down that left-back spot for one more tournament, leaving Nighswonger to a super-sub role.
Nighswonger's time is coming, though. Dunn is 32 and Nighswonger is nine years her junior. The young fullback is certainly on the rise, making her the favorite for that role for a long time.
Getty ImagesCB: Naomi Girma
We won't even waste time on this one. If she's healthy, Girma starts for the next decade. The 24-year-old is probably the best defender in the world. End of story.
GettyCB: Tierna Davidson
This spot is a bit more open but, for now, it goes to Davidson. Determining Girma's partner was one of the big challenges leading up to the Olympics and, despite injury issues, Davidson did well in France.
There are up-and-comers like Sam Staab and Emily Sams, but, for now, the job is Davidson's as she enters her prime just in time for the next World Cup.