The 2023 Women’s FIFA World Cup hosted by Australia and New Zealand kicks off July 20 and runs through August 20. The United States, led by holdovers Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan and rising stars Sophia Smith and Alyssa Thompson, is heavily favored to win a record third consecutive title. The Americans are the only four-time World Cup winners, claiming titles in 1991, 1999, 2015 and 2019. The U.S. begins group stage play against Vietnam on July 22. Portugal and the Netherlands are the other teams in Group E.
The star-laden U.S. World Cup roster is comprised of 23 players. In addition, there are numerous players with U.S. ties competing in the tournament for other countries.
PLAYERS WITH US TIES
Here’s a state by state breakdown of players you may want to follow. This list includes the 23 on the U.S. team roster and players with U.S. ties playing for Haiti, Panama and the Philippines. In addition, various World Cup watch parties and soccer celebrations are planned across the country. Contact local soccer clubs to find out if there’s anything going on in your area. The US Youth Soccer website is a good place to start: Click the menu in the upper left corner and go to “State Sites.”
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ALABAMA
- Riley Tanner, played in college at the University of Alabama, and plays for the NWSL’s Washington Spirit and Panama’s national team
- Hilary Jaen, former South Alabama player; plays for Panama’s national team
ARIZONA
- Julie Ertz, birthplace and hometown Mesa; plays for NWSL’s Angel City FC
CALIFORNIA
- Naomi Girma, birthplace and hometown San Jose; played at Stanford and plays for NWSL’s San Diego Wave FC
- Sophia Smith, played at Stanford and plays for Portland Thorns FC
- Andi Sullivan, played at Stanford and plays for Washington Spirit
- Kelly O’Hara, played at Stanford and plays for NWSL’s NJ-NY Gotham FC
- Savannah DeMelo, birthplace and hometown Bellflower; played at University of Southern California and plays for Louisville FC
- Julie Ertz, played at Santa Clara University and plays for Angel City FC
- Sofia Huerta, played at Santa Clara University and plays for NWSL’s OL Reign
- Alana Cook, played at Stanford and plays for OL Reign
- Ashley Sanchez, birthplace Pasadena, hometown Monrovia; played at UCLA and plays for Washington Spirit
- Alex Morgan, birthplace San Dimas, hometown Diamond Bar; played at Berkeley and plays for San Diego Wave FC
- Megan Rapinoe, birthplace and hometown Redding; plays for OL Reign
- Trinity Rodman, birthplace Newport Beach, hometown Laguna Niguel; plays for Washington Spirit
- Alyssa Thompson, birthplace and hometown Studio City; plays for Angel City FC
- Lynn Williams, birthplace and hometown Fresno; played at Pepperdine University and plays for NJ/NY Gotham FC
- Kaiya Jota, hometown Baldwin Park; has committed to Stanford University and plays for the Philippines national team
- Maya Alcantara, hometown Rancho Cucamonga; plays for Georgetown University and the Philippines national team
- Kaya Hawkinson, hometown Rancho Palos Verdes; plays for Cal State Fullerton and the Philippines national team
COLORADO
- Lindsey Horan, birthplace and hometown Golden; plays for Olympique Lyonnais (France)
- Sophia Smith, birthplace and hometown Windsor; plays for Portland Thorns FC
CONNECTICUT
- Alyssa Naeher, birthplace Bridgeport, hometown Stratford; plays for NWSL’s Chicago Red Stars
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
- Aubrey Kingsbury, who plays for Washington Spirit
- Ashley Sanchez, who plays for Washington Spirit
- Andi Sullivan, who plays for Washington Spirit
- Trinity Rodman, who plays for Washington Spirit
- Lara Larco, who plays for Georgetown University and Haitian national team
- Riley Tanner, who plays for Washington Spirit and Panama’s national team
- Maya Alcantara, who plays for Georgetown University and the Philippines national team
FLORIDA
- Kerly Theus, who plays for USL W League’s FC Miami City and Haitian national team
- Lara Larco, hometown Boca Raton; plays for Georgetown University and Haitian national team
- Nahomie Ambroise, who plays for Little Haiti FC and Haitian national team
- Noa Olivia Ganthier, hometown Boca Raton; plays for Lipscomb University and Haitian national team
GEORGIA
- Kelley O’Hara, birthplace Peachtree, hometown Fayetteville; plays for NWSL’s NJ-NY Gotham FC
- Emily Sonnett, birthplace and hometown Marietta; plays for OL Reign
HAWAII
- Andi Sullivan, birthplace Honolulu; plays for Washington Spirit
IDAHO
- Sofia Huerta, birthplace and hometown Boise; plays for NWSL’s OL Reign
ILLINOIS
- Alyssa Naeher, plays for NWSL’s Chicago Red Stars
- Alicia Barker, played in college at Illinois, and plays for Pacific Northwest SC and Philippines national team
KENTUCKY
- Savannah DeMelo, plays for Louisville FC
MASSACHUSETTS
- Kristie Mewis, birthplace Weymouth, hometown Hanson; played at Boston College and played plays for NWSL’s NJ/NY Gotham FC
MICHIGAN
- Riley Tanner, hometown Caledonia; plays for the NWSL’s Washington Spirit and Panama’s national team
MISSISSIPPI
- Ruthny Mathurin, plays for Mississippi State and Haitian national team
- Hilary Jaen, plays for Jones College and Panama’s national team
NEW JERSEY
- Casey Murphy, birthplace and hometown Bridgewater; played at Rutgers University and plays for NWSL’s North Carolina Courage
- Alana Cook, birthplace Worcester, hometown Far Hills; plays for OL Reign
- Kelley O’Hara, plays for NJ-NY Gotham FC
- Kristie Mewis, plays for NJ/NY Gotham FC
- Lynn Williams, plays for NJ/NY Gotham FC
NEW YORK
- Crystal Dunn, birthplace New Hyde, hometown Rockville Centre; plays for NWSL’s Portland Thorns FC
- Kelley O’Hara, plays for NJ-NY Gotham FC
- Kristie Mewis, plays for NJ/NY Gotham FC
- Lynn Williams, plays for NJ/NY Gotham FC
NORTH CAROLINA
- Casey Murphy, plays for NWSL’s North Carolina Courage
- Emily Fox, played at University of North Carolina and plays for NWSL’s North Carolina Courage
- Crystal Dunn, played at University of North Carolina and plays for NWSL’s Portland Thorns FC
- Aubrey Kingsbury, played at Wake Forest and plays for NWSL’s Washington Spirit
OHIO
- Aubrey Kingsbury, birthplace and hometown Cincinnati; plays for NWSL’s Washington Spirit
- Rose Lavelle, birthplace and hometown Cincinnati; plays for OL Reign
OREGON
- Crystal Dunn, plays for NWSL’s Portland Thorns FC
- Sophia Smith, plays for Portland Thorns FC
- Megan Rapinoe, played at University of Portland and plays for OL Reign
PENNSYLVANIA
- Alyssa Naeher, played at Penn State and plays for NWSL’s Chicago Red Stars
SOUTH CAROLINA
- Carleigh Frilles, transferred from Coast Carolina to Virginia Commonwealth University and plays for the Philippines national team
TENNESSEE
- Noa Olivia Ganthier, plays for Lipscomb University and Haitian national team
TEXAS
- Isabella Pasion, plays for Lebanon Trail High School and Philippines national team
VIRGINIA
- Emily Fox, birthplace and hometown Ashburn; plays for NWSL’s North Carolina Courage
- Emily Sonnett, played at University of Virginia and plays for OL Reign
- Andi Sullivan, hometown Lorton; plays for the Washington Spirit
- Milan Pierre-Jerome, plays for George Mason University and Haitian national team
- Danielle Etienne, hometown Richmond; plays for Fordham University and Haitian national team
- Carleigh Frilles, hometown Haymarket; transferred to Virginia Commonwealth University from Coastal Carolina and plays for the Philippines national team
WASHINGTON
- Alana Cook, plays for NWSL’s OL Reign
- Sofia Huerta, plays for OL Reign
- Rose Lavelle, plays for OL Reign
- Megan Rapinoe, plays for OL Reign
- Emily Sonnett, plays for OL Reign
- Alicia Barker, hometown Woodinville; plays for Pacific Northwest SC and Philippines national team
WEST VIRGINIA
- Isabella Flanigan, hometown Fairmont; plays for Philippines national team
WISCONSIN
- Rose Lavelle, played at University of Wisconsin and plays for OL Reign
