(Photo Credit: Stanford Athletics)
A whopping five former Stanford women’s soccer players have been selected for the U.S. Women’s National Team roster ahead of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Stanford alum Kelley O’Hara will be making her fourth World Cup appearance this summer, while four more Cardinal will be making their debuts in the event: Alana Cook, Naomi Girma, Sophia Smith and Andi Sullivan.
With 5-of-23 players on the USWNT’s World Cup roster, Stanford has far and away the most representation of any college program. Fellow California program Santa Clara (Julie Ertz and Sofia Huerta) and the North Carolina Tar Heels (Emily Fox and Crystal Dunn) have two players each on the USA roster, and no other colleges had more than one alum called up.
The USWNT Roster for the 2023 Women’s World Cup has been announced, here’s where they played in college. pic.twitter.com/qcPnzdw5fa
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) June 21, 2023
Even more impressive is that the five Stanford players who were called up by USWNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski are only a handful of the Cardinal alumni who could have made the cut for this year’s World Cup. Superstar forward Christen Press (already a two-time World Cup winner in 2015 and 2019) is currently out of commission with a torn ACL, but would have been a shoe-in had she been healthy.
Chicago Red Stars defender and Stanford alum Tierna Davidson, who is only 24 years old, is widely considered to be perhaps the most noteworthy ‘snub’ from the USWNT World Cup roster, but was likely left off in part due the fact that she is also coming off an injury. All signs are pointing to Davidson being a staple on the USWNT for many years to come. Other Stanford alumni who are currently in the USWNT roster pool include, Catarina Macario and Jane Campbell.
Since taking over at the helm of Stanford’s soccer program in 2003, head coach Paul Ratcliffe has led the program to three national titles (2011, 2017, 2019) while overseeing the development of dozens of professional players. Even prior to Ratcliffe’s arrival, USWNT legends like Julie Foudy spend their college days on “The Farm“.
The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup runs from July 20-Aug. 20 in 10 stadiums and nine host cities, five in Australia and four in New Zealand. This will be the first Women’s World Cup featuring 32 nations, up from 24 in the previous two tournaments.
History of Stanford Players with the USWNT
| Name | Year(s) | Caps | Goals/Cleansheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Julie Foudy | 1988-2004 | 272 | 45 |
| Kelley O’Hara | 2010-present | 156 | 3 |
| Christen Press | 2013-present | 155 | 64 |
| Rachel (Buehler) Van Hollebeke | 2008-15 | 113 | 5 |
| Nicole Barnhart | 2004-13 | 54 | — |
| Tierna Davidson | 2018-present | 48 | 1 |
| Sarah Rafanelli | 1992-95 | 34 | 8 |
| Andi Sullivan | 2016-present | 32 | 3 |
| Sophia Smith | 2020-present | 21 | 8 |
| Catarina Macario | 2021-present | 17 | 8 |
| Alana Cook | 2020-present | 14 | — |
| Jane Campbell | 2017-present | 7 | 4 |
| Naomi Girma | 2022-present | 6 | — |
| Ally Marquand | 2001 | 4 | — |
| Ronnie Fair | 1997-98 | 3 | — |
| Marcie Ward | 2001 | 3 | — |
| Jessica Fischer | 1993 | 2 | — |
| Tegan McGrady | 2018 | 1 | — |
USWNT ROSTER BY POSITION (CLUB; CAPS/GOALS) – 2023 FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP
GOALKEEPERS (3): Aubrey Kingsbury* (Washington Spirit; 1), Casey Murphy* (North Carolina Courage; 14), Alyssa Naeher*** (Chicago Red Stars; 90)
DEFENDERS (7): Alana Cook* (OL Reign; 24/1), Crystal Dunn** (Portland Thorns FC; 131/24), Emily Fox* (North Carolina Courage; 28/1), Naomi Girma* (San Diego Wave FC; 15/0), Sofia Huerta* (OL Reign; 29/0), Kelley O’Hara**** (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 157/3), Emily Sonnett** (OL Reign; 74/1)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Savannah DeMelo* (Racing Louisville FC; 0/0), Julie Ertz*** (Angel City FC; 118/20), Lindsey Horan** (Olympique Lyon, FRA; 128/27), Rose Lavelle** (OL Reign; 88/24), Kristie Mewis* (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 51/7), Ashley Sanchez* (Washington Spirit; 24/3), Andi Sullivan* (Washington Spirit; 44/3)
FORWARDS (6): Alex Morgan**** (San Diego Wave FC; 206/121), Megan Rapinoe**** (OL Reign; 199/63), Trinity Rodman* (Washington Spirit; 17/2), Sophia Smith* (Portland Thorns FC; 29/12), Alyssa Thompson* (Angel City FC; 3/0), Lynn Williams* (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 52/15)
* First Women’s World Cup
** Second Women’s World Cup
*** Third Women’s World Cup
**** Fourth Women’s World Cup
