(July 20, 2023) – Five Cal South alumni are featured on the roster of the U.S. Women’s National Team that will begin the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup this weekend with its opening Group E match against Vietnam. The game is not only Vietnam’s first-ever match in a World Cup, but also the first time these two nations have met on the pitch.

Forwards Alex Morgan, Alyssa Thompson, and Trinity Rodman, and midfielders Ashley Sanchez and Savannah DeMelo all made their mark on the local youth soccer scene as members of Cal South affiliate member clubs or through their experience in Cal South’s Pro+ Olympic Development Program (ODP). Additionally, Morgan – already a veteran of three World Cups, having won two of them in 2015 and 2019 – has been named as co-captain of the team alongside teammate Lindsey Horan.

The U.S/Vietnam match will take place at Eden Park in Auckland/Tāmaki Makaurau, New Zealand at 1:00 p.m. NZT on Saturday, July 22, but because New Zealand is on the other side of the International Date Line, the game will air here on Friday night, July 21st at 9:00 p.m. ET. The game will air on several networks, including FOX, Telemundo, Universo, and Peacock (check your local listings).

The other USWNT Group E matches include the Netherlands on July 27 at Wellington Regional Stadium in Wellington/Te Whanganui-a-Tara (1 p.m. local / 9 p.m. ET on July 26), and then Portugal on Aug. 1 at Eden Park in Auckland/Tāmaki Makaurau (7 p.m. local / 3 a.m. ET).

For full coverage of the U.S. Women’s National Team at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, please visit https://www.ussoccer.com/. We will also post updates on the team’s progress here on calsouth.com throughout the tournament.

U.S. WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM 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