Who should make the US women’s Olympic soccer roster?

The United States Women’s National Team are roughly one month away from their opening match against Zambia in the 2024 Olympics, and one of the biggest decisions of the summer is coming up.

It is expected that USWNT head coach Emma Hayes will release her roster of players that will head to Paris for this year’s Summer Games.

This decision is a difficult one, with the Olympics being a tournament that only allows a full roster of 18 players. Teams can bring up to four alternates as well, but they are not on the gameday roster and are not eligible for a medal. Teams must bring two goalkeepers on its main roster, and a goalkeeper must be included on the alternates list.

There had been chatter about an expansion of the rosters, but nothing has been finalized and the roster to be release as early as Wednesday, will likely be 18 players and four alternates. Alternates can join the main roster if someone must be dropped due to injury before the tournament starts.

With a USWNT player pool that has only expanded over the past year, despite losing some players due to injury, the decision is that much harder for Hayes. The new U.S. coach has only been on the sidelines for two friendlies in June, and has to rely on her coaching staff to determine what they need on a smaller roster and who can fill every role that is necessary to try and win a gold medal.

So, who should make the roster? It’s an impossible task to build one and not leave a fan favorite off the list, but the Olympics’ strict roster requirements require a team to prioritize versatile athletes over those who can only perform in one role (with goalkeepers being the exception).

With all of that said, here’s who we think should make the USWNT roster:

Goalkeepers (2): Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage)

Defenders (6): Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave), Casey Krueger (Washington Spirit), Emily Fox (Arsenal FC), Jenna Nighswonger (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Tierna Davidson (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Emily Sonnett (NJ/NY Gotham FC)

Midfielders (4): Lily Yohannes (Ajax), Lindsey Horan (Lyon), Rose Lavelle (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns)

Forwards (6): Catarina Macario (Chelsea FC), Jaedyn Shaw (San Diego Wave), Mallory Swanson (Chicago Red Stars), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Crystal Dunn (NJ/NY Gotham FC)

Alternates (4): Aubrey Kingsbury (Washington Spirit), Sam Staab (Chicago Red Stars), Hal Hershfelt (Washington Spirit), Croix Bethune (Washington Spirit)

With that list, of course a ton of players who have received numerous caps for the USMNT are left at home: Lynn Williams, Alex Morgan, Olivia Moultrie, Jane Campbell, Korbin Albert, Ashley Sanchez, Andi Sullivan, and Alyssa Thompson, to name a few.

However, there are picks who so in form at the moment, that it’s impossible to leave them at home. And, based on some of the qualities that Hayes prefers, having midfielders who can play anywhere on the field is key. Crystal Dunn at forward is where she likely will be placed by Hayes, but that won’t stop her from playing in the midfield — or even at left back if necessary.

Lily Yohannes, the 16-year-old wunderkind would be cap-tied should she play with the USWNT at the Olympics, and it feels like that commitment would come with the roster announcement. Croix Bethune was the hardest player to leave off the list because she’s playing arguably the best of anyone in America right now. She has been dazzling for the Washington Spirit, but she makes it as an alternate and is on the ready should someone not be able to go due to injury.

We’ll find out soon who actually makes the roster, but we believe should Hayes go with his selection, she doesn’t just get versatility, she gets a US team that can truly go for gold.