(KTXL) — The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup begins in less than one month in New Zealand.
On Wednesday, The United States Women’s National Team unveiled the roster of players it will be sending to Australia and New Zealand on July 20.
At first glance, this roster may seem like nothing more than one full of NWSL All-Stars and former All-Americans. One that is fully capable of winning its fifth World Cup title in team history.
But further investigation into this roster reveals another connection that ties almost the entire USWNT roster together: The state of California.
• Six players on the USWNT currently play for an NSWL team in California.
• Eight out of 23 players on the USWNT were born in the state of California.
• Twelve out of 23 players for the USWNT attended or committed to a college in California.
Below is a list of the USWNT players and their connections to the Golden State.
Birthplace: San Jose, California (Santa Clara County)
College: Stanford University, majoring in symbolic systems. She is currently getting her master’s degree from Stanford in Management Science and Engineering
NSWL Team: San Diego Wave FC
Position: Defender
Notable accomplishments: First-ever player to win both Rookie of the Year and Defender of the Year in NSWL. Won an NCAA Championship with Stanford in 2019.
Birthplace: Bellflower, California (Los Angeles County)
College: USC, majoring in Health and Human Sciences
NSWL Team: Louisville FC
Position: Midfielder
Notable accomplishments: Awarded All-Pac-12 and All-American honors while at USC.
Birthplace: Monrovia, California (Los Angeles County)
College: UCLA, majoring in political science
NSWL Team: Washington Spirit
Position: Midfielder
Notable accomplishments: All-American selection at UCLA
Birthplace: Diamond Bar, California (Los Angeles County)
College: UC Berkeley, majoring in political economy
NSWL Team: San Diego Wave FC
Position: Forward
Notable accomplishments: Won 2022 NSWL Golden Boot (awarded to the league’s top scorer) for San Diego FC, scoring 15 goals in 17 games. Currently ranked fifth all-time in goals scored for the USWNT.
Birthplace: Redding, California (Shasta County)
College: University of Portland, majoring in sociology
NSWL Team: OL Reign
Position: Forward
Notable accomplishments: Ranked 10th all-time in goals scored for the USWNT. Only soccer player ever and the sixth female athlete to be awarded a Presidential Medal of Freedom(received the award from President Joe Biden on July 7, 2022).
Birthplace: Laguna Niguel, California (Orange County) (Dennis Rodman’s daughter)
College: Washington State University, never played a game because the 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19
NSWL Team: Washington Spirit
Position: Forward
Notable accomplishments: Selected No. 2 overall by the Washington Spirit in the 2021 NSWL Draft as an 18-year-old. Won the 2021 NSWL Championship as a member of the Washington Spirit.
Birthplace: Fresno, California (Fresno County)
College: Pepperdine University, majoring in psychology
NSWL Team: NJ/NY Gotham FC
Position: Forward
Notable accomplishments: Pepperdine’s first-ever All-American selection. Currently has the most goals for an American in NSWL history.
Birthplace: Studio City, California (Los Angeles County)
College: Committed to Stanford at 15 years old, but decommitted to go pro.
NSWL Team: Angel City FC
Position: Forward
Notable accomplishments: Youngest selection in NSWL history at 18 years old. Selected No. 1 overall by Angel City FC.
Birthplace: Mesa, Arizona
College: Santa Clara University, majoring in communications
NSWL Team: Angel City FC
Position: Midfielder
Notable accomplishments: Awarded All-American honors while attending Santa Clara University. 2014 NSWL Rookie of the Year.
Birthplace: Far Hills, New Jersey
College: Stanford University, majoring in symbolic systems
NSWL Team: OL Reign
Position: Defender
Notable accomplishments: Team captain, All-American, NCAA Champion in her time at Stanford.
Birthplace: Boise, Idaho
College: Santa Clara University, majoring in communications
NSWL Team: OL Reign
Position: Defender
Notable accomplishments: First player from the state of Idaho to appear in a match for the USWNT. Awarded All-American and All-Conference honors as a forward at Santa Clara University.
Birthplace: Fayetteville, Georgia
College: Stanford University, majoring in science, technology, and society with a focus on environmental engineering
NSWL Team: NJ/NY Gotham FC
Position: Defender
Notable accomplishments: Won a championship with FC Gold Pride, a Bay Area team from the WPS. Won the Hermann Trophy at Stanford (awarded to college soccer’s top player)
Birthplace: Windsor, Colorado
College: Stanford University
NSWL Team: Portland Thorns FC
Position: Forward
Notable accomplishments: NSWL 2022 Champion, NSWL 2022 Championship Game MVP, youngest NSWL MVP in league history at 22 (awarded in 2022), Single-season record holder for most goals (14) in a season for Portland Thorns FC, 2019 NCAA Champion
Birthplace: Lorton, Virginia
College: Stanford University, majoring in symbolic systems
NSWL Team: Washington Spirit
Position: Midfielder
Accomplishments: Team captain, NCAA Champion, Hermann Trophy winner in her time at Stanford. 2021 NSWL Champion.
The USWNT is coming off its fourth World Cup championship in 2019 and is looking to win its fifth WC title in team history.
The FIFA Women’s World Cup, which happens every four years, starts on July 20 with a match between New Zealand and Norway at Eden Park in New Zealand.
Following that match will be Australia, who is sharing hosting duties with New Zealand this year, kicking off against the Republic of Ireland in Stadium Australia.
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