USWNT Women's World Cup 2023 roster: Who will Vlatko Andonovski take to Australia & New Zealand?

It's expected that the most predictable department on this roster will concern the goalkeepers.

Alyssa Naeher, Casey Murphy and Adrianna Franch is the trio Andonovski has selected for the USWNT's last four camps, with Naeher likely to be No.1 choice.

Both Aubrey Kingsbury (one cap) and Bella Bixby (uncapped) were both called up in 2022, but it seems unlikely either will push their way into the World Cup squad at this point.

With the quality and experience the USWNT has in its defensive options, it feels like - one way or another - there is going to be a notable name left off this roster.

Becky Sauerbrunn, Naomi Girma and Alana Cook appear to be shoo-ins, with Emily Fox and Sofia Huerta having nailed down regular starting roles in the build-up to the World Cup as well. Crystal Dunn is another extremely likely to make the roster.

That's six names already. So who else will Andonovski pick?

Tierna Davidson made her return from an ACL injury in March and offers top quality cover at both full-back and centre-back. Kelley O'Hara is back, too, while Emily Sonnett made her first appearance in six months after injury in the USWNT's January camp.

Meanwhile, Hailie Mace, Carson Pickett and Imani Dorsey are others who Andonovski has looked at, with Casey Krueger making a return to the squad in April after giving birth to her first child last year.

Picking a well-balanced group of defenders and ensuring there is quality and cover in all areas will be one of Andonovski's toughest tasks when it comes to selecting the 23 players he will take to Australia and New Zealand.

There are a lot of questions surrounding the USWNT's midfield - particularly its base.

Julie Ertz was out for some time after the Olympics in 2021 as she gave birth to her first child. In her absence, Andonovski found it difficult to find someone to play in her role.

Rose Lavelle excelled in a deeper position in January against New Zealand but Sam Coffey, who appears to be a perfect fit for the role, didn't see any game time.

While many believe Coffey should be on the World Cup roster, her lack of minutes in the USWNT's first camp of 2023 and omissions since suggests Andonovski has other ideas, with him trialling Taylor Kornieck as a No.6 and also having Andi Sullivan as a strong option there.

Then, in April, despite her not having been back on the pitch beforehand, Andonovski recalled Ertz to his squad. Her return is huge and certainly changes the outlook on which midfielders will be picked.

Lavelle is sure to be on the plane to Australia and New Zealand, as is Lyon's Lindsey Horan. Ashley Sanchez appears to have established herself in the coach's plans, too.

Catarina Macario is in the latter stages of her recovery from an ACL injury now and is one of this team's most important players. Should all go well on her return, one would think she will also have a ticket.

Jaelin Howell still has an outside chance of making the roster, while Kristie Mewis having had a big chance to impress at the SheBelieves Cup and stake her claim.

The strength in depth that the USWNT has right now in the forward areas is insane.

Few players in world football had a better year in 2022 than Sophia Smith, who became the NWSL's youngest MVP in history.

Alex Morgan was the only player to score more league goals last season, winning her first ever NWSL Golden Boot at the age of 33.

Mallory Swanson (née Pugh) and Ashley Hatch were fifth and sixth in those scoring standings respectively, with the former having a particularly fruitful run in front of goal for the national team right now.

Then there's Trinity Rodman, one of the most exciting young talents in world football and a player who is clearly growing and maturing every time she plays for the USWNT. At the other end of the age spectrum is Megan Rapinoe, who is not any less effective as she approaches her 38th birthday.

Lynn Williams' return in January will have only intensified Andonovski's selection headache, with both her and Midge Purce impressing enough to retain a place on the roster for the SheBelieves Cup.

That's before we even mention teenage talent Alyssa Thompson, who made her debut in October. Andonovski didn't include her on his April roster, but said he expects her to "make a case" for the World Cup squad. She already marked her NWSL debut with a stunning goal in March.

Smith, Rapinoe, Morgan and Swanson feel like the safest bets to get on the roster for this summer, with Andonovski set to make some incredibly - and unenviable - tough calls on the rest.

Andonovski's USWNT will continue in a 4-3-3 set-up, with Naeher likely to take the starting spot in goal.

It's a battle between Girma, Sauerbrunn and Cook for the two center-back spots, with the latter perhaps to miss out in a first-choice XI.

Again, there are three players vying for two spots when it comes to the outside backs. Dunn should start on the left, while Fox could edge out Huerta on the opposite flank.

A trio of Lavelle, Horan and Macario would represent the USWNT's best options in a midfield three, though the latter could be pushed into the front line if Andonovski opts for more defensive stability in there with Sullivan, for example.

The forward line is probably the toughest to call, with Morgan to lead the line, Swanson to start on the left and Smith to operate from the right a possibility.

USWNT XI (4-3-3): Naeher; Fox, Girma, Sauerbrunn, Dunn; Horan, Lavelle, Macario; Smith, Morgan, Swanson.

There are several key names missing for the USWNT at the moment, including four world champions.

Abby Dahlkemper underwent surgery in November and, while she has since provided a positive update, there is no timeline as for when she will be back on the pitch.

There is no indication as to when Heath will be back playing, either. After an injury-plagued spell at Arsenal, she moved back to the U.S. to join OL Reign and had knee surgery in September.

The same goes for Christen Press, who has been out with an ACL injury since June 2022. "1 knee. 8 months. 3 surgeries. My unique journey," Press wrote on Instagram in an update provided on March 1, 2023. "Relentless optimism + enduring hope. Little wins. Letting go."

Sam Mewis, meanwhile, has not featured for club or country since August 2021. The midfielder has been suffering with a knee problem that needed a second surgery in January 2023.

"This has been a really difficult time for me personally and I’ve been devastated to be away from soccer for so long," she said upon providing the update. There is no timeline for her return.