United States women's national under-23 soccer team

United States Under-23
Nickname(s)	Team USA; The Stars and Stripes; The Yanks
Association	United States Soccer Federation
Confederation	CONCACAF (North America)
Head coach	Carrie Kveton
FIFA code	USA
First colors	Second colors
Nordic Cup
Appearances	12 (first in 1997)
Best result	Winners (1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008)

The United States U-23 women's national soccer team is a youth soccer team operated under the auspices of U.S. Soccer. Its primary role is the development of players in preparation for the full Women's National Team. The team competes in a variety of competitions, including the annual Nordic Cup, which is the top competition for this age group.

History[edit]

Beginnings as a U-20 program[edit]

The United States U-23 team has been active since 1989, however it was run as a U-20 team from its inception until 1998.^[1] Its main goal was to prepare college players for the step up to international soccer. Women had no viable opportunities to enhance their playing abilities, aside from overseas, since the United States lacked a top-level domestic league during this time.

The switch to U-21[edit]

In 1998, United States Soccer Federation decided to make the team a U-21 team in order to give women a higher level of play to better prepare them for the full National Team. In accordance with this strategy, the U-21 team frequently rostered "over-aged" players in the U-21 training camps, as well as the Nordic Cup. It remained a U-21 team from 1998 through 2008.

Competing as a U-23 team[edit]

2008 saw the change of the USA's oldest youth national team moved to the U-23 level. The move was made by the United States Soccer Federation in response to age-level changes FIFA had made to its oldest women's youth competition, now named FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup. The age limit was raised from being a U-19 tournament to a U-20 tournament. This change, coupled with a newly introduced U-23 age limit to the Nordic Cup, prompted the USSF to rethink and eventually change the youth development team. The team continues to serve as a stepping-stone for collegiate and post-collegiate players to the United States Women's National Team.^[2] Additionally, many U-23 players develop further through the National Women's Soccer League. While many of the post-collegiate players play in this league to develop their game, the U-23's turned focus on college players who are out of season and may not yet be NWSL-eligible.

Results and schedule[edit]

The following is a list of match results from the previous 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

Legend

Win Draw Lose Fixture

17 February 2023 (2023-02-17) Friendly	France	0–2	United States	Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines, France
		Report	Thompson 14' Rouse 31' Flynn 43' Cooper 82'	Stadium: CNFE Clairefontaine Attendance: 40 Referee: Aurelie Efe (France)

20 February 2023 (2023-02-20) Friendly	France	1–1	United States	Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines, France
	Roth 83'	Report	Thompson 13'	Stadium: CNFE Clairefontaine Referee: Siham Benmahamed France

20 February 2023 (2023-02-20) Friendly	France	1–1	United States	Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines, France
	Roth 83'	Report	Thompson 13'	Stadium: CNFE Clairefontaine Referee: Siham Benmahamed France

12 March 2023 (2023-03-12) Friendly	OL Reign	3–0	United States	Portland, Oregon
2:30 PM PST	Balcer 17', 32' Flynn 57' (o.g.) Sonnett 72'	Report		Stadium: Providence Park

15 March 2023 (2023-03-15) Friendly	Portland Thorns FC	4–1	United States	Portland, Oregon
7:30 pm PST	Flynn 58' D'Aquila 73' Smith 84' Weaver 90' Sugita 91'	Report	Weber 13'	Stadium: Providence Park Referee: Dion Coxe

18 March 2023 (2023-03-18) Friendly	Racing Louisville	3–1	United States	Portland, Oregon
5:00 pm PST	Pikkujämsä 14' Kanu 25' Borges 42' Wang 70'	Report	Turner 24'	Stadium: Providence Park Referee: Dion Coxe

Players[edit]

Current squad[edit]

The following players were named to the squad for the Portland Thorns FC preseason tournament.^[3]^[4]^[5]

Caps and goals are current as of March 18, 2023, after match against Racing Louisville.^[6]

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Ryan Campbell	(21)	1	0	Stanford
12	1GK	Neeku Purcell	(2003-10-07) October 7, 2003 (age 19)	2	0	UCLA

8	2DF	Lauren Flynn	(2002-05-22) May 22, 2002 (age 20)	5	0	Florida State
19	2DF	Eva Gaetino	(2002-12-17) December 17, 2002 (age 20)	5	0	Notre Dame
4	2DF	Lilly Reale	(2003-08-12) August 12, 2003 (age 19)	2	0	UCLA
6	2DF	Kate Wiesner	(2001-02-11) February 11, 2001 (age 22)	5	0	Penn State
9	2DF	Quincy McMahon	(2002-09-26) September 26, 2002 (age 20)	3	0	UCLA
10	2DF	Ayo Oke	(2003-04-05) April 5, 2003 (age 19)	3	0	California
20	2DF	Talia Staude	(2001-04-30) April 30, 2001 (age 21)	3	0	Virginia
7	2DF	Ellie Wheeler	(2001-12-14) December 14, 2001 (age 21)	3	0	Penn State

5	3MF	Talia DellaPeruta	(2002-04-19) April 19, 2002 (age 20)	1	0	North Carolina
21	3MF	Sunshine Fontes	(2001-02-25) February 25, 2001 (age 22)	3	0	UCLA
22	3MF	Annie Karich	(2003-10-26) October 26, 2003 (age 19)	3	0	Santa Clara
18	3MF	Felicia Knox	(2001-07-24) July 24, 2001 (age 21)	3	0	Alabama
16	3MF	Alexis Missimo	(2003-01-30) January 30, 2003 (age 20)	5	0	Texas
11	3MF	Jillian Shimkin	(2003-02-21) February 21, 2003 (age 20)	3	0	Texas
17	3MF	Sarah Weber	(2003-02-14) February 14, 2003 (age 20)	3	0	Nebraska

15	4FW	Trinity Byars	(2003-01-29) January 29, 2003 (age 20)	2	0	Texas
13	4FW	Taylor Huff	(2002-08-16) August 16, 2002 (age 20)	5	0	Florida State
2	2DF	Avery Patterson	(2002-06-14) June 14, 2002 (age 20)	3	0	North Carolina
14	4FW	Simone Jackson	(2003-01-28) January 28, 2003 (age 20)	3	0	USC
24	4FW	Brittany Raphino	(22)	3	0	Brown
3	4FW	Reilyn Turner	(2002-10-18) October 18, 2002 (age 20)	3	1	UCLA

Recent call-ups[edit]

The following players were named to a squad in the last 12 months.

February 2023 friendlies^[7]

2022 Women's U-23 Three-Nations Tournament^[8]

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Hensley Hancuff	(2000-08-03) August 3, 2000 (age 22)	2	0	Brisbane Roar	February 2023 friendlies
GK	Lauren Kozal	(2000-07-11) July 11, 2000 (age 22)	2	0	Portland Thorns FC	February 2023 friendlies

DF	Megan Bornkamp	(2001-11-19) November 19, 2001 (age 21)	2	0	Clemson	February 2023 friendlies
DF	Laney Rouse	(2002-08-31) August 31, 2002 (age 20)	2	0	Virginia	February 2023 friendlies

MF	Korbin Albert	(2003-10-13) October 13, 2003 (age 19)	2	0	PSG	February 2023 friendlies
MF	Hannah Bebar	(2001-09-05) September 5, 2001 (age 21)	2	0	Harvard	February 2023 friendlies
MF	Lia Godfrey	(2001-11-08) November 8, 2001 (age 21)	2	0	Virginia	February 2023 friendlies
MF	Brianna Pinto	(2000-05-20) May 20, 2000 (age 22)	2	0	North Carolina Courage	February 2023 friendlies
MF	Alexis Theoret	(2002-04-04) April 4, 2002 (age 20)	2	0	Virginia	February 2023 friendlies

FW	Michelle Cooper	(2002-12-04) December 4, 2002 (age 20)	2	1	Kansas City Current	February 2023 friendlies
FW	Mia Fishel	(2001-04-30) April 30, 2001 (age 21)	2	0	Tigres	February 2023 friendlies
FW	Alexa Spaanstra	(2000-02-01) February 1, 2000 (age 23)	2	0	Kansas City Current	February 2023 friendlies
FW	Alyssa Thompson	(2004-11-07) November 7, 2004 (age 18)	2	2	Angel City FC	February 2023 friendlies

Coaches[edit]

Jerry Smith (2001–2002)
Chris Petrucelli (2003–2004)
Jill Ellis (2005–2006)
Bill Irwin (2007–2011)
Randy Waldrum (2012–2013)
Steve Swanson (2013–2014)
Janet Rayfield (2015–2016)
Laura Harvey (2017)
B. J. Snow (2017–2019)
Matt Potter (2020–2022)
Jené Baclawski (2022)
Carrie Kveton (2023)
Margueritte Aozasa (2023)

References[edit]

^ 2009 WNT U.S. Soccer Media Guide
^ "All Teams".
^ "23 PLAYERS CALLED UP TO U.S. U-23 WOMEN'S YOUTH NATIONAL TEAM ROSTER FOR THORNS PRESEASON TOURNAMENT IN PORTLAND, OREGON". www.ussoccer.com. March 2, 2023. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
^ @USYNT (March 7, 2023). "Two changes to #U23WYNT roster for preseason tourney in Portland" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
^ @USYNT (March 14, 2023). "Some changes to the U23WYNT roster for the Thorns Preseason Tournament" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
^ "U.S. UNDER-23 WOMEN'S YOUTH NATIONAL TEAM FALLS 3-1 TO RACING LOUISVILLE FC TO FINISH THORNS PRESEASON TOURNAMENT". www.ussoccer.com. USSF. March 18, 2023. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
^ "U.S. Under-23 Women's Youth National Team Will Start 2023 Programing With Trip To Paris For Two Matches Against The France U-23 WNT | U.S. Soccer Official Website". www.ussoccer.com.
^ "U.S. U-23 Women's Youth National Team Will Travel To Sweden For Matches Against India And Sweden During Upcoming International Break". www.ussoccer.com.

[1] 2009 WNT U.S. Soccer Media Guide

[2] "All Teams".

[3] "23 PLAYERS CALLED UP TO U.S. U-23 WOMEN'S YOUTH NATIONAL TEAM ROSTER FOR THORNS PRESEASON TOURNAMENT IN PORTLAND, OREGON". www.ussoccer.com. March 2, 2023. Retrieved March 2, 2023.

[4] @USYNT (March 7, 2023). "Two changes to #U23WYNT roster for preseason tourney in Portland" (Tweet) – via Twitter.

[5] @USYNT (March 14, 2023). "Some changes to the U23WYNT roster for the Thorns Preseason Tournament" (Tweet) – via Twitter.

[6] "U.S. UNDER-23 WOMEN'S YOUTH NATIONAL TEAM FALLS 3-1 TO RACING LOUISVILLE FC TO FINISH THORNS PRESEASON TOURNAMENT". www.ussoccer.com. USSF. March 18, 2023. Retrieved March 18, 2023.

[7] "U.S. Under-23 Women's Youth National Team Will Start 2023 Programing With Trip To Paris For Two Matches Against The France U-23 WNT | U.S. Soccer Official Website". www.ussoccer.com.

[8] "U.S. U-23 Women's Youth National Team Will Travel To Sweden For Matches Against India And Sweden During Upcoming International Break". www.ussoccer.com.

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