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	Steve Swanson
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's most recent major tournament was the 2008 Nordic Cup, in which the United States team won 3–0 over Germany. The team competes in a variety of competitions, including the annual Nordic Cup, which is the top competition for this age group. The current head coach is Steve Swanson.

History

Beginnings as a U-20 program

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

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

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.

Players

Current squad

The following 22 players were called up for the 2017 Women’s U-23 Nordic Open Tournament running from June 6 – June 12.^[3]

Head coach: Laura Harvey

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Club
1GK	Jane Campbell	(1995-02-17) February 17, 1995 (age 29)	Houston Dash
1GK	Casey Murphy	(1996-04-25) April 25, 1996 (age 28)	Rutgers Scarlet Knights

2DF	Christina Gibbons	(1994-12-30) December 30, 1994 (age 29)	FC Kansas City
2DF	Zoey Goralski	(1995-01-22) January 22, 1995 (age 29)	UCLA Bruins
2DF	Ellie Jean	(1997-01-31) January 31, 1997 (age 27)	Penn State Nittany Lions
2DF	Hailie Mace		UCLA Bruins
2DF	Tegan McGrady	(1997-10-11) October 11, 1997 (age 27)	Stanford Cardinal
2DF	Kristen McNabb	(1994-04-17) April 17, 1994 (age 30)	Seattle Reign FC
2DF	Kaleigh Riehl	(1996-10-21) October 21, 1996 (age 28)	Penn State Nittany Lions
2DF	Erica Skroski	(1994-02-14) February 14, 1994 (age 30)	Sky Blue FC

3MF	Jordan DiBiasi	(1996-10-28) October 28, 1996 (age 28)	Stanford Cardinal
3MF	Jaelin Howell	(1999-11-21) November 21, 1999 (age 25)	Real Colorado
3MF	Mayra Pelayo		Florida Gators
3MF	Brianna Pinto	(2000-05-24) May 24, 2000 (age 24)	CASL Elite
3MF	Margaret Purce	(1995-09-18) September 18, 1995 (age 29)	Boston Breakers
3MF	Dani Weatherholt	(1994-03-17) March 17, 1994 (age 30)	Orlando Pride
3MF	Michelle Xiao	(1997-05-04) May 4, 1997 (age 27)	Stanford Cardinal
3MF	Sandra Yu	(1994-11-05) November 5, 1994 (age 30)	Notre Dame Fighting Irish

4FW	Mallory Eubanks	(1996-06-04) June 4, 1996 (age 28)	Mississippi State Bulldogs
4FW	Ashley Hatch	(1995-05-25) May 25, 1995 (age 29)	North Carolina Courage
4FW	Savannah McCaskill	(1996-07-31) July 31, 1996 (age 28)	South Carolina Gamecocks
4FW	Sophia Smith	(2000-08-10) August 10, 2000 (age 24)	Real Colorado

Recent call-ups

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

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Cassie Miller	(1995-04-28) April 28, 1995 (age 29)	Florida State Seminoles	April 2017 Training Camp
GK	Arielle Schechtman	(1995-09-10) September 10, 1995 (age 29)	Georgetown Hoyas	April 2017 Training Camp
GK	Bella Geist		Oregon State Beavers	March 2017 Training Camp
GK	Madalyn Schiffel	(1994-09-19) September 19, 1994 (age 30)	Seattle Reign FC	2017 La Manga Tournament
GK	Laurel Ivory	(1999-08-28) August 28, 1999 (age 25)	West Florida Flames	January 2017 Training Camp
GK	Hannah Seabert	(1995-02-27) February 27, 1995 (age 29)	Pepperdine Waves	January 2017 Training Camp
GK	Diana Poulin	(1995-03-06) March 6, 1995 (age 29)	St. John's Red Storm	May 2016 Training Camp
GK	Andi Tostanoski	(1994-08-29) August 29, 1994 (age 30)	Seattle Reign FC	May 2016 Training Camp

DF	Megan Buckingham	(1996-03-10) March 10, 1996 (age 28)	North Carolina Tar Heels	April 2017 Training Camp
DF	Kristen Cardano	(1994-08-04) August 4, 1994 (age 30)	Florida Gators	April 2017 Training Camp
DF	Alana Cook	(1997-04-11) April 11, 1997 (age 27)	Stanford Cardinal	April 2017 Training Camp
DF	Shannon Horgan	(1996-02-01) February 1, 1996 (age 28)	Clemson Tigers	April 2017 Training Camp
DF	Taylor Isom	(1993-12-08) December 8, 1993 (age 31)	BYU Cougars	April 2017 Training Camp
DF	Alexis Warner		Michigan State Spartans	March 2017 Training Camp
DF	Mandy Freeman	(1995-03-23) March 23, 1995 (age 29)	Sky Blue FC	2017 La Manga Tournament
DF	Adrienne Jordan	(1994-01-30) January 30, 1994 (age 30)	ÍBV	2017 La Manga Tournament
DF	Kayla Mills	(1995-11-08) November 8, 1995 (age 29)	Sky Blue FC	2017 La Manga Tournament
DF	Katie Naughton	(1994-02-15) February 15, 1994 (age 30)	Chicago Red Stars	2017 La Manga Tournament
DF	Samantha Witteman	(1994-02-26) February 26, 1994 (age 30)	North Carolina Courage	2017 La Manga Tournament
DF	Maddie Bauer	(1995-03-20) March 20, 1995 (age 29)	Seattle Reign FC	January 2017 Training Camp
DF	Tavia Leachman	(1998-07-28) July 28, 1998 (age 26)	Utah Utes	January 2017 Training Camp
DF	Sydney Miramontez	(1994-10-11) October 11, 1994 (age 30)	Nebraska Cornhuskers	January 2017 Training Camp
DF	Brittany Basinger	(1995-06-30) June 30, 1995 (age 29)	Penn State Nittany Lions	2016 Nordic Tournament
DF	Kirsten Crowley	(1994-09-24) September 24, 1994 (age 30)	Florida State Seminoles	2016 Nordic Tournament
DF	Claire Falknor	(1993-05-12) May 12, 1993 (age 31)	FC Bayern Munich	2016 Nordic Tournament
DF	Emily Byorth	(1995-03-22) March 22, 1995 (age 29)	Clemson Tigers	May 2016 Training Camp
DF	McKenzie Karas	(1994-10-09) October 9, 1994 (age 30)	Washington Huskies	May 2016 Training Camp
DF	Nini Rabsatt-Smith	(1994-05-23) May 23, 1994 (age 30)	South Alabama Jaguars	May 2016 Training Camp
DF	Erin Smith	(1995-07-21) July 21, 1995 (age 29)	Houston Dash	May 2016 Training Camp

MF	Sarina Bolden	(1996-06-30) June 30, 1996 (age 28)	Loyola Marymount Lions	April 2017 Training Camp
MF	Rachel Corboz		Georgetown Hoyas	April 2017 Training Camp
MF	Kristina Fisher	(1998-07-01) July 1, 1998 (age 26)	Miami Hurricanes	April 2017 Training Camp
MF	Gabrielle Seiler	(1994-09-14) September 14, 1994 (age 30)	Florida Gators	April 2017 Training Camp
MF	Chloe Williams	(1996-08-25) August 25, 1996 (age 28)	Eastern Washington Eagles	April 2017 Training Camp
MF	Tierna Davidson	(1998-09-19) September 19, 1998 (age 26)	Stanford Cardinal	March 2017 Training Camp
MF	Taylor Racioppi	(1997-02-26) February 26, 1997 (age 27)	Duke Blue Devils	March 2017 Training Camp
MF	Morgan Andrews	(1995-03-25) March 25, 1995 (age 29)	Boston Breakers	2017 La Manga Tournament
MF	Tyler Lussi	(1995-01-26) January 26, 1995 (age 29)	Portland Thorns FC	2017 La Manga Tournament
MF	Emily Ogle	(1996-08-05) August 5, 1996 (age 28)	Penn State Nittany Lions	2017 La Manga Tournament
MF	Meggie Dougherty Howard	(1995-07-27) July 27, 1995 (age 29)	Washington Spirit	January 2017 Training Camp
MF	Ifeoma Onumonu	(1994-02-25) February 25, 1994 (age 30)	Boston Breakers	January 2017 Training Camp
MF	Toni Payne	(1995-04-22) April 22, 1995 (age 29)	FC Kansas City	January 2017 Training Camp
MF	Morgan Proffitt	(1994-08-22) August 22, 1994 (age 30)	Chicago Red Stars	January 2017 Training Camp
MF	Caroline Flynn	(1994-02-28) February 28, 1994 (age 30)	Portland Thorns FC	2016 Nordic Tournament
MF	McKenzie Meehan	(1994-12-25) December 25, 1994 (age 29)	Sky Blue FC	2016 Nordic Tournament
MF	Stephanie Ribeiro		FC Kansas City	2016 Nordic Tournament
MF	Andi Sullivan	(1995-12-20) December 20, 1995 (age 29)	Stanford Cardinal	2016 Nordic Tournament
MF	Rose Lavelle	(1995-05-14) May 14, 1995 (age 29)	Boston Breakers	May 2016 Training Camp

FW	Hannah Diaz	(1996-02-17) February 17, 1996 (age 28)	Saint Mary's Gaels	April 2017 Training Camp
FW	Sarah Luebbert	(1997-12-16) December 16, 1997 (age 27)	Missouri Tigers	April 2017 Training Camp
FW	Hailey Skolmoski	(1997-05-28) May 28, 1997 (age 27)	Utah Utes	April 2017 Training Camp
FW	Simone Charley	(1995-02-04) February 4, 1995 (age 29)	Vanderbilt Commodores	March 2017 Training Camp
FW	Tziarra King	(1998-08-24) August 24, 1998 (age 26)	NC State Wolfpack	March 2017 Training Camp
FW	Ashley Sanchez	(1999-03-16) March 16, 1999 (age 25)	So Cal Blues	March 2017 Training Camp
FW	Celeste Boureille	(1994-04-20) April 20, 1994 (age 30)	Portland Thorns FC	2017 La Manga Tournament
FW	Makenzy Doniak	(1994-02-25) February 25, 1994 (age 30)	North Carolina Courage	2017 La Manga Tournament
FW	Arielle Ship	(1995-05-02) May 2, 1995 (age 29)	Washington Spirit	2017 La Manga Tournament
FW	Danica Evans	(1995-06-02) June 2, 1995 (age 29)	Orlando Pride	January 2017 Training Camp
FW	Crystal Thomas	(1994-01-18) January 18, 1994 (age 30)	Georgetown Hoyas	January 2017 Training Camp
FW	Ashley Herndon	(1994-10-04) October 4, 1994 (age 30)	James Madison Dukes	2016 Nordic Tournament
FW	Rachel Hill	(1995-04-17) April 17, 1995 (age 29)	Orlando Pride	2016 Nordic Tournament
FW	Savannah Jordan	(1995-01-24) January 24, 1995 (age 29)	Portland Thorns FC	2016 Nordic Tournament
FW	Jackie Stengel	(1994-12-22) December 22, 1994 (age 30)	NC State Wolfpack	May 2016 Training Camp

Coaches

Jerry Smith (2001–2002)
Chris Petrucelli (2003–2004)
Jill Ellis (2005–2006)
Bill Irwin (2007–2011)
Randy Waldrum (2012–2013)
Steve Swanson (2013–present)

References

^ 2009 WNT U.S. Soccer Media Guide
^ "Page Not Found". {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
^ http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2017/05/31/14/41/20170531-news-u23wnt-will-travel-to-sweden-for-2017-womens-u23-open-nordic-tournament

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

[2] "Page Not Found". {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)

[3] ttp://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2017/05/31/14/41/20170531-news-u23wnt-will-travel-to-sweden-for-2017-womens-u23-open-nordic-tournament

[1]

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[3]

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