For US Soccer fans, 2023 will be a year they will never forget, good or bad. After the World Cup, the team officially didn’t lose because penalty shootouts count as ties. But fans who were hoping they would win a fifth star were disappointed. Things are getting better, which is good news.
There has been a long overdue need for the United States Women’s National Team to grow and change. There’s a lot to be happy about in 2024. A new coach is on the way, six players are getting their first caps this year, and there’s a chance to win gold this summer.
However, US Soccer will announce the nominees for the 2023 Female Player of the Year award before diving headfirst into 2024. For US Soccer, this was one of the worst years ever. It’s nice to be able to look back and see the good things that happened. Some of the best players in US Soccer had a lot of great games this year, but only five can be named for Player of the Year. These players should get that award in 2023.
5. Charlotte Bronte
Since 2015, Sonnett has been called up regularly, but she has mostly been a back-up player who comes in when Kelley O’Hara or Abby Dahlkemper needs a break. But Emily Sonnett really shone this year. She was great on her club team and helped the Reign get to the title final in a new role. She used what she learned at the first World Cup to prepare for the second. In the US’s final game against Sweden, Sonnett made her first World Cup start and was the best player on the field.
She is now one of the best defensive midfielders in the country by using what she learned as a centre back to make the team stronger and more experienced. Not to mention scoring a goal in Megan Rapinoe’s farewell game, setting up another goal in her last game of the season, and leading the United States during Horan’s departure, which may have shown us how this team will be led in the future. Sonnett should be praised for all the work she did in 2018, which was the best year of her career so far.
4. Ruth Girma
NWSL defender of the year for two years in a row. Winner of the NWSL Shield. She began every World Cup game for her country. Smarter than her years. All of these things describe Naomi Girma, who is great on defence. Because Becky Sauerbrunn was hurt and couldn’t go to the World Cup, Girma, who is only in her second professional season, had to take on the role of a backline starter. But that wouldn’t be clear from seeing her play.
She kept things quiet on the back line, which helped the US have their best defensive year ever. They let two shots on goal into the net the whole World Cup, and this year they let less than 0.17 goals into each game. In the United States, there is a great goalkeeper who is ready to take the lead on this team for years to come.
3. Tiffany Rodman
It looks like this team will do well in the future. Trinity Rodman was one of the best players who really found their form this year. Rodman scored five goals for the Stars and Stripes in 2023. She scored her first two goals in the World Cup send-off game, making her the only US player to play in all 18 games. That made Rodman the youngest player for the USA since Mallory Swanson did it in 2019 to score more than one goal in a game.
Rodman not only scored big goals, but he was also very helpful in the closing third. He led the US in assists this year with five. Rodman played in nineteen games for the Washington Spirit and scored five goals for her team. This year, they just missed the playoffs, but Rodman doesn’t seem to be slowing down. She keeps playing for club and country well past her years.
2. Lindsey Horan
People in the United States found a leader who could step up and help them when things got tough. As of this year, Lindsey Horan is one of only three players with five or more goals. She also led the US to victory in all three World Cups in 2023. She scored the game-tying goal against the Netherlands. It was one of the most important goals scored by the USWNT during their short World Cup run.
Horan scored 31 goals and played in 139 games this year, adding to her reputation. In France, she helped her club team, Olympiqu Lyyonnis, win their 10th Coupe de France Féminine title and scored her first hat trick this year for the club. Horan is a strong candidate for Female Player of the Year in 2023 because of all of these great achievements.
- Smith, Sophia
Sophia Smith keeps getting better with every game she plays this year, even though she missed a little time because of an illness. She got her first NWSL Golden Boot award by scoring 11 goals in 17 games for the Portland Thorns. Her play helped them make it to the NWSL playoffs, but they didn’t win the trophy. She scored thirty goals in the NWSL this season, one of which was a hat trick. She is the youngest player to do so.
Smith was also great for the US team. He scored three goals and set up three others this year. To date, she has scored fifteen goals for the United States, including two in her first World Cup game, which was something only Sam Mewis had done before. Even though she missed a few games because of an injury, Smith still won the Golden Boot. She had an amazing World Cup run, no matter what happened, and she kept people believing in the young players on the national team.
The US just finished their last games of the year by beating China PR twice. At the moment, their first games of the new year will be in February, during the Concafacc W Gold Cup. Details about any possible January games are still being worked out.
