Build your dream U.S. Women’s National Team

A legacy of excellence has been a hallmark of the U.S. women’s national team for more than three decades. Since the team’s victory in the inaugural World Cup in 1991, the Americans have brought home the trophy three other times, making them the most successful team in the tournament’s history.

This summer, the U.S. enters the FIFA Women’s World Cup as the two-time reigning champions, seeking an unprecedented three-peat.

Ahead of this summer’s 32-team tournament, The Times created an all-star team generator so you can design your ultimate fantasy USWNT lineup. You’ll also get to know the past and present legends on the team, including which players to watch for this summer.

A USWNT starting 11 for the ages

Los Angeles Times soccer reporter Kevin Baxter, who has been covering the sport for 13 years, shares his all-time starting 11 and explains how he chose his All-Star team.

The U.S., which won the Women’s World Cup in 1991, 1999, 2015 and 2019, has a wealth of all-time greats to choose from. So while selecting this starting XI necessitates leaving off some incredible players, this lineup is really a no-brainer.

Explore the field above to learn more about each player’s career highlights and why they made Baxter’s dream team. Longevity and success were the two most important criteria for his selection, with nine of the top 10 players in USWNT history in starts and the top six goal-scorers all making the team.

So did goalkeeper Hope Solo, the all-time leader in wins and shutouts.

Eight of the 11 players won multiple World Cups, and eight of the 11 have been inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame. The other three – Alex Morgan, Carli Lloyd and Becky Sauerbrunn – will be too once they are eligible.

2023’s star-studded USWNT roster

Heading into the ninth edition of the tournament in Australia and New Zealand, more than half of the players on the U.S. roster will be playing in a World Cup for the first time, including Angel City FC’s Alyssa Thompson.

Several familiar faces are also on the list, including Alex Morgan, Kelley O'Hara and Megan Rapinoe, who are each competing in their fourth World Cup, and goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, who is competing in her third World Cup. After 199 international appearances, known as caps, Rapinoe will be playing in her final World Cup and is retiring from professional soccer at the end of the NWSL season.

★★

Alex Morgan

Forward (#13)

• 207 caps
• 121 goals
• 49 assists

★★

Megan Rapinoe

Forward (#15)

• 199 caps
• 63 goals
• 73 assists

★★

Alyssa Naeher

Goalkeeper (#1)

• 91 caps
• 74-5-8 Record

• ★ World Cup win
• Goalkeeper records are wins-losses-draws

Morgan is the active team leader in goals, and Rapinoe in assists. The famous forwards are just two of six multiple World Cup champions on the team, a list that also includes goalkeeper Naeher, O’Hara and midfielder Julie Ertz. Defender Crystal Dunn, midfielder Rose Lavelle and forward Sophia Smith, last year’s leading scorer, will play key roles as well.

This year’s roster has a number of World Cup stars in the making. Smith, 22, was last year’s USWNT leading scorer and is the reigning National Women’s Soccer League MVP. She’s the youngest ever to earn both distinctions. But she’s not the only young star who appears to have a bright future.

Sophia Smith

Forward (#11)

• 30 caps
• 12 goals
• 4 assists

Alyssa Thompson

Forward (#7)

• 4 caps
• 0 goals
• 0 assists

Thompson, who graduated from high school in June, is among a crop of talented teenagers playing in the NWSL, a list that includes Portland’s Olivia Moultrie and San Diego’s Jaedyn Shaw.

Two other San Diego players – defender Naomi Girma, 23, and midfielder Taylor Kornieck, 24 – made their way onto the national team while two others – midfielder Catarina Macario, 23, and Mallory Swanson, 25 – would have started for the U.S. this summer if not for injuries that kept them off the squad.

Here’s who’s on the roster this summer:

Who would be on your all-star team?

Now, it’s your turn to draft the USWNT team that you believe will win. To start you off, we've placed our reporter’s all-star lineup on the field in a 3-4-3 formation. Make substitutions to the lineup using a list of past USWNT World Cup champions and current players. You can even try out different formations. When you’re happy with your field, don’t forget to share your ultimate lineup.

As the tournament progresses, you can also use this tool to predict coach Vlatko Andonovski’s starting lineups or play armchair coach yourself. Our reporters, including Baxter in Australia and New Zealand, will cover the full tournament from July 20 to Aug. 20.