The U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) is entering a generational shift. As iconic veterans retire and established stars settle into senior leadership roles, a new wave of young and hungry players will shape the team’s future.
Here are five players who are still early in their USWNT careers, but have shown the talent, mentality, and consistency to become the next leaders of the USWNT.
Jaedyn Shaw – Attacking Midfielder/Forward
Jaedyn Shaw has emerged as one of the most exciting prospects in U.S. Soccer. At just 20 years old, she has already garnered global attention. She received her first USWNT call-up at 18 and played for the U.S. in the 2022 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. She was also named the 2022 U.S. Soccer Young Female Athlete of the Year. She’s the kind of player who can change a game, and her confidence and presence on the ball suggest leadership potential that could blossom quickly.
Sam Coffey – Defensive Midfielder
Sam Coffey is no stranger to international play. She was a member of U.S. youth teams in U-18, U-19, and U-20 and played for the 2018 CONCACAF Women’s U-20 Championship. She received her first cap on Sept. 6, 2022, vs. Nigeria and currently has 28 caps and counting, according to the Portland Thorns. Most notably, she helped the USWNT win the Gold Medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Known as a “fantastic distributor,” according to Stars and Stripes FC, expect her influence to grow as she racks up more caps, especially in a position where leadership and control are key.
Mia Fishel – Forward
Representing the U.S. 28 times at the youth level, current Chelsea Forward, Mia Fishel, is another top contender for continued international play. Fishel is a member of the U.S. team in the under-15, under-17, and under-20 age groups. She was named Player of the Tournament in the 2016 CONCACAF Girls’ U-15 Championship. Fishel was a part of the winning team at the 2020 CONCACAF Women’s U-20 Championship. This is where she netted a record 13 goals and was a finalist for U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year in 2020. Fishel received her first USWNT senior call-up in 2020. Her second was in 2023 when she scored her first goal in the friendly against Colombia. Having just returned to the pitch after a torn ACL, we may see her growing into a more central role in the national team’s attack.
Savannah DeMelo – Midfielder
Racing Louisville’s Savannah DeMelo has quickly become a go-to midfielder. Since her debut in 2022, she’s shown flashes of leadership through her versatile style of play. She played in the 2016 U-20 Women’s World Cup and in the 2018 U-20 Women’s World Cup, scoring four goals. She received her first USWNT senior call-up in 2022 and 2023. According to U.S. Soccer, DeMelo was named to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the third player ever to make the U.S. World Cup roster without previously earning a cap. DeMelo was a starter in the first two group stage matches. Expect to see more of this midfield engine on the national team.
Alyssa Thompson – Forward
At just 20 years old, Alyssa Thompson plays confidently against top-level competition and has become a star on Angel City FC. Fast, technical, and fearless, she brings energy and ambition to the front line. Similarly, Thompson is considered an “absolute gamechanger,” according to SB Nation. She represented the U.S. in the U-20 national team, helping bring the team to Gold at the 2022 CONCACAF U-20 Championship. She was called up to the senior national team in 2022 and 2023. Then she got her first assist in the friendly against Colombia. Thompson played on the 2024 Olympic Gold Medal team and scored her first international goal against Iceland. She and her sister, Gisele Thompson (also a rising star on ACFC), were both called up to the 2025 SheBelieves Cup. While her USWNT career is just beginning, Thompson has the skill to be a game-changer and a culture-setter.
Who do you think will come next on the international scene?
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