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	Randy Waldrum
FIFA code	USA
First colours Second colours
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.^[1] The current head coach is Randy Waldrum.

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.^[2] 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.^[3] However, a new ally has appeared in order to further develop players — the new top-flight women's league, Women's Professional Soccer, which kicked off in 2009. While many of the post-collegiate players play in this new league to develop their game, the U-23's turned focus on college players who are out of season and not yet WPS-eligible.

Current players[edit]

2013 Four Nations Tournament roster[edit]

The U-23 women will compete in the Four Nations Tournament against the U-23 teams of Sweden, England, and Norway Feb. 22-March 5, 2013.^[4]

0#0 Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club 1GK Jami Kranich (1992-05-27) May 27, 1992 (age 21) Villanova 1GK Abby Smith (1993-10-04) October 4, 1993 (age 19) Texas 2DF Julie Johnston (1992-04-06) April 6, 1992 (age 21) Santa Clara 2DF Natasha Anasi (1991-10-02) October 2, 1991 (age 21) Duke 2DF Toni Pressley (1990-02-19) February 19, 1990 (age 23) Ryazan VDV 2DF Camille Levin (1990-04-24) April 24, 1990 (age 23) Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC 2DF Kasset Kallman (1992-05-06) May 6, 1992 (age 21) Florida State 2DF Lindsi Lisonbee Cutshall (1990-09-18) September 18, 1990 (age 22) Sky Blue FC 2DF Casey Short (1990-08-23) August 23, 1990 (age 22) Boston Breakers 2DF Courtney Verloo (1991-05-09) May 9, 1991 (age 22) Stanford 3MF Zakiya Bywaters (1991-07-24) July 24, 1991 (age 21) Chicago Red Stars 3MF Colleen Williams (1991-04-25) April 25, 1991 (age 22) Washington Spirit 3MF Morgan Brian (1993-02-26) February 26, 1993 (age 20) Virginia 3MF Vanessa Di Bernardo (1992-05-15) May 15, 1992 (age 21) Illinois 3MF Sarah Killon (1992-07-27) July 27, 1992 (age 20) UCLA 3MF Samantha Mewis (1992-10-09) October 9, 1992 (age 20) UCLA 4FW Tiffany McCarty (1990-12-12) December 12, 1990 (age 22) Washington Spirit 4FW Havana Solaun (1993-02-23) February 23, 1993 (age 20) Florida 4FW Stephanie Ochs (1990-08-29) August 29, 1990 (age 22) Washington Spirit 4FW Morgan Marlborough (1990-12-03) December 3, 1990 (age 22) Santa Clara

Coaches[edit]

• Jerry Smith (2001–2002)
• Chris Petrucelli (2003–2004)
• Jillian Ellis (2005–2006)
• Bill Irwin (2007–2011)
• Randy Waldrum (2012–present)

References[edit]

v t e International women's football FIFA World Cup Olympics Algarve Cup Cyprus Cup U-20 World Cup U-17 World Cup World Rankings Player of the Year Player of the Century FIFA Ballon d'Or Teams Competitions Federations Codes Asia AFC Women's Asian Cup U-19 U-16 Africa CAF Women's Championship U-20 U-17 North America, Central America and Caribbean CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup U-20 U-17 South America CONMEBOL Sudamericano Femenino U-20 U-17 Oceania OFC Women's Championship U-20 U-17 Europe UEFA Women's Championship U-19 U-17 Non-FIFA NF-Board Women's Viva World Cup Games All-Africa Games Asian Games Central American Games Pan American Games Pacific Games Southeast Asian Games See also International men's football