Four Gotham FC players featured on USWNT SheBelieves Cup Roster
The 23-player roster features Gotham FC players Tierna Davidson, Crystal Dunn, Jenna Nighswonger, and Emily Sonnett.
Who is She and what does SheBelieve? This question has haunted U.S. women’s national team fans for many years, but despite the lingering questions behind the namesake of this annual tournament, one thing we know for sure: the roster.
Four NJ/NY Gotham FC players received callups for the tournament which will take place on April 6 and 9 in Atlanta and Columbus, Ohio, respectively: defenders Tierna Davidson, Crystal Dunn, Jenna Nighswonger, and midfielder Emily Sonnett.
The roster does not include Lynn Williams, Midge Purce, and Rose Lavelle, likley due to their injuries. All three featured for the USWNT in the Concacaf W Gold Cup earlier in the year.
“I don’t have an update on [Midge Purce] since her match where she was injured — we’re waiting for an update from the club and we’ll know more shortly,” said USWNT interim head coach Twila Kilgore. “She could absolutely be called on again in the future.”
With the 2024 Olympic games in France quickly approaching, the SheBelieves cup will be a pivotal time for players to make their case for inclusion on the 18-player roster.
Davidson, Dunn, and Sonnett are no strangers to the SheBelieves Cup, but this will be Nighswonger’s first foray into this particular tournament. The 2023 NWSL Rookie of the Year will be looking to make a play for one of the 18 roster spots, highlighting her versatility and goal scoring abilities on top of continuing to grow her game as a burgeoning left back.
Full Roster
GOALKEEPERS (3): Jane Campbell (Houston Dash), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)
DEFENDERS (8): Abby Dahlkemper (San Diego Wave FC), Crystal Dunn (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Tierna Davidson (NY/NJ Gotham FC), Emily Fox (Arsenal FC, ENG), Eva Gaetino (Paris Saint-Germain, FRA), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC), Casey Krueger (Washington Spirit), Jenna Nighswonger (NY/NJ Gotham FC)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Korbin Albert (Paris Saint-Germain, FRA), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC), Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon, FRA), Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns FC), Emily Sonnett (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Lily Yohannes (AFC Ajax, NED)
FORWARDS (6): Catarina Macario (Chelsea FC, ENG), Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave FC), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Jaedyn Shaw (San Diego Wave FC), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC), Mallory Swanson (Chicago Red Stars)
Tournament Format and How to Watch
In the Semifinals on April 6 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, the USA (#4) will face Japan (#7) at 12:30 p.m. ET (TNT, Universo, Max & Peacock) and Brazil (#10) will take on Canada (#9) at 3:30 p.m. ET (Universo, Max & Peacock).
The four nations will then travel to Columbus, Ohio with Lower.com Field hosting the final two games of the tournament at 4 p.m. ET and 7 p.m. ET on April 9 as the Semifinal winners play in the Championship and the losers play in the Third-Place Match.
The USA will play in the 7 p.m. ET time slot (TBS, Universo, Max & Peacock) whether it is playing in Championship or Third-Place Match, and the other game will be at 4 p.m. ET (TBS, Universo, Max & Peacock).
Twila Kilgore *says* that Rose was on minutes management out of "an abundance of caution" during the shebelieves roster presser... yet a quick check shows that Lavelle got minutes in every single match at the gold cup *for reasons*, started the final, played that opening half and came off at the break without any apparent injury...
and then when she doesn't play for her club at all immediately following that it's just back to no info, no timeline... "don't ask cuz we won't tell" & thats just the standard that fans/media have to accept. boo to that! fingers crossed we get Lynn and Rose back for the home opener.