After winning the SheBelieves Cup, we got a good look at how the US wants to play and who Emma Hayes wants to feature in the future World Cup. When it comes to my projection a lot of decisions are easy but once you get to the last few spots it can be very difficult and it really can depend on who's healthy and who Emma Hayes wants to play. I want to highlight a few players who really showed out in the SheBelieves Cup and i'm going to start with who scored the last goal for the US in this tournament and that being Alyssa Thompson.

 

Alyssa Thompson the 21-year-old forward currently enjoying her first season at Chelsea where she has 7 goal Contributions in 11 starts. The dangerous winger is only just now coming into her prime and continues to be called up for international play and her recent play in the cup showed why. She constantly was stretching the defense, tracking back to help defend, and just being a relentless team player which can separate you from the pack, goals are nice but hard work shows a lot more. Thompson was featured in the 2023 World Cup but just played 16 minutes in the tournament as she was only 17 at the time and was not really a part of the gameplan. Now that she's older and a lot more experienced a healthy Alyssa Thompson could not only be selected but be a starter for the US in 2027.

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The second player I want to highlight is Gisele Thompson who is Alyssa's sister. The defender played in two full matches in the SheBelieves Cup and was a part of two clean sheets. What makes G. Thompson so great is that she's versatile, she can defend in the 1-on-1, but also can attack and help overload on one side of the field and create numbers. The 20-year-old currently enjoying her time at Angel City FC started in 21 out of a total 26 matches and earned 6 goal contributions in those matches. What sticks out to me about her is her consistency and ability to play up and down the field for back-to-back 90 minute matches and for a World Cup that is exactly what you are looking for. The chemistry with her sister is an added bonus and if healthy and staying in current form Gisele Thompson could make a case for a starting spot in 2027. 

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The final player I want to highlight is Jaedyn Shaw who statistically had the best cup performance earning a goal and an assist in just 91 minutes on the field. Shaw who recently transferred to Gotham FC from North Carolina Courage and is thriving after the move as she had three goal contributions in the final three games en route to Gothams NWSL Championship. Shaw has only recently gotten quality minutes with the US as she has battled injuries and it is very difficult to make the team with the talent the US has up front. What makes Shaw a great choice for the upcoming World Cup is her versatility which is a huge key in this tournament, Shaw can play as a forward, and even slide back into a 10 spot or play on the wing. If healthy and staying in her current form I think she is earning herself a spot on the World Cup team.

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These are just a few players who were not always guarantees but are starting to come into form just in time for the World Cup in Brazil, but with a whole year left there is much that can happen. Stay with me as I will keep you updated on who I think should make the World Cup squad and tell more of the story of these players along the way.

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