The USA Women’s national soccer team is officially in New Zealand, ready to take on the world and defend their FIFA World Cup title. Two players on 2023’s Team USA are from Georgia this year.
Here Are Your Hometown Stars
Hailing from Marietta, Emily Sonnett is #14 and plays defense for Team USA. “After debuting in 2015, she has consistently shown her value to the USWNT while playing several number of positions on the back line and earning spots on the last two U.S. Women’s World Cup Teams,” per U.S. Soccer‘s website. Sonnett was a member of the 2019 championship team, and appeared in one game (vs. Chile) in that tournament.
Also a defender, Kelley O’Hara is from Fayatteville. O’Hara is just one of 12 players in USWNT history to be named to four Women’s World Cup Teams. She has been a part of the USA’s last seven world championship rosters,” U.S. soccer states. O’Hara started six games for Team USA in the 2019 World Cup. The 2011 tournament was her first experience.
Group E
The USA Women’s FIFA World Cup team has been placed in Group E. This group includes Vietnam, Portugal, and the Netherlands. In total, there are eight different groupings.
To date, the USA Women have won four World Cup titles. They are the defending champions, beating the Netherlands during the 2019 tournament in France. Before that the USA Women’s team also won the World Cup in 2015, 1999 (the Brandi Chastain winning penalty kick year) and 1991.
This year’s World Cup will feature 32 different nations. This is eight more than previous tournaments. Eight nations will be making their FIFA World Cup debut.
In anticipation, let’s take a closer look at the two players on Team USA that will be representing the state of Georgia at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
