United States U-23 Women's National Soccer Team

The U-23 Women’s Youth National Team, operated under the auspices of U.S. Soccer, plays a pivotal role in bridging the significant gap between college soccer and the development of players for the full Women’s National Team. It functions as a crucial development partner with the NWSL.

In response to FIFA’s decision to shift its oldest youth world championship from Under-19s to Under-20s and a change in the Nordic Cup competition that became a U-23 event, the team transitioned from Under-21 to Under-23 in 2008. Following the conclusion of the Nordic Cup in 2009, the U.S. U-23s have engaged in various international competitions, primarily in Spain and Scandinavia. In recent years, they have participated in an NWSL preseason tournament in Portland, where they compete in three games against NWSL clubs.

History

Beginnings as a U-20 program

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. 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

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

2008 saw the change of the U.S.'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. Additionally, many U-23 players develop further through the National Women's Soccer League. While many of the post-collegiate players play in this league to develop their game, the U-23's turned focus on college players who are out of season and may not yet be NWSL-eligible.

Results and schedule

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

2025

; Legend

Players

Current squad

The following players were named to the squad on May 21, 2025.

''Caps and goals are current as of June 2, 2025, after match against Germany U-23.''

Recent call-ups

The following players were also named to a squad within the last 12 months.

* March 2025 training camp.

''This list may be incomplete.''

;Notes
*INJ - Injury
*PRE - Withdrawal prior to camp

Coaches

* Jerry Smith (2001–2002)
* Chris Petrucelli (2003–2004)
* Jill Ellis (2005–2006)
* Bill Irwin (2007–2011)
* Randy Waldrum (2012–2013)
* Steve Swanson (2013–2014)
* Janet Rayfield (2015–2016)
* Laura Harvey (2017)
* B. J. Snow (2017–2019)
* Matt Potter (2020–2022)
* Jené Baclawski (2022)
* Carrie Kveton (2023)
* Margueritte Aozasa (2023)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:United States U-23 Women's National Soccer Team
North American women's national under-23 association football teams
Under-23
Women's under-23