The 2024 Olympics: USWNT Midfielders
The 2024 Olympics kick off at the end of the month, and the United States Women’s National Team are back in search of yet another medal. They have received medals in 6 of the 7 Olympics that have featured women’s football as a sport, and in 2024 the team heads to France – where they won the 2019 Women’s World Cup – to hopefully win their fifth gold medal. As the Olympic roster was released last week, we are initiating a series of profiles, focusing on each position individually as well as the coaching staff. We will detail how they round out the USWNT as they get ready to take on the world. We continue this focus with the midfielders.
The USWNT bring five midfielders to France:
- Korbin Albert (Paris Saint-Germain)
- Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns)
- Lindsey Horan (Lyon)
- Rose Lavelle (Gotham FC)
- Catarina Macario (Chelsea FC)
Lindsey Horan is the key in the midfield. As the USWNT captain, her play is crucial to the team’s success. She has struggled at times in 2024, but if she plays at the top of her game, it makes the flow easier for the entire team. She will have to provide the leadership and set the example on the field by getting involved in the attack and also doubling back on defense when needed.
Easily the best potential playmaker is Catarina Macario. The idea is to put the ball at her feet and let her cook…because she’s a master chef on the ball. She can score from anywhere on the field, and she can set up anyone for a great scoring chance with her passing and insane dribbling.
Complementing Catarina Macario is Rose Lavelle. Another creative option, Rose has been one of the more brilliant dribblers and passers for the team since she arrived on the scene. If Rose is at the top of her game, there may not be a player on earth that can stop her.
Sam Coffey has been fairly solid for the team in her role as a defensive midfielder. She could be called on to start in that role or do so off the bench.
Korbin Albert is the biggest question mark on this team. She will have to step up on the international stage and provide distribution and defense from the 6 role. Despite facing controversy, she has been chosen to represent the USWNT in France.
Hal Hershfelt and Croix Bethune are both rookies with the Washington Spirit that have exploded onto the international scene in the last month. They both head to France as alternates. Hershfelt is more of a defensive midfielder, while Bethune has been arguably the most dynamic player in the NWSL this season.
The midfield as a whole might be the most important part of how this team operates. When the USWNT win the midfield, they can be unstoppable.
