USWNT set to begin W Gold Cup against Dominican Republic
Credit: USWNT
The United States women’s national soccer team will begin their run in the 2024 CONCACAF W Gold Cup this Tuesday, February 20, against the Dominican Republic at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.
This is the first-ever edition of the W Gold Cup, which includes national teams from CONCACAF and CONMEBOL.
The United States is in Group A of the competition, which includes Argentina, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic. Argentina and Mexico will face off prior to the U.S. game in what will be the inaugural match of the W Gold Cup.
We kick off the year and the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup TOMORROW!
🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
— U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team (@USWNT) February 19, 2024
The USWNT made a shock decision by leaving out superstar Alex Morgan from their W Gold Cup roster, and instead decided to go with a younger core of attackers. Among those attackers are San Diego Wave’s Jaedyn Shaw and San Diego native Mia Fishel. There are some household names to the USWNT like Sophia Smith, Trinity Rodman, Lindsey Horan and Rose Lavelle.
There are also other San Diego Wave players on the roster, as Abby Dahlkemper and Naomi Girma are part of the defensive players that made Twila Kilgore’s roster. The USWNT are heavy favorites in this opening match against the Dominican Republic and in the tournament overall. However, there are some tough squads to face in this competition, and it is a very good opportunity for the USMNT after a highly disappointing 2023 World Cup campaign.
The Dominican Republic defeated Barbados, Bermuda, and Guayana in a qualifying stage to reach this tournament. The Caribbean team is very young with an average age of 23, and several players play with Universities in the United States. Team captain Lucia Marte is the most experienced player on the team, currently in the Women’s Championship with Watford in England.
The first games at Snapdragon Stadium in the W Gold Cup will be played on Wednesday, February 21, when Panama plays Colombia and Brazil plays Puerto Rico.
Francisco, 26, Chula Vista/Tijuana. I have been a Padres fan all my life, did most of the series previews and recaps in the Padres’ 2016 season for EVT. Now I focus more on the local soccer scene. Tijuana Xolos, San Diego Loyal, San Diego Wave.