AUCKLAND, New. Zealand — Not since the earliest years of the U.S. women's soccer team has a squad arrived at a World Cup with this much glittering young potential.
Watch 23-year-old Naomi Girma's composure and positioning at centerback, and you'll scarcely believe her age. Watch 24-year-old Ashley Sanchez's inventiveness in midfield, and you'll see why she was a much-hyped U.S. youth team prospect.
Watch 22-year-old Sophia Smith and 21-year-old Trinity Rodman not just torch the wings, but cut centrally to fire shots at the net. And watch 18-year-old Alyssa Thompson to see if U.S. manager Vlatko Andonovski and many others are proven right in their belief in the teenage phenom.
