United States women's national under-23 soccer team

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

• Alber
• Reale
• Shores
• Weidauer
• Mahmoud
• Albert
• Barry
• Dahlien
• Weber
• Sentnor

Players

Current squad

20 players were named to the squad on January 2026 Development Camp.

Caps and goals are current as of December 2, 2025, after match against England.

Recent call-ups

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

• November/December 2025 friendlies.
• October 2025 training camp.
• June/July 2025 training camp.
• May/June 2025 friendles.
• March 2025 training camp.

This list may be incomplete.

;Notes

• INJ - Injury
• PRE - Withdrawal prior to camp

Coaches

• USA Jerry Smith (2001–2002)
• USA Chris Petrucelli (2003–2004)
• USA Jill Ellis (2005–2006)
• NIR Bill Irwin (2007–2011)
• USA Randy Waldrum (2012–2013)
• USA Steve Swanson (2013–2014)
• USA Janet Rayfield (2015–2016)
• ENG Laura Harvey (2017)
• USA B. J. Snow (2017–2019)
• ENG Matt Potter (2020–2022)
• USA Jené Baclawski (2022)
• USA Carrie Kveton (2023)
• USA Margueritte Aozasa (2023)
• USA Heather Dyche (2025–present)

References

References

1. 2009 WNT U.S. Soccer Media Guide
2. "Page Not Found | U.S. Soccer Official Website | USWNT & USMNT".
3. (January 15, 2026). "24 Players Named To U.S. National Team Development Camp Which Will Run Concurrently With USWNT Training Camp in Los Angeles". United States Soccer Federation.
4. (November 28, 2025). "ŽENY A – Slovensko – USA 23 0:1".
5. (December 2, 2025). "U.S. Under-23 Women’s National Team Defeats England U-23 WNT, 4-2". United States Soccer Federation.
6. (November 19, 2025). "20 Players Named For U.S. Under-23 Women’s National Team Trip to Europe for Matches Against Full Slovakia WNT and England’s U-23 WNT". United States Soccer Federation.
7. (October 16, 2025). "24 Players Named for U.S. U-23 WNT Training Camp to Run Concurrently with USWNT Upcoming FIFA Window". United States Soccer Federation.
8. (June 20, 2025). "24 Players Named for U.S. Under-23 Women’s National Team Training Camp to Run Concurrently with USWNT's Denver Leg of Upcoming FIFA Window". United States Soccer Federation.
9. "20 Players Named for U.S. Under-23 Women’s National Team Trip to Germany for Two Matches against the Hosts".
10. (2025-03-26). "24 Players Called Up for U.S. U-23 Women's National Team Training Camp in Los Angeles". [[United States Soccer Federation]].
11. (March 31, 2025). "Defender Gisele Thompson Replaces Tierna Davidson on U.S. Women’s National Team Roster for April Matches against Brazil". United States Soccer Federation.
12. (November 5, 2025). "Heather Dyche Named as New Head Coach of U.S. Under-23 Women’s National Team". United States Soccer Federation.