WPSL Alumnae Play For Eight Countries in 2019 Women’s World Cup
The USA is performing great so far in the Women’s World Cup, with a record-breaking victory against Thailand and a strong win when our country took on Chile. It is interesting that so many of the players on the USA team have roots in the Women’s Premier Soccer League, an organization which has proven itself as the world’s proving ground, helping young women develop into world-class players who can go on to represent a variety of nations at the highest level.
The Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL), the largest women’s soccer league in the world, has 28 former players on rosters at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France.
Nineteen WPSL clubs have at players on a 2019 World Cup Roster, with Florida Sol FC leading the way with 6 players.
Uchenna Kanu, the 2018 WPSL leading scorer with Pensacola FC, is making her first World Cup appearance with Nigeria. Kanu received her first national team callup in April and has already made an impression with the squad, for she is expected to be a key contributor.
Jamaica has a strong WPSL presence with seven players, only second to the United States’ 12 WPSL players. The Reggae Girlz’ connections with the league are deep, with four players from the Sol academy on the roster and FC Surge (Miami) having honored the team in May as part of the its sendoff to France.
Seattle Sounders Women forward Mireya Grey, who scored in her WPSL club’s 3-1 victory vs. Spokane SC Shadow on May 31, was called up June 6 to the Jamaica club as an injury replacement. Grey, Jamaican teammate Dominique Bond-Flasza and Spain’s Celia Jimenez Delgado were teammates on the Sounders Women’s 2018 WPSL Championship team.
Italy, making its first World Cup appearance since 1999, has two former OSA XF (Seattle) players on its roster — defender Alia Guagni and Giacinti Valentina. OSA XF.
San Francisco Nighthawks forward Miranda Nild, the 2018 Pac North Offensive Player of the Year, is playing in her first World Cup for Thailand.
The month-long tournament in France will feature 24 countries representing women’s soccer at the highest level. The United States are the defending champions after defeating Japan 5-2 in the 2015 final, which was played in Vancouver, Canada.
CANADA
Jenna Hellstrom, Defender, Motor City FC (2016)
ITALY
Alia Guagni, Defender, OSA XF (2013-15)
Valentina Giacinti, Forward, OSA XF (2013)
JAMAICA
Sade Adamolekun, Forward, Florida Sol FC (2018)
Dominique Bond-Flasza, Defender, Seattle Sounders Women (2018)
Mireya Grey, Forward, Seattle Sounders Women (2018-Present)
Toriana Patterson, Defender, TTi Bluebonnets (2018)
Ashleigh Shim, Midfielder, Florida Sol FC (2012-13)
Lauren Silver, Midfielder, Florida Sol FC (2012-13)
Havana Solaun, Midfielder, Florida Sol FC (2012-14)
NIGERIA
Uchenna Kanu, Forward, Pensacola FC (2018)
SCOTLAND
Claire Emslie, Forward, FC Surge (2015)
SOUTH AFRICA
Kaylin Swart, Goalkeeper, Des Moines Menace (2016-18)
Jermaine Seoposenwe, Forward, Des Moines Menace (2017)
SPAIN
Celia Jimenez Delgado, Defender, Seattle Sounders Women (2018)
THAILAND
Miranda Nild, Forward, San Francisco Nighthawks (2018)
UNITED STATES
Morgan Brian, Midfielder Florida Sol FC (2011-14)
Adrianna Franch, Goalkeeper, SoccerPlus CT (2011)
Tobin Heath, Forward, New York Fury (2012)
Rose Lavelle, Midfielder, Dayton Dutch Lions FC (2016)
Allie Long, Midfielder, New York Fury (2012)
Jessica McDonald, Forward, Phoenix Del Sol (2012)
Samantha Mewis, Midfielder, Boston Breakers Academy (2014)
Alex Morgan, Forward, California Storm (2010)
Alyssa Naeher, Goalkeeper, Boston Aztec, 2010
Mallory Pugh, Forward, Washington Spirit Reserves (2016)
Megan Rapinoe, Forward, Elk City Pride (2002-06)
Emily Sonnett, Defender, Florida Sol FC (2014)/Chicago Red Stars Reserves (2015)
The WPSL is in its 22nd season and is the largest women’s soccer league in the world with 119 clubs from coast-to-coast. WPSL rosters feature elite collegiate, post-collegiate, international and standout prep student-athletes.
Many of the United States’ most accomplished women’s players have played in the WPSL, including household names such as Alex Morgan, Abby Wambach, Megan Rapinoe, Julie Foudy and Brandi Chastain.
