CARSON — The U.S. women’s national soccer team enters the new year with uncertainty, yet excitement hovering overhead.
First, there’s a new coach in charge (Emma Hayes), but not officially until the end of the Women’s Super League with Chelsea. Second, with a busy calendar year ahead, the team is undergoing a youth makeover with several players getting a big opportunity to make a lasting impression.
“The time in (training) camp has been valuable and the new energy feels refreshed,” USWNT defender Naomi Girma said. “I’m excited to have this time together.”
The opener is Tuesday night in the second game of a CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup doubleheader against the Dominican Republic at Dignity Health Sports Park (7:30 p.m., ESPN+, Paramount+).
All three of the Americans’ group stage games will be played at Dignity Health Sports Park.
Despite a World Cup Round of 16 exit last summer, the U.S. is still ranked second in the world in the latest FIFA rankings.
Interim coach Twila Kilgore said this is the most time the team will have in camp and the players and coaches are looking to take advantage of that time to grow.
“We’re excited to be together and we’re trying to squeeze everything out of our time together,” Kilgore said. “The energy and vibe has been great. I’m looking forward to watching us play some important games.
“We have an obligation to be our very best and that’s something we strive for every day. Every game will be a major task. We’re up for the challenge. It’s eight teams that have competed in the World Cup and we’re excited to play a variety of different opponents. To continue to develop and test ourselves to make sure we’re headed in the right direction.”
The roster consists of seven players with fewer than seven national team appearances, including a pair of teenagers Olivia Moultrie (18) and Jaedyn Shaw (19).
Girma, 23, has quickly established herself as a fixture, making her World Cup debut last year and becoming one of the best defenders in the NWSL.
“We go into every tournament wanting to perform our best,” Girma said. “We’re going to take it one game at a time, try to build on our performance.”
The USWNT will face Argentina on Friday night and then conclude group play against Mexico next Monday night (Feb. 26). The USWNT’s busy 2024 slate also includes the SheBelieves Cup and then the Olympics.
“This is a great opportunity and it does bring pressure, but that’s a privilege,” Girma said. “We want to make sure we go out and set a one for the tournament. Try to be dangerous and focus on us. It’s a group that is going to be good to play, three different teams and hopefully progressing through the tournament.”
In the first game of the doubleheader, Mexico faces Argentina at 4:30 p.m. Argentina finished third at the CONMEBOL Copa America Femenina in 2022. Yamila Rodriguez (Palmeiras) scored six goals in the tournament.
Argentina, ranked 31st in the latest FIFA rankings, competed in the 2023 World Cup.
Mexico, which defeated Argentina, 2-0, in a Pan American Games semifinal last year, is ranked 35th.
El Tri went 4-0 in qualifying for the Gold Cup.
“We had a good year last year, an unbeaten year and we know this is a huge tournament that every team comes in prepared to win,” Mexico forward Maria Sanchez said. “We hope that the work we did last year, translates to this year and we get off to a good start in this tournament.”
“We know we’re in a tough group with the U.S.” Sanchez said. “We’ve gone against them a few times and this time it’s a different situation, they have a new generation, where we’re hoping the growth we showed last year can get us closer and beat them.”
There are two other groups in the tournament. Group B consists of Panama, Colombia, Brazil and Puerto Rico, while Group C includes Costa Rica, Paraguay, Canada and El Salvador.
UNITED STATES VS. DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
What: CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup, group play
When: Tuesday, 7:15 p.m.
Where: Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson
How to watch: Paramount+, ESPN+