Paris Olympics Soccer Draw: Replacing Megan Rapinoe, Top 5 USWNT Prodigies Explored

July 2024 will see the USWNT heading out for its first Olympic campaign since veteran forward Megan Rapinoe hung her boots last year. As per FIFA’s recent draw, the US will face Germany, Australia, and the winner of a Morocco-Zambia playoff in the group stage in the Paris Olympics. The USWNT proved that it was past Rapinoe when a young core catapulted its win in the CONCACAF W Gold Cup. Will they be able to do the same in the summer Olympics?

Megan Rapinoe won an Olympic Gold and a Bronze medal during her storied USWNT stint. Even though the USWNT shined at the Gold Cup without Rapinoe, the Olympics will be a different ball game. Even so, we still see five young forwards on whom Emma Hayes can bet in Rapinoe’s absence.

Five rising stars who could help the USWNT at the Paris Olympics in Rapinoe’s absence

. Olivia Moultrie, 18

Speak of a soccer player who went pro at the age of 13! And that’s Olivia Moultrie for you. Technically, Moultrie is a midfielder. Then again, even Megan Rapinoe had played at the midfield. Moreover, upon playing for the USWNT in the W Gold Cup, Moultrie announced herself with a brace against the Dominican Republic in the group stage.

. Alyssa Thompson, 19

Alyssa Thompson broke through in 2023, a year after winning the U-20 CONCACAF Women’s Championship. Similar to Megan Rapinoe, Thompson can be deployed as both a midfielder and an attacker. Thompson plays for the NWSL side Angel City and has been pivotal in their offense with four goals in 21 appearances. It is yet to be learned if the 19-year-old receives a national team call-up for the Paris Olympics.

. Jaedyn Shaw, 19

When the USWNT won the CONCACAF W Gold Cup, it was Jaedyn Shaw who emerged as the tournament’s MVP. Such was Shaw’s form throughout the tournament. She netted a team-high four goals in six games during the USWNT’s victorious campaign and bagged the Golden Ball. Thereafter, Shaw won the NWSL Challenge Cup with the San Diego Wave. The 19-year-old is truly a superstar to watch out for at the Summer Olympics.

. Trinity Rodman, 21

Starting her pro stint with the Washington Spirit, Trinity Rodman won the NWSL Rookie of the Year Award in 2021. She has been living up to that reputation and more since then. She galvanized the US team’s attack in two She Believes Cup tournaments, a W Gold Cup, and a CONCACAF Women’s Championship- all of which the USWNT won. Though Rodman’s form has dropped lately, it is not beyond her to bounce back before the coveted Olympic tournament.

. Sophia Smith, 23

In the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup where the likes of Rapinoe and Alex Morgan trembled, Sophia Smith stood out with grace. Smith scored a brace and gave an assist in USWNT’s monumental, yet only remarkable 3-0 win against Vietnam. Similar to Rodman, she has been instrumental in USWNT’s aforementioned title wins. Besides, she has won numerous NWSL silverware at such a young age with the Portland Thorns.

READ MORE: Megan Rapinoe’s ‘Pretty Amazing’ Claims Buried As USWNT Slumps To Their Lowest-Ever FIFA Ranking 

The USWNT’s first Olympics game in 12 years without Rapinoe kicks off on July 25. The winner of a two-leg playoff between Morocco and Zambia awaits the US side on the 25th. Only time will tell who among the five aforementioned rising stars makes the cut.