Is this a new era for the US Women’s National Team? How Morgan and Rapinoe can lead the way for the next generation of stars

We’re often reminded that football can be a short-lived career.

With young, fresh talent consistently coming through the ranks - stars of years gone by can be discarded quite quickly from club and country.

The task that USWNT manager Vlatko Andonovski has ahead of him is somewhat of a balancing act. How does he get the best from his existing World Cup winners whilst bringing through America’s next generation of stars?

As USWNT icons Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe prepare to undertake new roles within the national team setup, the likes of Trinity Rodman and Sophia Smith are getting ready to demonstrate just how well the Gen-Z stars can step up.

Rapinoe and Morgan: Icons on and off the pitch

To suggest that Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan’s USWNT careers are nearly over would be ignorant.

Despite both the stars spending time away from national team duty earlier this year, Andonovski still believes that the World Cup-winning duo have a lot to give in the American shirt.

At the age of 33, Alex Morgan is still winning domestic Golden Boots and Rapinoe continues to step up for her NWSL club OL Reign when it counts. And although the pair have proved their sustained impact on the pitch, they’ve proved themselves irreplaceable off of it.

From leading the fight to equal pay to vocalizing their support for women, gay and minority rights, both Rapinoe and Morgan have been at the forefront of the US Women’s National Team’s stance on a variety of social issues within their country and the wider world. It’s their passionate fearlessness that Andonovski can only hope will trickle down to the new generation.

“[Megan’s] experience going through adversity, going through tough times, getting on top, her winning mentality, her knowledge and understanding is very valuable for the group" Andonovski told the press earlier this year.

When Andonovski asked Morgan and Rapinoe to undertake new ‘veteran’ roles within his setup, fans wondered if the pair would respond with hostility. Instead, they’ve accepted the opportunity with open arms and look towards enjoying their playing time whilst bringing the new generation up with them.

"The veteran's job is tricky - you want to usher in this new generation but you also care about your job," former USWNT legend Heather O’Reilly told ESPN when talking about Morgan.

"Alex [Morgan] is a fierce competitor. She wants to put a stamp on her career in this final stretch. It's critical to her legacy - she wants to prove she's in the top three of all time. So, it's like, you want to take my starting job? You're gonna have to do better than this. That's what it means to care about the team - you make it challenging for the next generation, not by pushing anyone down but by bringing them up with you."

USWNT: Rodman breaking records

Veteran icons Rapinoe and Morgan now have the job of paving the way for the next generation of players. From Portland Thorns’ Sophia Smith to Washington Spirits’ Trinity Rodman - the current USWNT is full of exciting, fresh talent eager to leave their mark on the pitch.

And in fact, Rodman is breaking records off of the pitch as well.

The 20-year-old became the highest-paid NWSL player after signing her four-year contract extension with the Washington Spirits. The contract is worth around $1.1 million and came after her exhilarating start to the NWSL after an incredible breakout season in 2021 which won her NWSL Rookie of the Year as well as US Soccer’s Young Player of the Year.

As the highest-paid NWSL player, Rodman surpasses USWNT legends Rapinoe and Morgan, suggesting that she could be the one to lead as the American successor to such icons of the game.

READ: Trinity Rodman making a name for herself

Introducing the next gen

And Rodman isn’t alone. Behind her follow a whole wealth of Gen-Z talent making headlines within the NWSL and beyond.

In his most recent squad announcement, Andonovski included 10 players under the age of 25 including Sophia Smith, Trinity Rodman and 17-year-old Alyssa Thompson who became the first player born in 2004 ever called up to the US Women’s National Team.

Thompson currently plays at club level for theTFA boys’ team in MLS NEXT and is the only girl in the league. Alongside her younger sister Giselle, they have become the first high-school athletes to sign a multi-year name, image and likeness deal with Nike.

The future star is currently committed to Stanford, where her USWNT teammate Sophia Smith also attended.

At the age of just 22, Sophia Smith has already broken her club Portland Thorns’ regular season scoring record and now has 21 goals in total as a Thorn.

This season she narrowly missed out on the NWSL Golden Boot - losing to none other than Alex Morgan.

With suggestions that Smith should be named NWSL MVP 2022, Thompson excelling alongside teammates that are double her age and Rodman securing record contracts, there’s no doubt that the future of the US Women’s National Team is as exciting as its history.