In some ways the 2019 USWNT roster is the easiest USWNT in years to predict.

The forwards are pretty much set, the midfielders are too, defenders are all here and accounted for and unless Adrianna Franch somehow hurts herself again the goalkeeper corps have assembled.

On the other hand trying to figure out how Jill Ellis rates two players that are both unlikely to see the pitch much (if at all) is an exercise in frustration.

But the show must go on and rosters don’t form themselves on a blank page.

The Goalkeepers

I hate to give spoilers this early but Alyssa Naeher, Ashlyn Harris and Adrianna Franch are the goalkeepers for the 2019 Women’s World Cup for the USWNT.

The three net minders have been one of the more constant positions under Jill Ellis in the last year. So unless one of them takes a knock, Jane Campbell will be left behind.

What’s more, we probably know who is going to play every minute, barring emergency. If history follows the same pattern we usually see from the US in major events, Harris and Franch will be called upon only if Naeher somehow loses the ability to use both of her legs. Just one might not be enough to cause a goalkeeper switch for the US.

All in all this is maybe the most stable and easy to call group on the roster.

The Defenders

Most of the defenders are pretty easy to pick out. Keyword there is most.

Unless they somehow take a knock that sends them into the middle of next week Abby Dahlkemper, Becky Sauerbrunn, Crystal Dunn, Kelley O’Hara, and Tierna Davidson are locks.

But five defenders does not a defensive core make.

Likely two out of the trio of Casey Short, Emily Sonnett, and Ali Krieger make the final roster. Krieger is the surprise here, having been put back on the radar in the last round of USWNT friendlies.

My money is on Sonnett and Short. But Krieger’s mix of experience and Short’s apparent lack of favor from Ellis might shift that scale enough for her to slip just out of the final 23.

The Midfielders

Allie Long and McCall Zerboni are going to France. If you had suggested that to me in 2017, I would have belly laughed over it. But Ellis has seemly chosen them as the back up players for when she needs to put out something other than her best XI, or if she needs to make a late sub.

The easy picks here–Julie Ertz, Lindsey Horan, Sam Mewis, Rose Lavelle–make the roster in a walk. The four of them have been playing at varying levels of great for a while now.

There was a time when Andi Sullivan and Morgan Brian were easy picks here too but it seems that time has passed. Danielle Colaprico too seems to be on the outside looking in this round.

The Forwards

Alex Morgan, Christen Press, Megan Rapinoe, Tobin Heath and Mallory Pugh are France-bound in all circumstances less the catastrophic. Regardless of your feelings on her, Carli Lloyd looks to be included there as well.

My wild card here is Jessica McDonald.

McDonald is a throw back to the style of forward that is just bigger, stronger and able to be where you don’t want her to be when she needs to be. She doesn’t have the raw speed of a Press or a Morgan or the flair of a Heath or a Rapinoe but in a tough game she could be a difference maker.

---

Who goes to France and who doesn’t is more or less set. Ellis has shown us in the last year who she puts out against the top teams in the world and who sits in the stands.

The 23 below are a solid team. Time will tell if they are Jill Ellis’ idea of one.

Name	POS	Caps	Goals	Club Team
Adrianna Franch	GK	1	0	Portland Thorns
Alyssa Naeher	GK	43	0	Chicago Red Stars
Ashlyn Harris	GK	21	0	Orlando Pride
Abby Dahlkemper	DF	37	0	North Carolina Courage
Becky Sauerbrunn	DF	155	0	Utah Royals
Casey Short	DF	27	0	Chicago Red Stars
Crystal Dunn	DF	83	24	North Carolina Courage
Emily Sonnett	DF	31	0	Portland Thorns
Kelley O’Hara	DF	115	2	Utah Royals
Tierna Davidson	DF	19	1	Chicago Red Stars
Allie Long	MF	42	6	Reign FC
Julie Ertz	MF	79	18	Chicago Red Stars
Lindsey Horan	MF	66	8	Portland Thorns
McCall Zerboni	MF	9	0	North Carolina Courage
Rose Lavelle	MF	24	6	Washington Spirit
Sam Mewis	MF	47	9	North Carolina Courage
Alex Morgan	FW	160	101	Orlando Pride
Carli Lloyd	FW	271	107	Sky Blue FC
Christen Press	FW	113	47	Utah Royals
Jessica McDonald	FW	7	2	North Carolina Courage
Mallory Pugh	FW	50	15	Washington Spirit
Megan Rapinoe	FW	150	44	Reign FC
Tobin Heath	FW	147	28	Portland Thorns