The star power of the USWNT shines bright, fueled by world champions, Olympic medalists, pop culture icons and record-breakers
When you consider the heights that the U.S. women's national team has reached over the last few decades, it becomes nearly impossible to truly separate it all. How can you compare success to success? How do you rank a series of seemingly endless legends given all they accomplished, both as individuals and as a group?
The goal here is not to separate the good from the great, but rather the great from the greater. Throughout the past 25 years, so many USWNT players have achieved icon status, transcending the game they play and the country in which they play it. There is no shortage of stars to choose from, and no shortage of stars that just missed the cut.
Start with those legendary figures from the 20th century that barely missed out. Stars such as Julie Foudy, Brandi Chastain and Joy Fawcett could easily be on this list, but their resumes were a bit too '90s-heavy. Several current standouts came close, too, but we still need to see more from the likes of Naomi Girma, Sophia Smith and Mallory Swanson if they want to be among such revered company. For now, their resumes still need a bit of writing. And that's because of the star power is so bright – world champions, Olympic medalists, pop culture icons and record-breakers.
So, as we approach the end of the first quarter of the 21st century, GOAL is on hand to rank the top 25 USWNT players, so far …
Getty Images Sport25Shannon MacMillen
A member of the famous '99ers, MacMillen's best season actually came in 2002, when she scored 17 times for the U.S. That goal haul earned her U.S. Soccer's Player of the Year.
After debuting in 1993, MacMillen played all the way until 2006, finishing with 60 goals across 175 caps. She featured for the U.S. in Sydney in 2000 and at the 2003 World Cup, too, recovering from an ACL tear in just four months to feature in the latter tournament.
A supersub for large stretches of her career, MacMillen is criminally underrated, but deserves to be here.
AdvertisementAFP24Meghan Klingenberg
She's still chugging along in the NWSL, cementing legendary status with the Portland Thorns. During her seven-year USWNT career, though, Klingenberg made a huge impact.
A World Cup winner in 2015, Klingenberg was named to the FIFPro Women's World 11 that year, having earned her place among the best in the world. Her run wasn't as long as some of the others on this list but, when you earn that type of recognition, you've solidified your place as a true USWNT great.
Getty Images23Crystal Dunn
Fullback, winger, central midfielder – whatever you needed, Dunn could provide it.
With 155 caps (and counting) on her resume, Dunn has a World Cup and two Olympic medals in her trophy cabinet, too. Her versatility was, at most times, a blessing and, at some, a curse, as she was asked to play a role rather than shine as much as she could in other spots on the field.
Even so, Dunn has achieved legendary status as a player while also serving as a game-changing role model for Black players of all ages.
Getty Images Sport22Cindy Parlow Cone
Some may know her as U.S. Soccer president now but, long before that, she was one hell of a player.
The former midfielder scored 75 goals across her 158 caps, earning her place in the National Soccer Hall of Fame with her contributions on the field. Those included an Olympic Gold and World Cup in the 20th century, but Parlow Cone was a key figure right up until her retirement in 2006.
All told, she's one of the most influential figures in modern American soccer as she continues to shape U.S. soccer from her current role.
