[ColoradoTree]

So, now that WCQ has come and gone, we can assess Smith's roster chances. Now, she'll probably be back in the mix for the She Believes Cup with those expanded rosters, but if the hope here was for Williams or McDonald to not get much playing time or to not impress when they did get on the field, that's all out the window.

Williams was good. She started the final against Canada, had two assists, and scored a screamer of her own, so she figured into all three goals. In the semi against Mexico (which was the one that mattered, since winning it clinched an Olympic berth and losing it meant you were out), Vlatko went with what seems to be our current first-choice XI, so Williams started on the bench, but she came on in the 68th minute after we went up 3-0. 

For her part, McDonald stayed on the bench for the key match against Mexico. She started against Canada (in what seemed like a "screw you guys, we can beat you with our B lineup" kinda move), but was subbed off in the 62nd minute when we were trying to inject some life and get an insurance goal; Rapinoe came on for her. McDonald scored a couple of times in the group stage, but so did Williams, and Williams had more assists.  

I think Lynn Williams just played her way onto the Olympic roster, though. She's been delivering in NWSL for years, she finally got her chance at the USWNT lineup, and she's seized the opportunity. With Press, Heath, Rapinoe, and Lloyd also locks, then I just don't see a path for Smith after the tournament Williams just had. And Alex Morgan still says she's going to try and come back and make the team, so if she seems ready and match fit, then she's awfully tough to leave off, too. (I don't doubt her ability to come back and be ready to contribute, but with the pre-Olympic calendar, there just aren't a lot of opportunities for Morgan to work her way back into match fitness for a full 90 minutes. So whether you'd rather have Morgan for 30 minutes a game or Williams for 90 may factor in. Of course, if they're going to be subs either way, then maybe it doesn't matter and you have Morgan in the 2015-Wambach-style "late impact sub" role.)

Of course, immediately after the Olympics, you might see some retirements. Lloyd won't be on the next World Cup roster, so whether she retires right after the Olympics or whether she sticks around for some farewell friendlies or some such, the future doesn't include her. I don't think Rapinoe or McDonald will be, either. Press and Heath might have one more cycle in them. But inside of a year, expect Smith to be solidly on the USWNT roster. Just not yet.

[ColoradoTree]

So, now that WCQ has come and gone, we can assess Smith's roster chances. Now, she'll probably be back in the mix for the She Believes Cup with those expanded rosters, but if the hope here was for Williams or McDonald to not get much playing time or to not impress when they did get on the field, that's all out the window.

Williams was good. She started the final against Canada, had two assists, and scored a screamer of her own, so she figured into all three goals. In the semi against Mexico (which was the one that mattered, since winning it clinched an Olympic berth and losing it meant you were out), Vlatko went with what seems to be our current first-choice XI, so Williams started on the bench, but she came on in the 68th minute after we went up 3-0. 

For her part, McDonald stayed on the bench for the key match against Mexico. She started against Canada (in what seemed like a "screw you guys, we can beat you with our B lineup" kinda move), but was subbed off in the 62nd minute when we were trying to inject some life and get an insurance goal; Rapinoe came on for her. McDonald scored a couple of times in the group stage, but so did Williams, and Williams had more assists.  

I think Lynn Williams just played her way onto the Olympic roster, though. She's been delivering in NWSL for years, she finally got her chance at the USWNT lineup, and she's seized the opportunity. With Press, Heath, Rapinoe, and Lloyd also locks, then I just don't see a path for Smith after the tournament Williams just had. And Alex Morgan still says she's going to try and come back and make the team, so if she seems ready and match fit, then she's awfully tough to leave off, too. (I don't doubt her ability to come back and be ready to contribute, but with the pre-Olympic calendar, there just aren't a lot of opportunities for Morgan to work her way back into match fitness for a full 90 minutes. So whether you'd rather have Morgan for 30 minutes a game or Williams for 90 may factor in. Of course, if they're going to be subs either way, then maybe it doesn't matter and you have Morgan in the 2015-Wambach-style "late impact sub" role.)

Of course, immediately after the Olympics, you might see some retirements. Lloyd won't be on the next World Cup roster, so whether she retires right after the Olympics or whether she sticks around for some farewell friendlies or some such, the future doesn't include her. I don't think Rapinoe or McDonald will be, either. Press and Heath might have one more cycle in them. But inside of a year, expect Smith to be solidly on the USWNT roster. Just not yet.