U.S. women’s national team manager Vlatko Andonovski has been busy. In the buildup to USWNT’s roster announcement for the Women’s World Cup last week, he made “a total of 39 calls” to let players know that they made the 23-player World Cup squad — or that they missed the cut.
Out of those 39 players, only one who consistently occupies the striker position for both club and country was named to the final squad: Alex Morgan.
Morgan is a true poaching goal-scorer. The 33-year-old makes slashing runs behind the opposing defense and regularly outmaneuvers center backs to find space to shoot inside the box. She can hold the ball and link play in midfield, but her runs and efficiency are what really set her apart as a “No. 9” up top.
With versatile forward Catarina Macario — another potential No. 9 — missing out on the World Cup squad as she recovers from an ACL injury, it was widely expected that Washington Spirit striker Ashley Hatch would make the World Cup team. Hatch has been Morgan’s back-up for the past year and a half — and yet, she was left off in favor of adding an extra player elsewhere on the field.
Without Hatch, who is going to give Morgan a breather during what could be a seven-game tournament over the course of 29 days for the USWNT? Andonovski was asked that immediately after Wednesday’s roster reveal.
“Alex [Morgan] is a true No. 9, but also we see that in the league, most of our forwards actually do play as No. 9s,” Andonovski told reporters in a news conference on Wednesday. He added: “We’re not worried about having someone to step in and do well if needed.”
Smith has been so effective on the wing and up top throughout her career because simply put, she’s an otherworldly attacking talent. She is in the 95th percentile for both non-penalty goals and non-penalty expected goals per 90 minutes among NWSL strikers in 2023, per FBref. Furthermore, Smith’s speed and close control make her almost impossible to stop. With elite pace, Smith uses hard, direct runs to push back defenses and create space for her teammates between the lines.
When she’s on the ball, her dribbling ability is a nightmare for opposing center backs. If you don’t step towards Smith, she gains valuable ground towards goal. If you do step towards her, she can find a simple forward pass to an open teammate. Or she might just keep the ball and blow by you and three of your friends, you know, just for the fun of it.
As you can see in the below clip, Smith’s ball control and explosiveness allow her to create her own shots as a No. 9. To be fair, she benefits from excellent service with Portland, but she also doesn’t fully rely on that service. Compared to Morgan, Smith is better suited to put the team on her back and create a chance out of nothing.
This is just unreal, @sophsssmith 🤯
Catch the end of #KCvPOR on @CBS! pic.twitter.com/QjqbuQYm5q
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) April 1, 2023
Maybe the biggest flaw in Smith’s game as a striker — and “flaw” here means she’s simply good at this rather than world class — is her ability with her back to goal. In that sense, Smith’s skillset makes her a different striker than Morgan, who has more experience and a little more savvy with her back to goal.
If Smith is under pressure and can’t immediately control the ball, turn, and run, Smith’s layoffs are erratic. Per FBref, she averages more miscontrols per 90 (4.17) than any striker in the NWSL. Though that number encompasses more than just mistakes in hold-up play, it illustrates how Smith plays a little fast and loose with the ball. Ask any Thorns or USWNT fan, however, and they’ll tell you the benefits far outweigh the costs.
She isn’t your classic hit-it-long and get-in-the-box No. 9 — a role that Morgan has played for the USWNT for years — but Smith’s mixture of mobility, control, and explosiveness makes her a constant threat. Andonovski used her as a striker against England last fall, and we can expect to see her up top again at the World Cup.
Likelihood of Smith playing striker: 9/10
Lynn Williams: the pressing, backtracking striker option
Gearing up for her first World Cup, Lynn Williams is in the middle of a strong season for NJ/NY Gotham in the NWSL. She’s tied for second in non-penalty goals in the regular season, with six, and often plays as a No. 9.
Williams moves well off the ball, both to exploit space behind the opposing defense and to find little gaps in the box. She’s developed into an extremely savvy striker over the years. Just look at how she stays patient on this goal against the North Carolina Courage, lurking in the box while play develops on the left wing before accelerating to meet the ball and scoring with a lovely first-time finish.
LYNN WILLIAMS DOES NOT MISS pic.twitter.com/xP7oAhv9O3
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) May 4, 2023
While the 30-year-old lacks Smith’s dynamism — not much of a criticism since virtually every other player in the world lacks Smith’s dynamism — Williams does bring a sense of controlled chaos to the striker position. So far in the NWSL this season, Williams is in the 86th percentile among strikers for touches per 90, with an average of 50.77. While that number is slightly inflated due to some of her minutes on the wing, she’s certainly comfortable on the ball and offers a well-rounded combination of dribbling and progressive passing in possession.
Comparing Williams to some of the USWNT’s other No. 9 options, she averages 10 touches per 90 more than Morgan and records 3.31 miscontrols per 90, which is noticeably less than Smith. Williams will get on the ball, she’ll help take care of it, and she’ll help move it forward.
