Updated Predictions For the USWNT Olympic Roster for Paris 2024 | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

There's plenty for Hayes and USWNT fans to feel good about in this defensive depth chart.

Naomi Girma is still a written-in-ink starter for the United States in the middle of the backline. She started as the central center back in the U.S.'s 3-2-5 possession shape in the first game of this window and looked wonderfully composed on the ball, all while continuing to be her same lock-down defensive self at the other end. Girma is a complete player. Expect her to be pushing for the Best XI at the Olympics.

With Abby Dahlkemper left off the U.S.'s most recent roster, Tierna Davidson looks like a lock as the other pure center back in the XI. Davidson was effective on the ball against South Korea, much like Girma, and looked at home next to the San Diego Wave stalwart.

Emily Sonnett, who can deputize in any position in the backline or at the base of midfield, played as a center back in the USWNT's second match against South Korea and was listed as a defender on U.S. Soccer's roster release for the June camp. She'll be in France, too.

Moving toward the fullback positions, Emily Fox, Jenna Nighswonger, and Crystal Dunn bring a delightful amount of flexibility to the outside of the defense. Fox wasn't the cleanest in this window, but she thrives as a stay-at-home fullback on the right side. Nighswonger, for her part, looked very adaptable playing high and wide on the left, bombing forward from her fullback spot to join the frontline in possession. The same goes for Dunn, who played on both sides across the U.S.'s two most recent friendlies.