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No one envies the job that U.S. women’s national team head coach Vlatko Andonovski has right now in trying to whittle down his roster to 23 for the World Cup. He will have many tough decisions to make, however one choice that shouldn’t be hard is including Lynn Williams.
The 29-year-old missed nearly all the last NWSL season with a hamstring injury she picked up in March 2022. In the offseason she made a move to Gotham FC and she’s off to an electric start to the 2023 campaign.
Through Gotham’s first eight games of the season Williams had scored two-thirds of the team’s goal in all competitions (six of nine). She’s already scored more goals than any Gotham player did last season.
All Lynn Williams 2023 goals
LYNN WILLIAMS WITH A GOAL ON HER GOTHAM DEBUT.
What a finish. pic.twitter.com/SVrzAS9V2v— Attacking Third (@AttackingThird) March 27, 2023
Lynn Williams puts the cherry on top pic.twitter.com/rAnuq4f8VR
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) April 16, 2023
LYNN WILLIAMS @lynnraenie puts @GothamFC in front! pic.twitter.com/p36BmbYR80
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) April 20, 2023
LYYYYYNNNNNNN!
Yazmeen Ryan sets her up, and Lynn Williams makes it look easy pic.twitter.com/MvDp9BN93T— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) April 23, 2023
LYNN WILLIAMS DOES NOT MISS pic.twitter.com/xP7oAhv9O3
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) May 4, 2023
Lynn Williams capitalizes and makes it ✌️ for Gotham! pic.twitter.com/HYHbW2M3TP
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) May 7, 2023
What better way to celebrate your 30th birthday than with a goal
Lynn Williams doubles @GothamFC lead! pic.twitter.com/dVQfoROrcU— Attacking Third (@AttackingThird) May 21, 2023
Her goal scoring tally is matched by her work rate through games on the offensive and defensive side of things.
The 2016 NWSL MVP's success story for Gotham this season hasn’t translated as well with the national team in 2023. Andonovski has so many options in attack and liked his front three with Alex Morgan, Sophia Smith and Mallory Swanson.
Between friendlies and the SheBelieves Cup, the USWNT have played nine games this year. Williams has only started one of those nine and made four substitute appearances.
In total she’s played around 158 minutes out of a possible 630 with the national team which is just 25% of the time. She’s scored one goal in the process.
Seven minutes into her first appearance following a long-term hamstring injury, Lynn Williams gets on the scoresheet pic.twitter.com/z12EZVh3eR
— B/R Football (@brfootball) January 18, 2023
Williams didn’t make an appearance in either of the last two USWNT friendlies vs. Ireland in April.
With Swanson having to get surgery after a knee injury, another player will need to step up.
Andonovski has stated in the past that players’ performances for their clubs will influence his decision on selecting them for the roster. Williams couldn’t be performing any better.
That’s why she makes our cut for the 2023 USWNT Women’s World Cup roster prediction.
