Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan have secured spots on the upcoming US roster for the CONCACAF W Championship in the following month. This tournament holds the key to determining four of the region’s teams participating in the 2023 Women’s World Cup, with the United States holding the prestigious title as the two-time defending champion.

Both Rapinoe and Morgan were absent from the US roster since last October, as coach Vlatko Andonovski took the opportunity to assess younger players in the lead-up to the qualifying phase. Expressing her excitement, Morgan tweeted, “So excited to be back with my gals!” following Monday’s roster announcement.

The qualifying roster consists of twenty-three players, with additional inclusions for the training camp ahead of two friendlies against Colombia later this month. Notably, Sam Mewis (knee), Abby Dahlkemper (ribs), and Lynn Williams (hip) are sidelined due to injuries. Catarina Macario, who recently tore her ACL while playing for Lyon, is expected to be out for at least six months. Crystal Dunn is absent due to recent childbirth.

Tobin Heath and Christen Press are omitted from the roster. Press, who sustained an anterior cruciate ligament tear in her right knee during a match for Angel City, was already excluded from the roster prior to the injury, according to Andonovski. The decision was influenced by stiff competition in the forward position, with players like Morgan, Trinity Rodman, Ashley Hatch, Sophia Smith, and Mallory Pugh.

The W Championship is scheduled for July in Monterrey, Mexico, and will determine the four teams representing the region in the 2023 World Cup, cohosted by Australia and New Zealand. The tournament winner will also secure a spot in the 2024 Olympics. Before that, the United States will engage in matches against Colombia on June 25 in Colorado and June 28 in Sandy, Utah.