Looking past Rio and its established defensive core, what does the future of the defender pool for the USWNT look like?
In its fourth season, the NWSL is a massive asset to potential members of the WNT defensive pool. Arguably defenders face the greatest struggle transitioning from college to the pro ranks. College rules with their rolling subs and lack of widespread technical acumen don't quite prepare defenders for what they'll face in the professional leagues. So making that next step can be jarring. However, the NWSL provides a domestic proving ground for defensive prospects to demonstrate they can take their game to the next level.