The United States Women’s National Team is getting ready to defend their status as world champions this summer at the 2019 World Cup. In preparation for the tournament, the team is one of four squads participating in the fourth annual SheBelieves Cup, a collection of stateside games against some of the best women’s teams in the world.
Fans in Nashville on Saturday will get the opportunity to watch a potentially outstanding match, as the United States will take on England. The Yanks currently sit at No. 1 in FIFA’s world rankings, while England, the team atop the SheBelieves Cup through one match, sits in fourth.
Beyond the fact that the football should be really exciting, U.S. Soccer announced the United States will use the match to “honor powerful, influential, iconic and inspirational women.” The squad won’t have their last names across the back of their kits, instead, the players got the opportunity to select a woman who inspires them and wear their names on their shirts.
23 players. 23 powerful women.
What name would be on your kit? pic.twitter.com/6do6bcMKgq— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) March 2, 2019
Here’s the complete list, via U.S. Soccer:
Abby Dahlkemper: Jennifer Lawrence
Tierna Davidson: Sally Ride
Crystal Dunn: Serena Williams
Julie Ertz: Carrie Underwood
Emily Fox: Elena Delle Donne
Adrianna Franch: Brianna Scurry
Ashlyn Harris: Cardi B
Tobin Heath: Doris Burke
Rose Lavelle: J.K. Rowling
Carli Lloyd: Malala Yousafzai
Jessica McDonald: Maya Angelou
Samantha Mewis: Mia Hamm
Alex Morgan: Abby Wambach
Alyssa Naeher: Robin Roberts
Kelley O’Hara: Heather O’Reilly
Christine Press: Sojourner Truth
Mallory Pugh: Beyonce
Megan Rapinoe: Audre Lorde
Becky Sauerbrunn: Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Casey Short: Katie Sowers
Emily Sonnett: Tina Fey
Andi Sullivan: Jessica Mendoza
McCall Zerboni: Mother Teresa
If you’d like to read the stories behind these selections, click here. The match is scheduled to kick off from Nissan Stadium at 4:55 p.m. EST on Fox.
