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They're almost here. We're now closer to the Olympics kicking-off than we are to the end of the 2023 Women's World Cup ending, meaning the next big tournament will be here before you know it.Yet, the U.S. women's national team still finds itself in a state of limbo. Waiting for Emma Hayes to come in, interim boss Twila Kilgore is using her time in charge to integrate young players, but there's only so much we can learn about the team as a whole before Hayes steps in.Because of that, the upcoming Gold Cup is largely about individual cases and battles, not about an overall style of play. Hayes' tactics will shine through once she's actually in charge. Until then, it's about preparing for that moment.<script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>So who can seize their chance? Which players, both new and familiar, will be under the microscope? GOAL takes a look at the USWNT storylines to watch during the tournament...

Seven USWNT talking points to follow during the Gold Cup: Lindsey Horan under the microscope as young forwards look to impress in Alex Morgan's absence

Friendlies

England

Lindsey Horan addressed the elephant in the room rather quickly. After calling American soccer fans "not smart" during an interview with The Athletic, Horan <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/uswnt-captain-lindsey-horan-issues-apology-sharing-regret-over-previous-comments/bltc00d2402c8d7b4bf" target="_blank">made sure to get her apology out there right as camp gathered</a>. She was sorry for the statement; it wasn't the right thing to say.So that part of it is done. Now, though, we'll have to say what comes of it. Horan was the team's captain at the World Cup, and one would assume she'd remain in contention for that spot heading into the Olympics. With Hayes coming in, nothing is certain, but Horan is still one of the team's senior leaders.However, we'll have to see what fan reaction is like to her in the months to come. Did she upset too many people? Or will enough of the population have understood what she was trying to say, even if it was poorly worded?Either way, Horan is one to watch. Fans will be looking on, many with a critical eye after the Lyon midfielder's comments. She'll need to put in some good shifts during this tournament or else fans, both educated and uneducated, will have plenty to say.

Horan's apology

Let's make it clear: the Gold Cup is no Olympics. The quality just doesn't match up. It does, however, offer the U.S. a chance to adjust to an Olympic-like schedule, helping them prepare for the cadence of what's to come.If all goes to plan, the U.S. will play six games over the next three weeks. It's very similar to what the Olympics will look like, with the U.S. needing to play six games in 17 days to claim the gold medal. This is a pretty good tuneup, a chance for the U.S. to map out recovery, rest and training schedules for the bigger games to come.The Gold Cup games will be centered around Southern California, allowing the U.S. to also get used to something of a base camp. It'll be a bit more spread out at the Olympics, with games scattered around France, but this will get the team used to being in an extended camp together.It's not a perfect comparison, as the two tournaments aren't like-for-like. But even so, there are things to be learned from this Gold Cup ahead of the big one this summer.

Olympic-like scheduling

Alex Morgan isn't at the Gold Cup, and <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/alex-morgan-uswnt-career-over-gold-cup-snub/blt45797f41c4a030d8" target="_blank">the discussion as to whether she will be able to force her way back in by the time the Olympics rolls around will go on and on</a>. For now, though, the question is who will get the nod at striker during this tournament?Sophia Smith feels like the likely answer. A striker for the Portland Thorns at club level, Smith played out wide at the World Cup and never quite got going. A move back inside makes too much sense, particularly because it opens up a spot for someone like Mallory Swanson (when healthy), Jaedyn Shaw, Lynn Williams or Midge Purce to start in attack.The central spot, though, could go to Mia Fishel, and this Gold Cup feels like a perfect chance to see if she sinks or swims, pun intended. The 22-year-old Chelsea forward scored her first goal for the USWNT against Colombia back in October, but only has three caps to her name. This could be a chance to give her a real runout to see how she'll fare at a higher level. If that does happen, Hayes will be keeping a close eye on her, even if she already sees plenty of Fishel at Chelsea.There are options here, and Hayes will at some point need to put some very good attacking puzzle pieces together. This tournament could show off a bit more of what that looks like, even if we have to wait for Swanson and Catarina Macario to heal up to get the full attacking picture.

Striker situation

The USWNT has played six games since their World Cup elimination, and Trinity Rodman has scored in three of them. It's an indication that she's next up in becoming a USWNT star, if she isn't already.Yes, Rodman was a starter at the World Cup, but it feels like she's really starting to find her place in the team. There's another level to her game, for sure, and the 21-year-old winger is just starting to scratch the surface of it. The Gold Cup gives her another chance to rise, another chance to inch closer to being a superstar.Now, you don't become a superstar at a Gold Cup; you do it at a World Cup or Olympics. Rodman will inevitably be judged by what she can do during the bigger tournaments ahead. The question is if she'll be a piece or a bonafide leader of the next generation. If Rodman can continue her ascent, the USWNT attack reaches a whole new level of scary.

Rodman's ascent

Write Naomi Girma's name in Sharpie. Lock her in as the starter. One half of the centerback partnership is a million percent certain. Who makes up that other half, though? There are three centerbacks in camp not named Girma, and all three will be looking to make their case for the Olympic squad.We'll start with the veteran of the group: Becky Sauerbrunn. It's easy to imagine what might have been for Sauerbrunn. If she was healthy for the World Cup, would things have been different for the USNWT? You may not need to wonder for the Olympics. The 38-year-old looks like she has one more tournament left in here, but will it be as a starter?Both Abby Dahlkemper and Tierna Davidson are back from injury and, like Sauerbrunn, both have title-winning experience to lend to the team. Dahlkemper has a built-in advantage as she partners Girma with the San Diego Wave on the club level, but Davidson is surely in the mix, too. Her versatility will help, particularly with the smaller Olympic rosters.Don't write off Alana Cook, either. She was originally in this squad, but was replaced by Sauerbrunn due to injury. Vlatko Andonovski didn't quite rate her enough to play her at the World Cup, but that could change under Hayes.It'll be a fight for that spot next to Girma, but one loaded with good options for when Hayes takes charge. The Gold Cup offers a chance for someone to establish themselves at the top of the pecking order.

Who partners Girma?

When looking at the USWNT midfield picture, there are two distinct halves. One of those combines for 314 caps. The other? Just the 10.There is an established midfield in this camp, with Horan, Rose Lavelle and Emily Sonnett making up the aforementioned 314-cap group. But can one of the players comprising the other half make a run at a starting spot? Sam Coffey, Olivia Moultrie and Korbin Albert will hope so.Moultrie and Albert, in particular, are young. Eighteen-year-old Moultrie has looked unfazed in her two caps so far. Albert, meanwhile, has just one cap to her name, but is developing outside of her comfort zone at Paris Saint-Germain, making her an interesting addition to this pool.And then there's Coffey. Many thought she could have made a difference at the World Cup, but she wasn't in the squad. Now she is, sowhat kind of role can she play?Players like Savannah DeMelo, Andi Sullivan and Kristie Mewis missed this squad but are in the mix, too. This camp, though, feels like one where one of the three younger options can make a statement.

Newcomers in midfield

This is the USWNT. Rebuild or no rebuild, this is a competition they must win. The W Gold Cup is a new tournament, but the U.S. doesn't lose CONCACAF competitions. Anything other than a trophy at the end of this will feel like a failure.That said, this competition won't be easy. The U.S. enter as the second-ranked team in the world, but they're joined by three more (Canada, Brazil, Colombia) from inside the top 25. There are four more teams in the top 50. These teams won't be pushovers; these games won't be easy.And that is what the U.S. needs right now. On the road to the Olympics, this feels like a well-designed test. These games are winnable, but not straightforward. The U.S. will learn some things despite being likely favorites in each game. Young players will get big tests, but they will be building toward bigger tests to come.The result here will matter, particularly if it doesn't go the USWNT's way. Just a few short months from the Olympics, every game means more these days.

Raising the level

Seven USWNT talking points to follow during the Gold Cup: Lindsey Horan under the microscope as young forwards look to impress in Alex Morgan's absence | Goal.com Tanzania

The U.S. women&apos;s national team are going in search of Gold Cup glory, but what are the biggest talking points to track during the tournament?

Seven USWNT talking points to follow during the Gold Cup: Lindsey Horan under the microscope as young forwards look to impress in Alex Morgan&apos;s absence