A new era is coming, and some familiar faces probably won't be a part of it as attention slowly turns to the 2027 tournament

A new era is coming for the United States women's national team. It likely was coming anyway, regardless of what happened at the World Cup this summer, but the historic defeat at the hands of Sweden in the last 16 has ensured that the program will be shaken up in a big way going forward.

Several major stars will be on their way out following the team's premature exit on Sunday in Melbourne. It was the earliest in the program's history at the World Cup, and it'll no doubt start a rebuild from top to bottom.

That rebuild, in some ways, started a few years ago and was one of the key goals of Vlatko Andonovski's tenure. Unfortunately, it produced mixed results. While stars like Sophia Smith, Trinity Rodman and Naomi Girma rose through the ranks, the U.S. was very much reliant on the old guard this summer as they made a push for one more World Cup.

Unfortunately, it wasn't to be, and the rebuild can now truly begin as the program is ripped down and built back from the ground up. It'll all have to be done on the fly with the Olympics only a year away, but there's no doubt that several key stars are on their way out.

But who are they? GOAL takes a look at the USWNT stars that have probably played at their last World Cup…

GettyMegan Rapinoe

There's no speculation about this one: Megan Rapinoe's career is coming to an end. She announced prior to the World Cup that she'll retire after the NWSL season, with the 38-year-old icon now staring down the end of his career. Her time on the biggest stage ended cruelly, as her penalty sailed over the crossbar and helped condemn the USWNT to a historic defeat.

What's next for Rapinoe is anyone's guess. She's a personality that is much larger than soccer, so it'll be no surprise to see her pop up just about anywhere else in the world. Whether it's Hollywood, business or politics, Rapinoe can do just about anything she wants as she puts her playing days behind her.

AdvertisementGettyKelley O'Hara

Like Rapinoe, it's cruel that Kelley O'Hara's decorated World Cup career ended in this way. She went to four World Cups and won two of them, cementing her place in USWNT history. The lasting image of her 2023 World Cup should be the leadership she showed after the Portugal draw, embracing a clearly frustrated Rose Lavelle after the midfielder earned herself a suspension.

Unfortunately, the missed penalty against Sweden will probably be the real lasting image as she was one of three USWNT stars to fail to convert from the spot. As for her future now, it remains to be seen if she can stick around for the Olympics at age 35 but, with a new coach likely coming in soon to refresh the player pool, it's safe to say the USWNT should go younger.

GettyJulie Ertz

You never say never in this sport, but it seems that Julie Ertz's USWNT career is officially over. "I think for me it’s just emotional because it’s probably my last game ever being able to have the honor to wear this crest," Ertz said after the match. "So I think it’s just, you know, it’s just tough. I feel like it’s just an emotional time. So it absolutely sucks and penalties are the worst. But it’s an honor to represent this team and I’m excited for the future of the girls.”

At age 31, maybe Ertz shouldn't be written off, and the USWNT might just be hoping her retirement statement was made out of emotion. From what we saw this summer, she could still help this team at the Olympics next summer, although the next World Cup will probably be too far away for her.

GettyKristie Mewis

Kristie Mewis has an absolutely insane World Cup record to her name. The midfielder scored for the USWNT in the shootout defeat to Sweden, and that penalty-kick goal was her only ever touch on the world's biggest stage. She hadn't played up until that point and was brought in for the shootout. She converted and that was it; her World Cup was over.

The 32-year-old midfielder may not have been on the roster if the USWNT was 100 percent healthy, and given the upcoming youth movement, this'll likely be her only World Cup, having previously been a part of the bronze medal Olympic team in 2021.