Meet the 2 Cincinnatians on the USA World Cup team

The U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (USWNT) is looking to defend its title as the 2023 World Cup kicks off July 20. The tournament is being jointly hosted by Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia.

Star player Meagan Rapinoe made headlines just before the team departed for the tournament by announcing she'll retire from professional soccer at the end of the year. However, soccer fans in Cincinnati will be keeping their eyes on two of their own: midfielder Rose Lavelle and goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury.

Lavelle — the Mount Notre Dame standout — rocketed onto the soccer scene, going No. 1 in the 2017 NWSL National Women's Soccer League draft and scoring big goals in her first World Cup in 2019 in France. She's well-known in the Queen City for her unabashed love of all things Cincinnati, Xavier University sports, and FC Cincinnati.

A mural of her likeness was installed at The Banks ahead of the 2019 World Cup. Upon her return to the United States, she was honored with a key to the city of Cincinnati. Lavelle speaks often to media about her love for her hometown.