Defenders: Kadeisha Buchanan (Canada), Maren Mjelde (Norway), Jess Carter (England), Millie Bright (England), Aniek Nouwen (Netherlands), Eve Perisset (France), Niamh Charles (England), Ashley Lawrence (Canada)
Two of the top contenders in this competition will have at least two Blues starting in their backline. After an up and down first season in west London, Kadeisha Buchanan hits the reset button with her national team playing alongside Ashley Lawrence for the first time since her move to CFCW.
On the English side, it is going to be something special to see Millie Bright back on the pitch for the first time since the first leg of the UEFA Women’s Champions League against Lyon. In the final friendly before the World Cup against Portugal, Jess Carter played all 90 minutes as her nation’s left-sided center back. At the half, Niamh Charles was subbed on for Alex Greenwood as the full back on the left side. Charles looks to be an impact player for the English while the captain Bright should start alongside the Blues’ No. 7.
Off to captain the @Lionesses at the @FIFAWWC… our @Mdawg1Bright! 💙🏴 pic.twitter.com/8w6fqlhgae
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) July 5, 2023
Outside of Canada and England in the backline, the west Londoners are represented through a savvy Norwegian veteran Maren Mjelde, and a Dutch center back trying to make it back into Emma Hayes’ side. Aniek Nouwen came off the bench for her nation in four of the five matches in 2023, failing to make it into the starting lineup. Mjelde on the other hand is slatted to captain Norway in what will be her third World Cup representing her country.