Who is Savannah DeMelo? Meet the USWNT midfielder who made her first start at Women's World Cup

Savannah DeMelo had never suited up for the U.S. women's national team... until the World Cup opener against Vietnam.

DeMelo, who just made USWNT for the first time in her professional career, is the only player on the roster that has yet to make her senior international debut. Until Friday, she had only played for the States' U-20 team. She's replacing Rose Lavelle in the center midfield, joining mainstays Alex Morgan, Trinity Rodman and Julie Ertz on the greatest stage soccer has to offer.

She had been called to camps twice in September and October 2022, but no minutes came of those. So who exactly is she, and what made coach Vlatko Andonovski pick her?

MORE: USA vs. Vietnam live score, updates, lineups, and result

Here's what you need to know about DeMelo.

Who is Savannah DeMelo?

DeMelo was born and raised in California, where she played five years of college soccer at USC between 2016-2021.

The 25-year-old is a midfielder for Racing Louisville, having been selected fourth overall in the 2022 NWSL Draft.

She played 21 matches for the U.S.'s under-20 team between 2016-2018, actually delaying her collegiate start to play for them in the 2016 U-20 Women's World Cup. She also participated in the 2018 U-20 Women's World Cup and helped the States win the 2015 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship.

This year is her first time as part of the national team's roster, and she's making her debut on the biggest stage yet with some of FIFA's all-time legends. In the U.S.'s opening match on Friday against Vietnam, she started in place of Rose Lavelle who famously scored in the final in 2019 against Netherlands.

Savannah DeMelo NWSL stats

So far this season for Racing Louisville, DeMelo has scored a team-high five goals in 12 matches.

Savannah DeMelo USC stats