The U.S. women’s national team finally has its first ever general manager. Monday’s official announcement that Kate Markgraf has been named to the new role by U.S. Soccer came after a search led U.S. Soccer vice president Cindy Parlow-Cone which spanned a dozen candidates, that started back in February 2018.



But while the hiring of a women’s GM was expected, some other aspects of the position announced on Monday were new. Among them: Earnie Stewart’s promotion from the men’s national team’s general manager to the newly-created position of sporting director, which will oversee both men’s and women’s teams. Markgraf will report to Stewart in her new role, who will in turn report to the CEO of U.S. Soccer.



Markgraf’s oversight over the program won’t be limited to the senior national team. She is now the central point for women’s soccer across the federation. U.S. Soccer stated that she has “several...