Assuming that the install completed properly and you just can't remember the password you set, try this:

https://www.makeuseof.com/reset-forgotten-ubuntu-password/

I had thought of that as well, and so I tried several times just to be sure.
That said, and after triple checking everything, I've concluded that there is a bug with the latest Ubuntu image and vmware's  easy setup feature.

Follow https://www.wikihow.com/Prevent-Easy-Install-of-Virtual-Machine-in-VMware-Workstation to use a normal Ubuntu installation.

I'm having this problem also. I have had a license for VMware Workstation for several years. Installed Ubuntu Desktop many times.

But when I try to install the newly released Ubuntu 23.04, the install seems to proceed fine, but I cannot login with the credentials I supplied. I've tried the installation several times now with the same results. I re-downloaded the Ubuntu iso to make sure it was valid. But I cannot login after an install.

It appears certain there is a bug here. Any suggestions?

I installed it OK but didn't use easy install, I used "I will install it later". It installed the open version of tools and runs OK. I don't much like their default desktop, but wanted to have a look at 23.04.

This suggestion worked. The problem is with "easy install".