Photo by Brad Smith/ISIphotos.com
Things may not have gone as well as the U.S. Women’s National Team would have liked at the Algarve Cup earlier this month, but that has not stopped head coach Tom Sermanni from calling up the majority of the same players for a pair of friendlies in early April.
Sermanni named a 24-player roster for a set of upcoming matches against China, and 22 of them were with the U.S. in Portugal during their recent disappointing Algarve Cup performance. The two players that were added are forward Katie Stengel and midfielder Lauren Holiday, who missed the European tournament because of a family matter.
Aside from Holiday, other regulars on the squad include goalkeeper Hope Solo, forwards Sydney Leroux and Abby Wambach, and midfielders Tobin Heath and Megan Rapinoe.
Alex Morgan and Crystal Dunn are both still nursing respective ankle injuries, and have not been included in this camp as a result.
The Americans, who had their long-time winning streak broken in Portugal, will first take on China on April 6 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo. before heading to Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego for a rematch.
Here is the full 24-player roster:
Goalkeepers (3):Jill Loyden (Sky Blue FC), Alyssa Naeher (Boston Breakers), Hope Solo (Seattle Reign FC)
Defenders (9): Stephanie Cox (Seattle Reign FC), Whitney Engen (Tyresö), Meghan Klingenberg (Tyresö), Ali Krieger (Washington Spirit), Kristie Mewis (Boston Breakers), Kelley O’Hara (Sky Blue FC), Christie Rampone (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City), Rachel Van Hollebeke (Portland Thorns FC)
Midfielders (7): Morgan Brian (Virginia), Tobin Heath (Pairs Saint-Germain), Lauren Holiday (FC Kansas City), Carli Lloyd (WNY Flash), Samantha Mewis (UCLA), Heather O’Reilly (Boston Breakers), Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign FC)
Forwards (5): Sydney Leroux (Seattle Reign FC), Christen Press (Tyresö), Amy Rodriguez (FC Kansas City), Katie Stengel (LA Blues), Abby Wambach (WNY Flash)
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What do you think of the USWNT roster Sermanni called in? Anyone’s inclusion/omission that you’re surprised by? Starting to really get worried about Morgan’s prolonged injury absence? Do you see this squad picking up two wins vs. China?
Share your thoughts below.
For champions sometimes the only way to become stronger is by loosing ang getting knocked down a couple
drop this sermani guy,and sunil gulati above de deepest point of the ocean..
I think Wambach summed it up correctly by stating that the level of play by womens’ teams world wide has progressed. I also think this had been and is influenced by the us national team for some time. The wnt is on its way to winning the next world cup….and this is a very bold statement but one I stand by. Hopefully, globally, the womens’ futbol programs will continue progressing. I agree with Coach Sermanni’s choices.
Ahem, who’s that standing behind and slightly to Coach Sermanni’s left?
K. Mewis?
the first time we have lost 2 games in forever…
why can’t USSF focus on making the women’s pro league into the best women’s soccer league on the planet. arguably we’re no 3/4 at the moment but with the best players, we should be no 1
I would structure it into 12-16 teams such as West Coast(Pacific Northwest/California) + (Midwest/Texas) + (East Coast)
Because of costs, duh. We’ve already had a couple women’s pro leagues fold. Trying to draw all the world’s best players just isn’t economically stable.
Personally I think the NWSL is a high enough level to provide a challenging club environment for our national teamers, as well as providing opportunities for other Americans to prove themselves.
What’s the latest on Alex Morgan’s injury? I remember she had a setback but haven’t seen anything since then. It’s nice that she is keeping busy writing children’s books but I’d like to see her back on the field… They obviously need her.
Team under performs, entire same group gets called into the next camp (save for 2 injured players) . . . hard to take this seriously.