The first training camp of 2017 for the U.S. Women’s National Team will welcome six newcomers as head coach Jill Ellis named the 29-player roster for the upcoming session from Jan. 13 through Jan. 23 at the U.S. Soccer National Training Center in Carson, Calif.
Many usual faces will return for the camp, including 29-year-old Amy Rodriguez, who gave birth to her second son on July 1, 2016. Rodriguez was part of the FIFA Women’s World Cup-winning squad in 2015.
The six players who will get their first taste of the national team experience are goalkeepers Jane Campbell and Adrianna Franch, plus four midfielders in Kristen Edmonds, Christina Gibbons, Rose Lavelle and Taylor Smith.
Some of the top performers from the 2016 NWSL season attending the camp include the MVP and Golden Boot winner, Lynn Williams, along with Christen Press, Jessica McDonald and Kealia Ohai. The four combined to score 43 goals during the season.
“The players have had a good break since our last games in November, and I know everyone is anxious to get back to work,” said Ellis. “January Camp has always been valuable to set the tone for the upcoming year and it will be good for the players to get back on the field. For the staff, evaluation and performance remain the focal points during camp as we begin a build up to the SheBelieves Cup.”
With compromise yet to be reached between the USWNT and U.S. Soccer on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, the team will continue to operate under the expired version until further notice.
Here’s a closer look at the USWNT roster:
Goalkeepers: Jane Campbell (Stanford), Adrianna Franch (Portland Thorns), Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)
Defenders: Jaelene Hinkle (Western New York Flash), Julie Johnston (Chicago Red Stars), Ali Krieger (Orlando Pride), Kelley O’Hara (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City), Casey Short (Chicago Red Stars), Emily Sonnett (Portland Thorns)
Midfielders: Morgan Brian (Houston Dash), Kristen Edmonds (Orlando Pride), Christina Gibbons (Duke), Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns), Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns), Rose Lavelle (Wisconsin), Carli Lloyd (Houston Dash), Allie Long (Portland Thorns), Samantha Mewis (Western New York Flash), Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign), Taylor Smith (Western New York Flash)
Forwards: Crystal Dunn (Chelsea Ladies FC), Jessica McDonald (Western New York Flash), Alex Morgan (Lyon), Kealia Ohai (Houston Dash), Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars), Amy Rodriguez (FC Kansas City), Lynn Williams (Western New York Flash)
This is a good roster. A lot of NWSL players who showed out well in the League last year will now get a chance to make USWNT Varsity. Ideally, the U S should be AT LEAST 2 deep at every position, so that they can play any combination of the first 22 and be able to AT LEAST play even with any other team in the world. IMHO, the U. S. should also be playing Canada is a series of
“friendlies” in order to see how some of the newcomers do under fire against a quality team. This would also help Canada move into the #2 position globally!!!