USWNT Releases Roster for Haiti Friendlies

USWNT head coach Jill Ellis has released her roster for the United States' two friendlies against Haiti (formerly against Australia, who withdrew due to a dispute with their federation).

All 23 World Cup players plus Crystal Dunn will be present at the first game in Detroit, while Christen Press will be unavailable for the second game in Birmingham due to a family commitment.

The first game comes four days after NWSL semifinals, in which much of the USWNT roster is likely to feature. With the Chicago Red Stars, FC Kansas City, Seattle Reign, and Washington Spirit all competing this weekend, as many as 14 players from the 24-player roster could see playing time for their clubs. Four days is certainly not the worst time crunch between games, but it could encourage Ellis to mix and match her roster a little more.

Another concern is injury. Haiti is a physical team; many of their players went to FC Indiana in WPSL Elite a few years ago, where they would resort to physicality in order to compensate for being outmatched. With two friendlies between NWSL semis and the championship game, surely some players' club coaches will be hoping to see critical parts of their rosters limit their playing time or even stay safe on the bench.

One thing seems obvious: Crystal Dunn will get playing time. There's no reason to call her up as the sole exception to the World Cup roster during the Victory Tour and then bench her for both games. Dunn is listed as a defender even though the Spirit have played her as a very successful forward, so who knows where Ellis will decide to fit her into the formation. It could be interesting to see a Dunn playing wide, supporting Christen Press and Alex Morgan. Or Ellis may decide that Dunn's speed is suited to fullback and will ask her to press hard and overlap against a team whose defense might be invitingly porous.

GOALKEEPERS (3): Ashlyn Harris (Washington Spirit), Alyssa Naeher (Boston Breakers), Hope Solo (Seattle Reign FC)

DEFENDERS (9): Lori Chalupny (Chicago Red Stars), Crystal Dunn (Washington Spirit), Whitney Engen (Western NY Flash), Julie Johnston (Chicago Red Stars), Meghan Klingenberg (Houston Dash), Ali Krieger (Washington Spirit), Kelley O'Hara (Sky Blue FC), Christie Rampone (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Shannon Boxx (Chicago Red Stars), Morgan Brian (Houston Dash), Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC), Lauren Holiday (FC Kansas City), Carli Lloyd (Houston Dash), Heather O'Reilly (FC Kansas City), Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign FC)

FORWARDS (5): Sydney Leroux (Western NY Flash), Alex Morgan (Portland Thorns FC), Christen Press* (Chicago Red Stars), Amy Rodriguez (FC Kansas City), Abby Wambach (unattached)