Jill Ellis names first camp roster of 2018

Jill Ellis has named the first USWNT roster of the new year, calling in 26 players for a training camp in California ahead of the team’s first 2018 friendly against Euro runner-up Denmark.

Camp will run January 6 - 21, after which Ellis will name a final roster of 18 players to face Denmark while also keeping in mind the bigger test ahead, SheBelieves in March. The U-23s are also in camp and will overlap will the senior WNT. Ellis may take this opportunity to look at her youth pool, but it’s unlikely a U-23 will manage to claw their way into the Denmark roster.

Returning to USWNT camp after a long absence is Meghan Klingenberg. She hasn’t played since June 2017 when the team played away against Sweden and Norway. Klingenberg wasn’t injured; she simply didn’t seem to have a place in Ellis’ defense at the time. She may end up not getting named to the final roster either, with eight players to be cut. But it’s a new year, and so perhaps a new slate for several players.

Of note, Ellis continues to list Sofia Huerta as a defender, which indicates she’ll be fighting for time as a right back.

Tobin Heath, Sam Mewis, and Rose Lavelle were all unavailable for this camp due to injury, although according to US Soccer, Lavelle will be present for “light training and rehab.”

The United States faces Denmark on Sunday, January 21 at 7:30 PM ET.

GOALKEEPERS (4): Jane Campbell (Houston Dash; 2/0), Adrianna Franch (Portland Thorns FC; 0/0), Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride; 14/0), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars; 23/0)

DEFENDERS (9): Abby Dahlkemper (NC Courage; 13/0), Tierna Davidson (Stanford; 0/0), Sofia Huerta (Chicago Red Stars; 3/0), Meghan Klingenberg (Portland Thorns FC; 73/3), Kelley O’Hara (Utah Royals FC; 104/2), Becky Sauerbrunn (Utah Royals FC; 135/0), Casey Short (Chicago Red Stars; 19/0), Taylor Smith (NC Courage; 7/0), Emily Sonnett (Portland Thorns FC; 12/0)

MIDFIELDERS (6): Morgan Brian (Olympique Lyon, FRA; 69/6), Julie Ertz (Chicago Red Stars; 57/14), Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC; 43/4), Carli Lloyd (Houston Dash; 246/98), Allie Long (Portland Thorns FC; 33/6), Andi Sullivan (Stanford; 7/0)

FORWARDS (7): Crystal Dunn (Chelsea FC, ENG; 57/22), Savannah McCaskill (South Carolina; 0/0), Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride; 134/80), Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars; 96/44), Mallory Pugh (Washington Spirit; 29/6), Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign FC; 129/34), Lynn Williams (NC Courage; 15/4)