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Vlatko Andonovski has called in 27 players for the USWNT’s January training camp. The camp will be followed up by two friendlies against Colombia in Orlando, Florida.
GOALKEEPERS (4): Aubrey Bledsoe (Washington Spirit), Jane Campbell (Houston Dash), Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)
DEFENDERS (10): Alana Cook (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Abby Dahlkemper (North Carolina Courage), Tierna Davidson (Chicago Red Stars), Crystal Dunn (Portland Thorns FC), Emily Fox (UNC), Ali Krieger (Orlando Pride), Kelley O’Hara (Washington Spirit), Margaret Purce (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (Portland Thorns FC), Emily Sonnett (Washington Spirit)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Julie Ertz (Chicago Red Stars), Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC), Jaelin Howell (Florida State), Rose Lavelle (Manchester City/ENG), Catarina Macario (Stanford), Kristie Mewis (Houston Dash), Samantha Mewis (Manchester City/ENG), Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit)
FORWARDS (5): Carli Lloyd (Sky Blue FC), Mallory Pugh (Chicago Red Stars), Megan Rapinoe (OL Reign), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC), Lynn Williams (North Carolina Courage)
Not a ton of surprises here, but we are getting some veteran players coming back from long recoveries, like Carli Lloyd and Megan Rapinoe. It’s uncertain who will make the actual gameday roster, but January camp is a good time to begin integrating anyone Andonovski considers important for the delayed Olympic games this year. Let’s not forget that on the heels of the friendly against Colombia, the WNT will also play the SheBelieves Cup, giving them a nice run of games to start getting back into gear after their relative inactivity in the hellhole that was 2020.
Alex Morgan is unavailable for this camp as she and her family contracted COVID-19 over the holidays.
Unfortunately, my family and I closed out 2020 learning that we had contracted Covid while in California over the holidays. We are all in good spirits and recovering well. After our isolation is completed, I will follow US Soccer's return to play guidelines to ensure (1/2)
— Alex Morgan (@alexmorgan13) January 5, 2021
Christen Press is also unavailable and recovering from a non-COVID illness in England, while Tobin Heath is remaining with Manchester United during this period.
Once again, Catarina Macario joins the team, though her eligibility to compete for the US is not yet complete. US Soccer said in their release that Macario is “in the final stages of the process to become eligible to represent the United States.”
18 players will make the final gameday roster for Colombia. Will we see the return of the Mewii? Is this a good spot to run out youngsters Alana Cook and Emily Fox? Will we finally see Rapinoe with a ball at her feet again or are they keeping her stored in a cryogenic chamber in order to preserve her body as long as possible before bringing her out just for the Olympics? Let’s find out together in 2021!
USA vs Colombia
Orlando, Florida (tickets limited to 4000 fans)
January 18, 7 PM ET, FS1
January 22, 7 PM ET, ESPN2