On Thursday, October 6 U.S. Women’s National Team head coach Jill Ellis released the 24-player roster for the team’s upcoming friendlies against Switzerland later this month. Out of the 24 called up, only 18 will suit up in each match this month. These two matches will be the third and fourth meetings between the two countries in history, with the USWNT winning both of the previous matches in 2014 and 2015.
They will face Switzerland on October 19 in Sandy, Utah at 7pm MT on ESPN2 and again October 23 in Minneapolis, Minnesota at 12:45 pm MT on Fox Sports 1.
Ellis mixing it up
The roster features only 13 of the 22 players - rostered and alternates combined - that traveled to Rio this past summer for the 2016 Olympics. The Olympic players who have not been called in for this month’s pair of friendlies are striker Alex Morgan, midfielder Megan Rapinoe and defenders Ali Krieger, Julie Johnston and Meghan Klingenberg. For the remainder of the roster, Ellis has called in 11 players who are currently uncapped for the United States - nine are currently in the National Women’s Soccer League while three are still in college. In this eleven are Danielle Colaprico and Jane Campbell, players who both have been called up previously, but have never made an appearance for the national team.
“We are in a phase where we want to try to expand the player pool, look at a number of players and start the long process to qualifying for the next World Cup,” Ellis told U.S. Soccer in the official press release. “That means several of our more experienced players won’t be in for this camp while we get to evaluate some different personnel. In order to see if these players can contribute, we need to get them into a National Team training environment and in games.”
The U.S. head coach also went on to explain how crucial the NWSL has been in order to develop the next cycle for the USWNT. “The league is vitally important to create a tremendous competitive environment for these players to show their talents as professionals,” she continued. “and we are excited to give them a chance with the National Team.”
Uncapped players gain big opportunity
With the interesting few months the USWNT has had since the Olympics, things have started to change on paper for the team. With a new cycle beginning to take place, it’s important to know who Ellis is calling in.
Western New York Flash forward Lynn Williams and Houston Dash captain Kealia Ohai were in an extremely close battle for the Golden Boot in the second half of the NWSL season. Though they both ended the season with 11 goals to each their name’s, Williams tallied one more assist than Ohai to claim the Golden Boot title. Despite this, both players have been excellent goal-scorers for their respective clubs and Ohai was part of the 2012 U-20 Women’s World Cup that brought home the gold thanks to her game-winning goal against Germany in the finals.
Shea Groom wasn’t too far behind Ohai and Williams in goals this season, leading her club FC Kansas City with eight. The former Texas A&M Aggie was vital in keeping a struggling Kansas City alive in 2016, and she was also called up to the U-23 Women’s National Team back in January. Fellow U-23 teammate Abby Dahlkemper played every minute of every match for the Western New York Flash at center back. She was also the captain of the U-17 Women’s National Team. Merritt Mathias, a former Aggie like Groom, has been nothing but consistent for the Seattle Reign as she played 19 out of 20 games for them this season, starting in 17.
The Chicago Red Stars produce three uncapped players for the USWNT this camp with midfielder Danielle Colaprico as well as defenders Casey Short and Arin Gilliland. Colaprico is no stranger to the USWNT having been called up in late 2015 and early 2016. Short and Gilliland were mainstays on the Red Stars defense, helping their keep only allow 20 goals this season.
Stanford’s senior goalkeeper, Jane Campbell, may be young, but she’s not new to the USWNT. Campbell received a full team call-up in February of 2013 under Tom Sermanni, becoming the youngest goalkeeper called up at age 17. Her Cardinal teammate, Andi Sullivan, took part in the 2012 U-17 Women’s World Cup as well as the 2014 U-20 Women’s World Cup with Campbell.
Rounding out the list of 11 is Brigham Young University senior forward Ashley Hatch. Hatch currently has scored 15 goals this season for the Cougars, making her the leading goal-scorer in the nation for college soccer. Hatch most recently just scored a hat trick against the University of San Francisco.
The Full Roster
GOALKEEPERS (3): Jane Campbell (Stanford), Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)
DEFENDERS (7): Abby Dahlkemper (Western New York Flash), Arin Gilliland (Chicago Red Stars), Merritt Mathias (Seattle Reign), Kelley O’Hara (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City), Casey Short (Chicago Red Stars), Emily Sonnett (Portland Thorns FC)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Morgan Brian (Houston Dash), Danielle Colaprico (Chicago Red Stars), Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC), Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC), Carli Lloyd (Houston Dash), Allie Long (Portland Thorns FC), Samantha Mewis (Western New York Flash), Andi Sullivan (Stanford)
FORWARDS (6): Crystal Dunn (Washington Spirit), Shea Groom (FC Kansas City), Ashley Hatch (BYU), Kealia Ohai (Houston Dash), Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars), Lynn Williams (Western New York Flash)