Head coach Jill Ellis named the 24-player roster yesterday for the upcoming USWNT June friendlies against China PR, which includes a stop in Sandy on June 7.
Ellis called four goalkeepers, six defenders, seven midfielders, and seven forwards into camp for the games against China PR. After a stop in Sandy, the USWNT will conclude the set of friendlies with a match on June 12 in Cleveland.
Three Utah Royals FC players were called into camp: Goalkeeper Abby Smith, defender Becky Sauerbrunn, and forward Amy Rodriguez will all look to earn minutes in front of the home crowd. Other callups include:
Goalkeepers: Ashlyn Harris, Casey Murphy, Alyssa Naeher
Defenders: Abby Dahlkemper, Tierna Davidson, Sofia Huerta, Merritt Mathias, Margaret Purce
Midfielders: Morgan Brian, Julie Ertz, Lindsey Horan, Carli Lloyd, Samantha Mewis, Allie Long, McCall Zerboni
Forwards: Crystal Dunn, Tobin Heath, Savannah McCaskill, Alex Morgan, Christen Press, Megan Rapinoe
There are a few changes from the last roster release for the Mexico friendlies in April, with Jane Campbell, Kelley O’Hara, Casey Short, Emily Sonnett, Andi Sullivan, Ashley Hatch, Mallory Pugh, and Lynn Williams not making the roster.
O’Hara, Short, Pugh, and Sonnett are currently injured.
Possible First Caps
There are four players on this roster who are looking for their first senior team caps: Merritt Mathias, Margaret Purce, Casey Murphy, and Abby Smith. Time will tell if they receive their first minutes in the upcoming matches.
Morgan Chasing 100 Goals
After scoring four goals in the two matches versus Mexico in April, Alex Morgan has now scored 85 goals in 140 appearances with the U.S. and is on pace to become the next member of the 100-Goal Club. With five friendly games remaining and five more possible matches at the 2018 CONCACAF Women’s Championship in October, Morgan has a chance to reach the mark by the end of the year.
Press Nearing 100 Caps
After being left off the last roster for not being on a club, Christen Press is now playing in Sweden with Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC. With 98 caps with the Stars and Stripes, Press is only two caps away from the century mark, where she will become the 37th U.S. player to reach 100 international appearances.
Rivalry Renewed
The USA and China have met 56 times, second behind Canada for the most common opponents for the USWNT. The two nations have not played since the final game of 2015, which was a 1-0 loss in New Orleans in what was legendary striker Abby Wambach’s final game. That loss at the Superdome ended a 104-match home unbeaten streak.
