Jill Ellis Names 24-Player USWNT Training Camp Roster
Jill Ellis is bringing in fresh faces for the USWNT’s upcoming pair of friendlies scheduled against Switzerland during the month of October. With the conclusion of the NWSL regular season, Ellis shows her eyes are on promising young talent that have headlined the league in recent months.
Soccer News: U.S. Women’s National Team head coach Jill Ellis has named her 24-player roster for the upcoming training camp with two matches scheduled against Switzerland, on Oct. 19 at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah, and Oct. 23 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Ellis will name 18 players to suit up for each game.
The roster for the USA’s first two games following the 2016 Olympics featured players that were on the roster for Brazil, but as the U.S. team begins the new cycle leading up to qualifying for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Ellis made space in camp for 11 uncapped players, eight from the NWSL and three from the college ranks.
“Right now, 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,” said Ellis. “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.”
Goalkeeper Jane Campbell, a senior at Stanford, started for the U.S. in the 2012 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup and was a member of the 2014 U20 Women’s World Cup team. Campbell previously trained with the senior team for one camp in February of 2013 as a 17-year-old. Campbell joins veterans Alyssa Naeher and 2016 NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year Ashlyn Harris as one of three keepers named to the camp.
Chicago Red Stars midfielder Danielle Colaprico also spent time in WNT camps at the end of 2015 and beginning of the calendar year. For the remaining nine players, this is their first full WNT call-up.
The roster includes 2016 NWSL Golden Boot winner Lynn Williams who scored 11 times for the Western New York Flash and two more in her club’s playoff semifinal victory over the Portland Thorns. Houston Dash forward Kealia Ohai also tallied 11 goals during the regular season, and is famously remembered for scoring the game-winning goal in the 2012 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup Final as the USA defeated Germany, 1-0, to claim its third championship for that age level.
“Our staff has been watching NWSL games this season and these are the ones that stood out,” said Ellis. “The league is vitally important to create a tremendous competitive environment for these players to show their talents as professionals and we are excited to give them a chance with the National Team.”
The other collegiate players named are Stanford junior Andi Sullivan, a member of the USA’s 2012 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup and the 2014 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup teams, as well as BYU forward Ashley Hatch, who currently leads the nation with 15 goals on the year.
U.S. Women’s National Team Roster by Position
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)
