U.S. Women’s National Team head coach Jill Ellis has named 26 players for the first training camp of 2016, which will lead into the first match of the year against the Republic of Ireland on January 23 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego (2 p.m. PT, FS1).
The U.S. team will begin training at the U.S. Soccer National Training Center in Carson, California, on Jan. 5 and train through Jan. 21 when the squad will head south to prepare for its final game before the 2016 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Championship begins on Feb. 10 in Texas.
“This camp begins the next chapter of this program,” said Ellis. “We’ll have just over two weeks together to begin to build cohesion and integrate the younger players into our processes, and then we will regroup for Olympic qualifying. The leadership and experience of our returning World Cup players will give us a solid starting point on which to build, and we are looking forward to the next challenge.”
Twenty-four of the 26 players were with the USA during the final stretch of the Women’s World Cup Victory Tour in December, with Ellis adding Portland Thorns goalkeeper Adrianna Franch and 17-year-old forward Mallory Pugh, who recently captained the U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team to a 2016 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup berth and the CONCACAF title at the qualifying tournament in Honduras.
Ellis will name 18 players to suit up against Ireland and will name the roster for Olympic Qualifying following that match.
Tickets for the U.S. WNT vs. Ireland match are on sale at ussoccer.com.
U.S. Women’s National Team Roster by Position:
GOALKEEPERS (4): Adrianna Franch (Portland Thorns FC), Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars), Hope Solo (Seattle Reign FC)
DEFENDERS (8): Whitney Engen (Boston Breakers), Jaelene Hinkle (Western New York Flash), Julie Johnston (Chicago Red Stars), Meghan Klingenberg (Portland Thorns FC), Ali Krieger (Washington Spirit), Kelley O’Hara (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City), Emily Sonnett (Univ. of Virginia)
MIDFIELDERS (8):Morgan Brian (Houston Dash), Danielle Colaprico (Chicago Red Stars), Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC), Lindsey Horan (PSG), Rose Lavelle (Wisconsin), Carli Lloyd (Houston Dash), Samantha Mewis (Western New York Flash), Heather O’Reilly (FC Kansas City)
FORWARDS (6): Crystal Dunn (Washington Spirit), Sydney Leroux (Western New York Flash), Stephanie McCaffrey (Boston Breakers), Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride), Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars), Mallory Pugh (Real Colorado)
