Six uncapped players will join head coach Emma Hayes’ 26-man roster for the United States women’s national team’s first game since winning the Olympic gold medal in women’s soccer in August.
Training camp, which begins next week in Austin, Texas, will also mark the return of midfielder Ashley Sanchez and forward Alyssa Thompson for the first time since late 2023.
Both players were part of the USWNT’s 2023 World Cup squad but were left out of the Olympic picture.
Defender Alyssa Malonson and forwards Yazmeen Ryan and Emma Sears all earned their first call-ups to the senior USWNT camp.
“Our focus is moving forward, our focus is on our process, and we want to continue to pursue new heights,” Hayes said in a statement. “I’m happy that we can see most of the Olympic Team again after a few months, but I’m also happy to work with some of the newer players and evaluate how they perform in our environment.”
The USWNT will play Iceland, ranked No. 13 in the world, on Oct. 24 in Austin, Texas, and again on Oct. 27 in Nashville, Tennessee.
America, ranked No.
The USWNT won its fourth Olympic gold medal on August 10, defeating Brazil 1-0 in Hayes’ 10th game.
The USWNT’s collective bargaining agreement requires that all available players from the Olympic team be recalled for victory tour matches. The first international window after winning the American gold medal was considered a victory tour.
However, four of the 22 players (including four alternates) from the 2024 Olympics are not on this list.
Forward Trinity Rodman will not join the USWNT for this camp. Rodman returned to the court for limited minutes with the Washington Spirit on Sunday after several weeks out with a back injury.
Rodman will remain with the Spirit to rehab ahead of the National Women’s Soccer League playoffs, which begin in early November.
Attacking midfielder Croix Bethune ended his NWSL season in late August after suffering a torn meniscus while throwing the first pitch against the Washington Nationals in late August.
Bethune’s freshman season for the Spirit led to that point — she tied the NWSL single-season record with 10 assists in just 17 games — earning her a spot as an Olympic alternate and eventually becoming a registered gold medalist.
Defender Tierna Davidson also picked up an injury over the weekend while playing for NJ/NY Gotham FC.
Crystal Dunn, who started all six games at fullback for the USWNT at the Olympics, “is not available for selection due to personal commitments,” US Soccer said.
Dunn has missed the new Gotham game by his absence. All three matches in the upcoming window are considered victory tour matches for the purpose of the team’s CBA, which means that each player can make up to $ 18,000 per game, the most possible for a friendly.
The upcoming three matches mark the end of the year on home soil for the USWNT. The Americans will end 2024 with a trip to London’s Wembley Stadium to take on England on November 30, followed by a visit to the Netherlands on December 3.
“Every 90 minutes of an international game is full of learning, for me and the players, and we’re looking forward to three great games for the fans to end our home schedule before we head to Europe in November,” Hayes said.
Fourteen of the 26 players on the roster have less than 20 caps. Among the players not covered are defender Emily Sams and midfielder Hal Hershfelt, who traveled with the USWNT to the Olympics as an alternate but did not play.
Sams earned a gold medal by making the game day roster. Defender Hailie Mace, who plays for the Kansas City Current, is also back with the USWNT.
He last appeared in the squad in November 2022. Twenty-three players will be selected for each of the three upcoming game days.
U.S. Soccer has confirmed that it will host a “Futures Camp” in January in the Los Angeles area that will include young and inexperienced players training in camps alongside USWNT seniors.
List by position (Club; Caps/Goals) – Friendly October 2024
GOALKEEPER (3): Jane Campbell (Houston Dash; 8), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage; 19), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars; 112)
PEMBEK (9): Emily Fox (Arsenal FC, ENG; 57/1), Eva Gaetino (Paris Saint-Germain, FRA; 0/0), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC; 40/0), Casey Krueger (Washington Spirit ). ; 56/0), Hailie Mace (Kansas City Current; 8/0), Alyssa Malonson (Bay FC; 0/0), Jenna Nighswonger (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 15/2), Emily Sams (Orlando Pride; 0 / 0), Emily Sonnett (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 99/2)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Korbin Albert (Paris Saint-Germain, FRA; 18/1), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC; 24/1), Hal Hershfelt (Washington Spirit; 0/0), Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon, FRA; 156/35), Rose Lavelle (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 106/24), Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns FC; 4/2), Ashley Sanchez (North Carolina Courage; 27/3)
ADVANCED (7): Yazmeen Ryan (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 0/0), Emma Sears (Racing Louisville FC; 0/0), Jaedyn Shaw (San Diego Wave FC; 16/7), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC; 56/23), Mallory Swanson (Chicago Red Stars; 100/38), Alyssa Thompson (Angel City FC; 9/0), Lynn Williams (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 71/19)
