Forward Lynn Williams and defender Emily Sonnett returned to the national team for a training camp that will help the United States prepare for the World Cup this summer.
Coach Vlatko Andonovski announced a 24-player roster for the team’s January camp in New Zealand on Thursday. Williams and Sonnett have recovered from injuries but Sophia Smith (foot) and Megan Rapinoe (ankle) were not included.
The United States will face New Zealand on January 18 in Wellington and on January 21 in Auckland. The matches will help both teams prepare for the World Cup, which will be hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
The United States, which has won the last two World Cups, will play group stage matches in both cities during the tournament that begins on July 20. The team’s base camp for the tournament will also be in New Zealand.
Sonnett, who injured his foot, has not played since last summer’s World Cup qualifying matches in Mexico, where he scored his first international goal against Costa Rica.
Williams had a hamstring injury that required surgery and has kept her sidelined since last February’s SheBelieves Cup. Williams has 14 goals in 47 appearances for the team.
“We’re pretty happy where Lynn is, actually. In fact, she came very close to playing in the playoffs for her club team in Kansas City,” Andonovski said during a conference call with reporters. “But Ella Lynn has been a regular player for the national team, she actually was before her injury, and we don’t want to punish her for getting injured.”
Defensemen Tierna Davidson and Kelley O’Hara, as well as forward Catarina Macario, were not yet ready to return from injuries, Andonovski said. Macario tore his ACL while playing for her club team Lyon and has been rehabbing in Qatar.
“The pool is narrowing down a bit and the players that we have on the roster right now, along with some of the players that are injured, or some that we hope to get back on track soon, is basically the pool that we want. they are looking a little closer,” said the coach.
Mallory Pugh, who married Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson in December, will wear her married name on her jersey for the first time.
United States roster by position with club affiliation:
Goalkeepers: Adrianna Franch (Kansas City Current), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars).
Defenders: Alana Cook (OL Reign), Emily Fox (Racing Louisville), Crystal Dunn (Portland Thorns), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave), Sofia Huerta (OL Reign), Hailie Mace (Kansas City Current), Becky Sauerbrunn (Portland Thorns), Emily Sonnett (Washington Spirit).
Midfielders: Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns), Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon), Taylor Kornieck (San Diego Wave), Rose Lavelle (OL Reign), Kristie Mewis (Gotham), Ashley Sanchez (Washington Spirit), Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit) .
Forwards: Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit), Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave), Midge Purce (Gotham), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Mallory Swanson (Chicago Red Stars), Lynn Williams (Kansas City Current).
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