Kelley O’Hara among 29 players called into USWNT January camp

U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) announced today that Head Coach Jill Ellis had named 29 players to the United States women’s national team’s January training camp roster. The camp will be held from January 12-23 and will be held at the U.S. Soccer Training Center in Carson, Calif.

The USWNT has been in the news most recently because of the failure by USSF and the USWNT Players Association to agree on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, or CBA. The CBA the team had been operating under expired on December 31, and many fans were concerned the lack of a new agreement would result in a player strike and/or the January training camp to be cancelled. However, USSF and the USWNT will continue operating under the expired CBA while continuing to negotiate for a new one. This means, for the USWNT, it is business as usual, and the first item on the calendar is the January training camp.

The USWNT convenes for the first time in 2017 and the first time since November, when the team played a pair of friendlies against Romania.

“The players have had a good break since our last games in November and I know everyone is anxious to get back to work,” Ellis said in a statement released by the team. “January Camp has always been valuable to set the tone for the upcoming year and it will be good for the players to get back on the field. For the staff, evaluation and performance remain the focal points during the 11-day camp as we begin a build up to the SheBelieves Cup.”

Both Alex Morgan and Crystal Dunn, who recently signed with Olympique Lyonnais (France) and Chelsea Ladies FC (England) respectively, were invited into camp, although it is uncertain whether either will attend. Morgan tweeted that she would be arriving in Lyon on January 5, which makes it sound unlikely that she will participate in the training camp.

Neither Mallory Pugh or Meghan Klingenberg will be participating in camp either, as both are currently recovering from injuries.

Although the roster includes 22 players who saw playing time with the USWNT in 2016, seven players who did not were invited into camp. Most notably among those is Amy “A-Rod” Rodriguez, a member of the 2015 World Cup-winning team who is returning to the team after giving birth to her second child.

Taylor Smith, who won an NWSL Championship with the Western New York Flash back in October, was called into camp for the first time. Kristen Edmonds of the Orlando Pride was also called into camp. Edmonds was last called into camp in November, but did not dress for either of November match.

A few collegiate players who recently declared for the 2017 NWSL draft—Jane Campbell (Stanford), Rose Lavelle (Wisconsin) and Christina Gibbons (Duke)—were also called into camp. Campbell and Lavelle were called into camp last year but never capped, while this is Gibbons’ first call up to the senior national team. All three players have been a part of the U.S. youth national team system in the past and are expected to be early-round draft picks.

Although January camp normally concludes with an international friendly, no such match has currently been announced by USSF. The next scheduled matches for the USWNT will be the SheBelieves Cup tournament in March.

USWNT ROSTER BY POSITION

Goalkeepers (4): Jane Campbell (Stanford), Adrianna Franch (Portland Thorns FC), Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)

Defenders (7): Jaelene Hinkle (Western New York Flash), Julie Johnston (Chicago Red Stars), Ali Krieger (Orlando Pride), Kelley O’Hara (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City), Casey Short (Chicago Red Stars), Emily Sonnett (Portland Thorns FC)

Midfielders (11): Morgan Brian (Houston Dash), Kristen Edmonds (Orlando Pride), Christina Gibbons (Duke), Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC), Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC), Rose Lavelle (Wisconsin), Carli Lloyd (Houston Dash), Allie Long (Portland Thorns FC), Samantha Mewis (Western New York Flash), Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign FC), Taylor Smith (Western New York Flash)

Forwards (7): Crystal Dunn (Chelsea Ladies FC, ENG), Jessica McDonald (Western New York Flash), Alex Morgan (Olympique Lyonnais, FRA), Kealia Ohia (Houston Dash), Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars), Amy Rodriguez (FC Kansas City), Lynn Williams (Western New York Flash)