NWSL PLAYERS ON SHEBELIEVES CUP TRAINING CAMP ROSTER

SheBelieves Cup Kicks Off March 5

26 NWSL Players called in for Camp. USA Opens Fifth Annual Tournament on March 5 vs. England in Orlando, FL (7 p.m. ET, ESPN2 & TUDN)

U.S. Women’s National Team head coach Vlatko Andonovski has named a 26-player training camp roster ahead of the 2020 SheBelieves Cup.

All 26 athletes play in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) including the 20 players who most recently helped the USA book their ticket to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and win the 2020 Concacaf Women’s Olympics Qualifying Tournament. 

The U.S. team begins play in the SheBelieves Cup on Thursday, March 5, against England at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Fla. (7 p.m. ET on ESPN2 and TUDN). Japan will kick off the tournament against Spain (4:15 p.m. ET on ESPN3) in the early game that day. All the teams will then travel to Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J., where the USA will play Spain on Sunday, March 8 (5 p.m. ET on ESPN and TUDN), following Japan vs. England (2:15 p.m. ET on ESPN3). The tournament will finish on Wednesday, March 11, at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, as England takes on Sp ain (5:15 p.m. ET on ESPN3) followed by the tournament finale, featuring the USA against Japan (8 p.m. ET on ESPNews and TUDN).

The training camp kicks off in Orlando just over a week before the first game. The six additional players named to the roster, include Chicago Red Stars defender Casey Short, Sky Blue FC defender Margaret Purce, and Sky Blue FC forward Mallory Pugh, all of whom trained with the USA briefly in advance of the Olympic qualifying tournament.

Andonovski has also added a fourth goalkeeper to the mix in Jane Campbell of the Houston Dash, along with 2019 Women’s World Cup Champion and Chicago defender Tierna Davidson, and Washington Spirit midfielder Jordan DiBiasi. DiBiasi attended the USA’s Identification Camp last December which marked her first call-up to the senior USWNT squad.

Andonovski will choose a final 23-player tournament roster for the SheBelieves Cup before the first game. 

“Our end goal is the Olympics, but we’re looking forward to a productive camp in Orlando and the challenge of playing three fantastic sides over the seven days. The rhythm of the SheBelieves Cup schedule directly matches what we will face in group play at the Olympics, and the value of getting a test run against this level of competition cannot be overstated,” said Andonovski.

USWNT 2020 SheBelieves Cup Training Camp Roster Club; Caps/Goals)

GOALKEEPERS (4): Jane Campbell (Houston Dash; 3), Adrianna Franch (Portland Thorns FC; 3), Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride; 25), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars; 61)

DEFENDERS (9): Abby Dahlkemper (North Carolina Courage; 58/0), Tierna Davidson (Chicago Red Stars; 25/1), Crystal Dunn (North Carolina Courage; 101/24), Ali Krieger (Orlando Pride; 107/1), Kelley O’Hara (Utah Royals FC; 129/2), Margaret Purce (Sky Blue FC; 1/0), Becky Sauerbrunn (Utah Royals FC; 174/0), Casey Short (Chicago Red Stars; 31/0), Emily Sonnett (Orlando Pride; 44/0)

MIDFIELDERS (6): Jordan DiBiasi (Washington Spirit), Julie Ertz (Chicago Red Stars; 99/19), Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC; 83/18), Rose Lavelle (Washington Spirit; 42/12), Samantha Mewis (North Carolina Courage; 64/18), Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit; 16/0)

FORWARDS (7): Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC; 165;33), Carli Lloyd (Sky Blue FC; 291/122), Jessica McDonald (North Carolina Courage; 17/4), Christen Press (Utah Royals FC; 134/56), Mallory Pugh (Sky Blue FC; 62/18), Megan Rapinoe (Reign FC; 165/51), Lynn Williams (North Carolina Courage; 25/9)

2020 SheBelieves Cup Schedule

Chicago Red Stars midfielder Julie Ertz is one game shy of her 100th cap. She aims to become the 40th U.S. female player to reach the milestone. North Carolina Courage defender and 2019 NWSL Champion Crystal Dunn, who earned her 100th cap in the USA’s victory over Mexico in the Concacaf Women’s Qualifying Tournament is set to be honored for her achievement before the match against Spain on March 8 at Red Bull Arena. Emily Sonnet, who was acquired by Orlando on Jan. 6, and Purce and Pugh who were traded to Sky Blue FC on Jan. 7 and Jan. 16 respectively, will work to represent the USA in their new home stadiums. Portland Thorns FC midfielder Lindsey Horan, who led the team with six goals in the Olympic Qualifiers, and Utah Royals FC forward Christen Press, who finished with five goals and was named the tournament’s MVP, look to continue their strong play and become the first individual players to score more than two goals in the SheBelieves tournament.

The format for the SheBelieves Cup will be the same as the first four years. The winner will be determined by total points (three for a win, one for a draw), with the first tiebreaker being overall goal difference, followed by goals scored, then head-to-head result. If teams are still tied, the next tie-breaker will be the Fair Play ranking. 

Tickets for all three doubleheaders are selling well and can be purchased through ussoccer.com. Groups of 20 or more can order directly at ussoccer.com. Each ticket is valid for both matches of the doubleheader for the date purchased.

Coaches Circle and Presidents Circle members supporting the U.S. Soccer Development Fund can receive individual customer support and concierge services for their ticketing needs. Click here or contact circles@ussoccer.org for more information.

As a proud supporter of the USWNT through 2023 and the presenting sponsor of the SheBelieves Cup, Visa will continue its long-standing support in the development of women’s soccer. The support of U.S. Women’s Soccer complements Visa’s global investment in women’s soccer through partnerships with UEFA Women’s Football and Visa’s long-standing partnership with FIFA, including the FIFA Women’s World Cup, FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup India 2020 and FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Costa Rica/Panama 2020.

Source: NWSL Press Release