Sky Blue FC’s Kelley O’Hara will train with the U.S. national team for the SheBelieves Cup. (Kyle Terada/USA Today)
Sky Blue FC defender Kelley O’Hara and midfielder Sarah Killion and Long Island’s Crystal Dunn and Allie Long were named to the U.S. women’s national team training camp roster Wednesday prior to the SheBelieves Cup next month.
The U.S. team will convene in Orlando, Fla. Feb. 20 for a week of training before heading to Philadelphia to kick off the second annual edition of the tournament Wednesday, March 1 at Talen Energy Stadium. England will open against France in Chester, Pa. (4 p.m. ET) followed by the USA against Germany (7 p.m. ET on FS1).
The teams will travel to Harrison, N.J., where France will face Germany on Saturday, March 4 (2:15 p.m. ET) followed by the USA taking on England (5 p.m. ET on FOX) at Red Bull Arena. The competition will finish on Tuesday, March 7, at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. as Germany takes on England (4 p.m. ET) and the USA faces France (7 p.m. ET on FS1).
U.S. head coach Jill Ellis named three goalkeepers, seven defenders, nine midfielders and six forwards to the pre-camp.
“January gave us a chance to see some new faces in with the veterans, and get some quality time on the training field,” Ellis said. “A player’s performance in that camp and positional depth guided our selection for this pre-camp, and from here we will select our SheBelieves Cup roster.”
The USA is particularly deep in central attacking players as Ellis can deploy Carli Lloyd, Alex Morgan, Dunn, Lynn Williams, Christen Press, Mallory Pugh, Lindsey Horan, Rose Lavelle or Amy Rodriguez. In addition, Dunn, Pugh, and Lavelle add depth and pace to the flank position, joining Tobin Heath, Meghan Klingenberg, Casey Short and Kelley O’Hara competing in the wide areas.
“There will be no better test than opening against Germany, so we will need to have a laser focus as soon as we land in Orlando,” Ellis said. “As our players have not yet returned to their clubs, they have been training in their independent environments, so playing as much 11v11 situations will again be critical during these few days,” Ellis added.
Twenty-three players that will travel to Orlando were part of the squad’s January camp in Los Angeles with Klingenberg and Pugh having returned from injuries.
The U.S. roster:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Jane Campbell (Houston Dash), Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)
DEFENDERS (7): Julie Johnston (Chicago Red Stars), Meghan Klingenberg (Portland Thorns FC), 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 (9): Morgan Brian (Houston Dash), Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC), Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC), Sarah Killion (Sky Blue FC), Rose Lavelle (Boston Breakers), Carli Lloyd (Houston Dash), Allie Long (Portland Thorns FC), Samantha Mewis (NC Courage), Brianna Pinto (CASL)
FORWARDS (6): Crystal Dunn (Chelsea Ladies FC), Alex Morgan (Olympique Lyonnais), Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars), Mallory Pugh (UCLA), Amy Rodriguez (FC Kansas City), Lynn Williams (NC Courage)
