Carli Lloyd is back on the Sky Blue FC roster for the 2021 NWSL season. (Photo courtesy of New Jersey Youth Soccer)

Sky Blue FC announced Monday its 24-player roster ahead of the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup.

The club’s first match is at the Orlando Pride Wednesday, April 14 at 7 p.m. ET. The Challenge Cup will be followed by a 24-match regular season scheduled to begin May 15.

The club has 24 players under contract, including 23 returnees: forwards Carli Lloyd, Paige Monaghan, Ifeoma Onumonu, and Margaret “Midge” Purce; midfielders Nicole Baxter, Jennifer Cudjoe, Elizabeth Eddy, Nahomi Kawasumi, Domi Richardson, and McCall Zerboni; defenders Imani Dorsey, Caprice Dydasco, Sabrina Flores, Mandy Freeman, Estelle Johnson, Gina Lewandowski, Erica Skroski, and Kenie Wright; and goalkeepers DiDi Haracic, Megan Hinz, Amanda “Mandy” McGlynn, and Kailen Sheridan.

Sky Blue FC is utilizing four international slots, including for new midfielder Sodam Lee from South Korea.

Canadian goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan is recuperating from a right quad injury sustained during the SheBelieves Cup in February.

Midfielder Kenie Wright remains on the 45-day disabled list while recovering from an ACL tear suffered during the 2020 Challenge Cup.

All of the team’s 2021 NWSL Draft picks, including Brianna Pinto (University of North Carolina), Taryn Torres (University of Virginia), Delanie Sheehan (UCLA), and Tess Boade (Duke), have elected to remain in college through at the least the conclusion of the college spring season.

The roster

GOALKEEPERS (4): Kailen Sheridan (ALL-CAN), DiDi Haracic, Megan Hinz, Amanda “Mandy” McGlynn

DEFENDERS (8): Imani Dorsey, Caprice Dydasco, Sabrina Flores, Mandy Freeman, Estelle Johnson, Gina Lewandowski, Erica Skroski, Kenie Wright

MIDFIELDERS (7): Nicole Baxter, Jennifer Cudjoe (INTL), Elizabeth Eddy, Nahomi Kawasumi (INTL), Sodam Lee (INTL), Domi Richardson, McCall Zerboni

FORWARDS (5): Carli Lloyd (ALL-USA), Paige Monaghan, Ifeoma Onumonu, Margaret “Midge” Purce (ALL-USA), Evelyne Viens (INTL)

2021 Allocated Players (ALL): 3
International Players (INTL): 4

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.