Ellis names 24-player roster for USWNT friendlies vs. Russia in Texas

CHICAGO (Via U.S. Soccer) – U.S. Women’s National Team head coach Jill Ellis has named a 24-player training camp roster for two matches against Russia, taking place on April 6 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas (7:30 p.m. CT; FS1 with the pre-game show starting at 7 p.m. CT) and April 9 at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston (1 p.m. CT on ESPN).

Ellis will choose 18 players for the game roster for each match. These will be the final U.S. WNT matches before the National Women’s Soccer League kicks off its fifth season with four games on April 15.

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ROSTER BREAKDOWN
Ellis named three goalkeepers, six defenders, eight midfielders and seven forwards, although numerous players can play multiple positions. Nineteen of the players selected were on the roster for the 2017 SheBelieves Cup in March. Ellis has recalled midfielder Megan Rapinoe (117 caps/31 goals) and has given a first call-up to new Boston Breakers defender Megan Oyster, who had a quality NWSL season last year for the Washington Spirit. Forward Amy Rodriguez (129/30) and defender Meghan Klingenberg (70/3), who both attended the USA’s training camp before the SheBelieves Cup but did not make the final roster, were also selected, as was Houston Dash forward Kealia Ohai, who earned her first three caps and scored her first WNT goal at the end of 2016. Six players on the roster have played 122 times or more for the USA while twelve have 33 or less caps.

U.S. Women’s National Team Roster by Position – Texas Friendlies
GOALKEEPERS (3): Jane Campbell (Houston Dash), Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)

DEFENDERS (6): Meghan Klingenberg (Portland Thorns FC), Ali Krieger (Orlando Pride), Kelley O’Hara (Sky Blue FC), Megan Oyster (Boston Breakers), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City), Casey Short (Chicago Red Stars)

MIDFIELDERS (8): Morgan Brian (Houston Dash), Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC), Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC), Rose Lavelle (Boston Breakers), Carli Lloyd (Houston Dash/Manchester City), Allie Long (Portland Thorns FC), Samantha Mewis (NC Courage), Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign)

FORWARDS (7): Crystal Dunn (Chelsea FC), Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride/Olympique Lyonnais, FRA), Kealia Ohai (Houston Dash), Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars), Mallory Pugh (UCLA), Amy Rodriguez (FC Kansas City), Lynn Williams (NC Courage)

JILL ELLIS:
“This is our last chance to get together before the NWSL starts and we’ll take full advantage of the training time as well as the two matches against a team in preparation for the European championships,” said Ellis. “Following these matches, my staff and I will begin a heavy investment in attending and evaluating the NWSL games as well as tracking our players overseas before we get back together for our European trip in the summer. I’m very much looking forward to our domestic league starting.”

Additional Notes:

• Russia, which is set to compete in the 2017 UEFA Women’s Euro this summer in the Netherlands, was drawn into a tough Group B with Germany, Italy and Sweden. Russia qualified for the tournament by finishing second behind Germany in Group 5 of the qualifying process.
• The USA last met Russia in two friendly matches in February of 2014, winning 7-0 at FAU Stadium in Boca Raton, Fla. and 8-0 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. Prior to those two games, the teams hadn’t met since 2002 in the opening game of the Nike U.S. Women’s Cup in Uniondale, N.Y.
• Russia is currently ranked 23rd in the world.
• Nine different players scored for Russia during Euro qualifying, including two goals each from Elena Terekhova, Nadezhda Karpova, Ekaterina Pantyukhina and Elena Danilova.
• The USA played five games in Texas at the beginning of 2016, all during CONCACAF Qualifying for the 2016 Olympics. The U.S. team played three group-stage matches at Toyota Stadium, winning all by shutout, and then played the semifinal and championship game at BBVA Compass Stadium, defeating Trinidad & Tobago (5-0) and Canada (2-0), respectively.
• The U.S. Women have played six matches – all wins – at Toyota Stadium, home of the 2016 U.S. Lamar Hunt Open Cup and MLS Supporters Shield winners FC Dallas; and three matches at BBVA Compass Stadium, home of MLS’ Houston Dynamo and the NWSL’s Houston Dash, winning all by shutout.
• These will be the 18th and 19th matches all-time for the U.S. Women in the state of Texas.
• Carli Lloyd comes into the matches with 96 career goals and needs just four to become the sixth player in U.S. history to score 100 or more.
• Of the USA’s three European-based players, Crystal Dunn will join camp along with the domestic-based players on March 30, Carli Lloyd will join a day later and Alex Morgan will arrive into camp on April 3.
• Julie Johnston was not available for these matches due to her wedding and honeymoon. When she returns to the U.S. WNT, she will be wearing her married named – Ertz – on the back of her jersey.