Final 23-player USWNT roster set for 2021 SheBelieves Cup
CHICAGO – U.S. Women’s National Team head coach Vlatko Andonovski has named the 23-player tournament roster for the 2021 SheBelieves Cup, which features the USA, Brazil, Canada and Argentina.
The six matches will be played over three doubleheader events, taking place on Feb. 18, 21 and 24 at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Fla.
The U.S. roster features 17 players currently playing in the National Women’s Soccer League and six currently playing in Europe. Andonovski has also called up three non-rostered players who will train for the first week of camp before departing. Of the France-based players, Catarina Macario will arrive in Orlando with the bulk of the roster on Feb. 8 at the start of training camp while Alana Cook is anticipated to arrive shortly thereafter. The England-based players are scheduled to arrive on Feb. 13.
“We will hit the ground running in Orlando with most of our roster and will get in some great work in the first part of camp before we start focusing on the games once all the European-based players arrive,” said Andonovski. “I think we made a lot of progress on and off the field during the January camp and games, so we’ll be looking to build on that for these three matches and we want to continue to test different players in tough environments. Each game will present its own unique challenges and the matches are not only a step up in competition from January, but as I’ve said before, are extremely valuable as a test run for group play at the Olympics.”
U.S. Women’s National Team 2021 SheBelieves Cup Roster by Position (Club; Caps/Goals):
GOALKEEPERS (3): Jane Campbell (Houston Dash; 4), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage; 0), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars; 65)
DEFENDERS (8): Alana Cook (Paris Saint-Germain, FRA; 2/0), Abby Dahlkemper (Manchester City, ENG; 63/0), Tierna Davidson (Chicago Red Stars; 27/1), Crystal Dunn (Portland Thorns FC; 107/24), Kelley O’Hara (Washington Spirit; 133/2), Margaret Purce (Sky Blue FC; 4/1), Becky Sauerbrunn (Portland Thorns FC; 179/0), Emily Sonnett (Washington Spirit; 48/0)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Julie Ertz (Chicago Red Stars; 105/20), Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC; 88/20), Rose Lavelle (Manchester City, ENG; 48/13), Catarina Macario (Olympique Lyonnaise, FRA; 2/1), Kristie Mewis (Houston Dash; 18/3), Samantha Mewis (Manchester City, ENG; 70/21)
FORWARDS (6): Carli Lloyd (Sky Blue FC; 296/123), Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride; 170/107), Christen Press (Manchester United, ENG; 139/58), Megan Rapinoe (OL Reign; 170/54), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC; 1/0), Lynn Williams (North Carolina Courage; 31/10)
Training Players: Emily Fox (Racing Louisville FC; 4/0), Jaelin Howell (Florida State; 1/0), Mallory Pugh (Chicago Red Stars; 63/18)
2021 SheBelieves Cup
Date Matches Stadium City Kickoff (ET) TV
Feb. 18 Brazil vs. Argentina Exploria Stadium Orlando, Fla. 4 p.m. TBD
Feb. 18 USA vs. Canada Exploria Stadium Orlando, Fla. 7 p.m. FS1/TUDN
Feb. 21 USA vs. Brazil Exploria Stadium Orlando, Fla. 3 p.m. FS1/TUDN
Feb. 21 Argentina vs. Canada Exploria Stadium Orlando, Fla. 6 p.m. TBD
Feb. 24 Canada vs. Brazil Exploria Stadium Orlando, Fla. 4 p.m. TBD
Feb. 24 USA vs. Argentina Exploria Stadium Orlando, Fla. 7 p.m. FS1/TUDN
SAFETY PROTOCOLS AND GUIDELINES | COVID-19 WARNING
At all SheBelieves Cup matches, fans will be required to wear face coverings at all times while on stadium premises except while actively eating or drinking.
Concession stands will have cashless payment. No bags, including clear bags, will be allowed. Ticket holders will have a preferred gate to enter the stadium based on their ticket location.
A socially distanced stadium seating manifest has been designed to keep fans in place and within their own parties of four or less, which also includes the following protocols:
- Adequate spacing between the field of play and ticket purchasers has been arranged.
- Each occupied row will have a maximum of two parties (each comprised of four or fewer people), allowing each party to access the aisle closest to its seats without stepping over another party.
- Every party will have at least six feet of space between it and other parties.
- Tickets will not be issued for the first two seats closest to the aisles.
- Tickets will be reserved seating only. General admission will not be allowed.
- Only mobile tickets utilized.
VISA SHEBELIEVES CUP MVP
For the second year in a row, Visa, the presenting sponsor of the SheBelieves Cup, will award the MVP trophy to the most outstanding player of the tournament. The award will be announced following the conclusion of the final match. Spain’s Alexia Putellas won the inaugural award in 2020 as voted on by a selection committee of former Women’s National Team players from each participating country. A new selection committee comprised of representatives from all competing nations will be announced for the 2021 SheBelieves Cup, but this year fans will also have the opportunity to vote for the Visa SheBelieves Cup MVP award recipient, using an online ballot to select among a list of finalists chosen by the committee. This year, fans will also be able to vote to determine the 2021 Visa SheBelieves Cup MVP.
Additional Notes:
• Forward Carli Lloyd, in her 17th year of representing the USWNT, comes into the tournament with 296 caps, putting her just four shy of becoming the third player in U.S. and world history to hit 300 appearances for her country.
• The roster also includes the return of forwards Alex Morgan and Christen Press, both of whom missed the January training camp and matches to return to fitness after illnesses. The duo have combined for 165 international goals.
• Morgan, who with 107 career goals is one away from breaking a tie with Michelle Akers and moving into sole possession of fifth all-time in U.S. history, will be competing for playing time on her club’s home pitch at Exploria Stadium.
• The only other player named to the SheBelieves Cup roster who was not in January camp is goalkeeper Casey Murphy, the starting ‘keeper on the USA’s 2018 Under-20 Women’s World Cup Team that finished fourth in Papua New Guinea. This will be the 6-foot-1 Murphy’s third call-up to the senior USWNT and she is the only uncapped player on the roster.
• The three training players named were defender Emily Fox, the #1 pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft by Racing Louisville FC, midfielder Jaelin Howell, a junior at Florida State, and forward Mallory Pugh, who will debut this year for her new NWSL club, the Chicago Red Stars.
• The Mewis sisters, Samantha and Kristie, were named to their third consecutive USWNT roster together.
• The USA will be without forward Tobin Heath who suffered an ankle injury training with Manchester United in January and will be out for 10-12 weeks.
