The United States women's national team is set to begin preparations for a pair of friendlies in the midwest against South Korea in October. Training camp begins Monday in Cleveland, with the first match on Oct. 21 at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas. The second friendly will take place on Oct. 26 in St. Paul, Minnesota at Allianz Field.
USWNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski has a training camp roster of 21 players for the upcoming matches and the group consists of 17 players who represented the U.S. at the Tokyo Olympics this summer and four NWSL players currently in the playoff push during the regular season. Emily Fox is the newest edition to USWNT national team camps.
Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher and midfielders Samantha Mewis and Julie Ertz will be with the team during the international window for injury evaluation and rehabilitation. Crystal Dunn and Christen Press have opted out of the matches.
Megan Rapinoe makes her return to the training camp rosters after missing September's international window due to injury. Smith, Sullivan, and Pugh all make their return after impressive camps in September, where Smith and Sullivan recorded their first goals with the USWNT during friendlies against Paraguay.
Fox makes her return to her first roster since matches against Colombia in January, where she earned her fourth cap. She also participated in training camp prior to the start of the 2021 SheBelieves Cup. The two-game series vs. South Korea will also serve as the final USWNT matches for Carli Lloyd. The veteran announced her retirement and will step away from the game at the conclusion of the her NWSL season with Gotham FC.
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These will be the first USWNT matches since recent terminations of NWSL coaches Paul Riley and Richie Burke. During the regular season, NWSL players have been participating in demonstrations during matches as a show of support to Kaiya McCullough, Sinead Farrelly, and Mana Shim for coming forward with their stories.
"It's been a stressful few weeks for the players and staff and the well-being of our players has and always will come first," said Andonovski. "We always want to keep improving and evolving as a team, win every game we play, and put on a good show for the fans, but during this camp we will really focus on a few basic things – continuing to support each other while getting to do what we love on the field, and of course, giving Carli Lloyd the send-off she deserves."
Here's a look at the full USWNT roster for October.
USWNT roster
(CLUB; CAPS/GOALS)
GOALKEEPERS (2): Jane Campbell (Houston Dash; 6), Adrianna Franch (Kansas City NWSL; 9)
DEFENDERS (7): Abby Dahlkemper (Houston Dash; 76/0), Tierna Davidson (Chicago Red Stars; 41/1), Emily Fox (Racing Louisville; 4/0), Casey Krueger (Chicago Red Stars; 36/0), Kelley O'Hara (Washington Spirit; 147/2), Becky Sauerbrunn (Portland Thorns FC; 195/0), Emily Sonnett (Washington Spirit; 60/0)
MIDFIELDERS (5): Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC; 104/23), Rose Lavelle (OL Reign; 64/16), Catarina Macario (Olympique Lyon, FRA; 10/3), Kristie Mewis (Houston Dash; 30/4), Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit; 19/2)
FORWARDS (7): Tobin Heath (Arsenal, ENG; 179/36), Carli Lloyd (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 314/134), Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride; 188/114), Mallory Pugh (Chicago Red Stars; 65/18), Megan Rapinoe (OL Reign; 185/61), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC; 8/1), Lynn Williams (North Carolina Courage; 42/13)