Sport
US Women’s National Team Announce 22 Player Roster To Face Australia
The United States National Team (USWNT) will travel to Australia at the end of the year to face the 2023 World Cup co-hosts twice.
For the first time in 21 years, the USWNT is headed to Australia.
The four-time World Cup winners last embarked on a visit down under in 2000, when they won silver at the Sydney Olympics.
Head coach Vlatko Andonovski has issued a major reshuffle of the USWNT roster in preparation for his sides double-header against The Matildas, with just ten players from his 2020 Tokyo Olympic squad surviving the cut.
Twelve players called up have just ten caps or fewer, giving a new look to this dominant national team.
One notable absence from the 22-player roster is Carli Lloyd, who called time on her playing career both internationally and domestically this year.
Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe are also unnamed in the squad; as well as Crystal Dunn, who has emerged as one of their most important players.
Defenders Becky Sauerbrunn and Abby Dahlkemper are among the more senior players on the roster, along with midfielders Kristie Mewis and Lindsey Horan.
With many of their superstar names missing from the squad, it is a chance for new faces to impress Andonovski when they travel down under at the end of November.
“We still have a few players out with injuries, so this roster is a mixture of players with a lot of experience in World Cups and Olympics, some of who have been a part of the program for a while but who are looking to make their mark in international soccer, and a few who are getting a first chance with the National Team in an event like this,” Andonovski told US Soccer.
Catarina Macario is among those to have retained their place in the squad – despite limited minutes in Tokyo – with the 22-year-old enjoying her season with French giants Olympique Lyon; bagging five goals and one assist in seven league starts so far.
NY/NJ Gotham‘s Margaret Purce was unfortunate to miss out on travelling to Tokyo in the summer, but her key role in leading her side to the NWSL playoffs this year has seen her rewarded with a call-up.
And a well earned re-call for Sofia Huerta sees her return to the USWNT set-up for the first time since 2018.
The full roster to face Australia
Goalkeepers
Bella Bixby (Portland Thorns), Jane Campbell (Houston Dash), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage)
Defenders
Alana Cook (OL Reign), Abby Dahlkemper (Houston Dash), Tierna Davidson (Chicago Red Stars), Emily Fox (Racing Louisville), Sofia Huerta (OL Reign), Becky Sauerbrunn (Portland Thorns), Emily Sonnett (Washington Spirit)
Midfielders
Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns), Rose Lavelle (OL Reign), Catarina Macario (Olympique Lyon), Kristie Mewis (Houston Dash), Ashley Sanchez (Washington Spirit), Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit)
Forwards
Bethany Balcer (OL Reign), Ashley Hatch (Washington), Margaret Purce (NJ/NY Gotham), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns), Lynn Williams (North Carolina Courage), Morgan Weaver (Portland Thorns)
The USWNT will take on Australia on Saturday 27 November, and once again on Tuesday 30 November.
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