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USWNT Announces January Training Camp Roster

By Phil Naegely

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It’s a new year and that means the Women’s World Cup is almost here. In preparation for the 2015 Women’s World Cup and other competitive matches throughout the year the US Women’s National team has announced their 29-player roster for their January Training Camp. Jill Ellis looks to turn things around after a less than stellar performance by the USWNT during December.

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Below is the 29-player roster listed by position.

GOALKEEPERS (4): Nicole Barnhart (FC Kansas City), Ashlyn Harris (Washington Spirit), Alyssa Naeher (Boston Breakers), Hope Solo (Seattle Reign FC)

DEFENDERS (10): Lori Chalupny (Chicago Red Stars), Crystal Dunn (Washington Spirit), Whitney Engen (Western NY Flash), Julie Johnston (Chicago Red Stars), Meghan Klingenberg (Houston Dash), Ali Krieger (Washington Spirit), Kelley O’Hara (Sky Blue FC), Christie Rampone (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City), Rachel Van Hollebeke (Portland Thorns FC)

MIDFIELDERS (10): Shannon Boxx (Chicago Red Stars), Morgan Brian (Virginia), Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC), Lauren Holiday (FC Kansas City), Allie Long (Portland Thorns FC), Carli Lloyd (Houston Dash), Kristie Mewis (Boston Breakers), Samantha Mewis (UCLA), Heather O’Reilly (FC Kansas City), Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign FC)

FORWARDS (5): Sydney Leroux (Seattle Reign FC), Alex Morgan (Portland Thorns FC), Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars), Amy Rodriguez (FC Kansas City), Abby Wambach (Western NY Flash)

The Women’s World Cup is less than 5 months away, so it is not surprising to see the roster filled with many veterans. Usually January training camps for USWNT, USMNT and other national teams featured younger players and those looking to crack the national team scene. However, Ellis needs her true senior team to mesh, develop, and mold together better after a mediocre December campaign.

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If they play like they did during December in the World Cup, then their chances of winning it will be poor. Likewise, they dropped from the No. 1 ranking to No.2, so the team may appear more motivated to earn that ranking back. At the end of the day, the team cares more about winning the Women’s World Cup in Canada and coming home victorious than being the no. 1 ranked team.

At the same time, Ellis will have to find a way to fix the team’s poor play in December. Their play then seemed to be sup-par to how they played during the Women’s World Cup Qualifying. Yes, the opponent’s skill and ability was better during their December games than the CONCACAF qualifying for the World Cup, but that is beside the point. Nonetheless, Ellis will have twenty days (Jan. 5-25) with these 29 players before the team prepares for two February friendlies against France in Lorient on Feb. 8 and England on Feb. 13 in Milton Keynes. US Soccer will release the complete 2015 USWNT schedule at a later date.

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USWNT’s two February friendlies against France and England will provide a tough test. It will allow the fans and media to see if the team has truly learned from their December performances and fixed the many tactical issues. At the same time, the two friendlies will be a good tune-up for the competition the USWNT will face during the Women’s World Cup group stage and potentially the knockout rounds.

What are your thoughts on the USWNT 29 player call-up? Did Ellis wisely select a veteran group? Or should she have mixed some young and fresh legs into the mix? Let us know in the comments section below.

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