Jill Ellis has named her 21-player United States women’s national team roster for next month’s Scandinavian Tour, which includes a pair of friendlies against Sweden and Norway. The USWNT takes on Sweden on June 8 before traveling to Norway to face one of their oldest rivals on June 11.
The roster is, as expected, full of familiar faces with a handful of new ones interspersed. Boston Breakers goalkeeper Abby Smith got her first call-up to a national team roster, she was previously called into camp with the senior national team back in December 2014. Smith is replacing Ashlyn Harris, who is out for eight weeks after suffering a quadriceps injury in the Orlando Pride’s match against the Seattle Reign.
Defender Julie Ertz is back after missing the previous USWNT roster for her wedding, and midfielders Morgan Brian and Lindsey Horan are all back after being ruled out for the April friendlies with injuries.
Forward Sydney Leroux is also back, receiving her first call-up to the national team since training camp in January 2016, when it was announced that she was pregnant with her son.
The North Carolina Courage’s Abby Dahlkemper and Jaelene Hinkle also receive call-ups for the first time in 2017. Dahlkemper has two caps for the USWNT, both of which she earned during her last call-up back in October 2016. Hinkle, who has eight caps, is returning to the team for the first time since last September.
Although those two Courage players are making returns to the USWNT, two of their North Carolina teammates–Jessica McDonald and Lynn Williams–did not make the June roster. Also missing from the roster are defenders Ali Krieger and Emily Sonnett, whose places are most likely being taken by the Courage defenders.
Tobin Heath, like Harris, was also unavailable for selection due to an ongoing back injury that has sidelined her for the Portland Thorns all season so far.
The team will depart for the Scandinavian Tour following the NWSL matches the weekend of June 3.
U.S. Women’s National Team Roster by Position – Scandinavia Tour 2017
GOALKEEPERS (2): Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars), Abby Smith (Boston Breakers)
DEFENDERS (7): Abby Dahlkemper (NC Courage), Julie Ertz (Chicago Red Stars), Jaelene Hinkle (NC Courage), Meghan Klingenberg (Portland Thorns FC), Kelley O’Hara (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City), Casey Short (Chicago Red Stars)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Morgan Brian (Houston Dash), 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 FC)
FORWARDS (5): Crystal Dunn (Chelsea FC), Sydney Leroux (FC Kansas City), Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride/Olympique Lyonnais), Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars), Mallory Pugh (Washington Spirit)