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Krieger returns to USWNT as O’Hara continues battle with ankle injury

Photo Copyright Erica McCaulley for The Equalizer

Ali Krieger is back in camp with the United States women’s national team for the first time since summer 2017. U.S. coach Jill Ellis has called up the defender for the upcoming camp ahead of friendly matches against Australia and Belgium on April 4 and 7, respectively.

Ellis is looking at Krieger — who last played in a match for the U.S. in April 2017 — as a potential option at right back. Krieger was the starting right back for the U.S. as the team won the 2015 World Cup. Kelley O’Hara, the incumbent starter in that position, will miss the upcoming matches due to ongoing issues with her ankle. She had surgery on her right ankle in October and returned in time for the start of the year.

“I spoke with Ali and she’s excited to come into camp and help this team in any way she can,” Ellis said in a release. “Opportunities, however they transpire, are exactly that, and Ali has been a great pro and will no doubt lean on her experience and strengths when she comes back into this environment. Recently, she has been training with her club in the outside back position and with the potential to add depth on the right side, it was good timing to bring Ali into this camp to join the other six defenders.”

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Midfielder Allie Long is also back in camp, while Danielle Colaprico is missing and Morgan Brian is on the outside looking in for the second straight camp.

The Americans won’t train in Carson, California, as they usually do. Instead, they’ll conduct a six-day training camp in Santa Barbara, before traveling to Colorado to face Australia and returning to face Belgium in Carson. The U.S. women haven’t had a training camp in Santa Barbara since 1991, before the team departed for (and won) the inaugural Women’s World Cup.

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U.S. Roster – Australia & Belgium Friendlies (Club; Caps/Goals)

GOALKEEPERS (3): Adrianna Franch (Portland Thorns FC; 1/0), Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride; 20/0), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars; 41/0)

DEFENDERS (7): Abby Dahlkemper (NC Courage; 35/0), Tierna Davidson (Chicago Red Stars; 17/1), Crystal Dunn (NC Courage; 80/24), Ali Krieger (Orlando Pride; 98/1), Becky Sauerbrunn (Utah Royals FC; 153/0), Casey Short (Chicago Red Stars; 27/0), Emily Sonnett (Portland Thorns FC; 30/0)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Julie Ertz (Chicago Red Stars; 77/18), Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC; 64/7), Rose Lavelle (Washington Spirit; 23/6), Allie Long (Reign FC; 40/6), Samantha Mewis (NC Courage; 45/8), Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit; 11/0), McCall Zerboni (NC Courage; 8/0)

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FORWARDS (7): Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC; 146/27), Carli Lloyd (Sky Blue FC; 269/105), Jessica McDonald (NC Courage; 6/1), Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride; 158/99), Christen Press (Utah Royals FC; 111/47), Mallory Pugh (Washington Spirit; 48/13), Megan Rapinoe (Reign FC; 149/43)

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