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Rapinoe, Lloyd, Pugh return to USWNT camp for January games vs. Colombia

Photo copyright by Lewis Gettier/The Equalizer.

Megan Rapinoe, Carli Lloyd and Mallory Pugh are back with the U.S. women’s national team to kick off 2021. U.S. head coach Vlatko Andonovski on Wednesday announced a 27-player roster for the team’s annual January camp. The camp kicks off on Jan. 9 and lasts until Jan. 22, and will be held in Orlando, Florida.

In addition, the U.S. women will face Colombia in two friendlies at Exploria Stadium — home of the Orlando Pride and Orlando City SC of MLS — on Jan. 18 and 22.

Rapinoe returns to the U.S. for the first time since the 2020 SheBelieves Cup. Rapinoe elected to opt out of the NWSL Challenge Cup and Fall Series with OL Reign. She spent her time in the WNBA “Wubble” with her fiancĂ©e Sue Bird and advocating for social justice. Meanwhile, Lloyd is returning to the national team after recovering from a knee injury. Pugh is also back with the team following injuries in 2020.

Missing from camp are Alex Morgan, Tobin Heath and Christen Press. Morgan recently announced she and her family tested positive for COVID-19. Meanwhile, Press is recovering from a non-COVID related illness, while Heath was invited to camp but will stay with Manchester United, according to U.S. Soccer.

The U.S.’ January roster includes a mixture of young, collegiate players and veteran national team stars. In addition to the return of Rapinoe and Lloyd, Emily Fox has re-joined the U.S. after suffering a knee injury late in 2019. She recovered from her injury and featured for the University of North Carolina in 12 matches in 2020. She scored one goal against Virginia Tech and had one assist in the same match.

Two more collegiate players are listed on the roster. Jaelin Howell of Florida State and Catarina Macario of Stanford have been named to their second-straight U.S. roster.

Should both players declare for the NWSL Draft — which will take place on Jan. 13 at 7 p.m. EST — they will be in camp, awaiting to see if their names are called.

Meanwhile, midfielder Lindsey Horan — who missed out on the November camp due to testing positive for COVID-19 — was added onto the roster after recovering from illness.

USWNT January Camp 2021 Roster

Goalkeepers: Aubrey Bledsoe, Jane Campbell, Ashlyn Harris & Alyssa Naeher

Defenders: Alana Cook, Abby Dahlkemper, Tierna Davidson, Crystal Dunn, Emily Fox, Ali Krieger, Kelley O’Hara, Midge Purce, Becky Sauerbrunn & Emily Sonnett

Midfielders: Julie Ertz, Lindsey Horan, Jaelin Howell, Rose Lavelle, Catarina Macario, Kristie Mewis, Sam Mewis & Andi Sullivan

Forwards: Carli Lloyd, Mallory Pugh, Megan Rapinoe, Sophia Smith & Lynn Williams

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