Ellis Names WNT Roster for January Camp at NTC

CHICAGO (Jan. 2, 2015) – U.S. Women’s National Team head coach Jill Ellis has named 29 players for a 21-day training camp, running from Jan. 5-25 at the U.S. Soccer National Training Center in Carson, California, that will kick off the USA’s Women’s World Cup year.

Ellis named all 24 players that were recently in Brazil for the International Tournament of Brasilia and has added several veterans in midfielder Shannon Boxx, defender Rachel Van Hollebeke and goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart, as well as midfielders Kristie Mewis and Allie Long. The camp begins an extensive schedule of training and matches in 2015 as Ellis and her staff work towards the naming of a 23-player roster for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which kicks off in Canada this June.

The U.S. WNT returns to international play with two matches in Europe; the first against France in Lorient on Feb. 8, followed by a meeting with England on Feb. 13 in Milton Keynes. The USA’s entire 2015 schedule for the run-up to the Women’s World Cup will be announced in the near future.

U.S. Women’s National Team Roster By Position (Detailed Roster):
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)

Additional Notes:

• Carli Lloyd led the USA in scoring in 2014 with 15 goals and was the MVP of the CONCACAF Women’s World Cup qualifying tournament.
• Lloyd and Christen Press led the USA in games played in 2014, both seeing action in 23 out of the 24 total games. Lloyd started all 23 of her matches to lead the team.
• Lloyd also led the USA in assists in 2014 with eight. Megan Rapinoe was second with seven.
• Lauren Holiday was named the 2014 U.S. Soccer Female Athlete of the Year.
• The roster includes two finalists for the 2014 MAC Hermann Trophy, awarded to the top player in college soccer, in Morgan Brian of the University of Virginia and Samantha Mewis of UCLA. Both have completed their college careers and should be high picks in the 2015 NWSL Draft. Brian was also the 2014 U.S. Soccer Young Female Athlete of the Year.
• Rachel Van Hollebeke and Kristie Mewis, both of whom have been in Japan playing with Iga FC Kunoichi, return to the U.S. roster for the first time since a pair of September matches against Mexico. Van Hollebeke is recovering from a nagging calf injury and will join camp as soon as she is ready for training.
• Nicole Barnhart, Shannon Boxx and Allie Long also return for the first time since September.