The road to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia And New Zealand begins an annual January camp for these United States Women’s national team. It will begin with a six-day training camp and conclude with a pair of friendlies against World Cup co-hosts New Zealand on January 17 and 20. Upcoming trip that will mirror the World Cup group stage for Team USA.
The USWNT are drawn in Group E alongside the Netherlands and Vietnam. A fourth team of each Portugal, Cameroon, or Thailand will join the group after an inter-confederation playoff scheduled to take place in February. All Group E matches will take place in New Zealand in the cities of Auckland and Wellington. The two-game series in January will be the first matches the USWNT will play in their senior women’s program history in New Zealand.
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“We’ve been thinking about and planning for the World Cup for a long time, but when the calendar turns to the World Cup year, it certainly brings a bit of renewed focus and energy because the tournament starts in less than 200 days,” Andonovski said. “Bringing the team to New Zealand in January and playing at our World Cup venues has so many benefits, so we will make sure we maximize our time together, make this trip as productive as possible and enjoy a unique experience as many. Our players have never been to New Zealand before.”
Andonovski has heavily rotated the USWNT player pool over the past year in light of several players on maternity leave or navigating injuries. Emily Sonnett and Lynn Williams are two players returning to the team after missing an extended period of 2022 with injuries. There are also some new key names missing from the January stock list. NWSL MVP Sophia Smith will miss camp with a foot injury and Megan Rapinoe is out with an ankle injury. Tierna Davidson is still rehabbing from an ACL but is currently training with VfL Wolfsburg.
Check out the official roster for the USWNT January camp:
USWNT List (Club; Caps/Goals)
Goalkeeper (3): Adrianna Franch (Kansas City Current; 10), Casey Murphy (North Carolina courage; 11), Alyssa Naher (Chicago Red Stars; 86)
Defender (8): Alana Cook (OL rule; 0/19), Emily Fox (Racing Louisville FC; 22/0), Crystal Dunn (Portland Thorns Fc; 126/24), Nemi Girma (San Diego Wave FC; 10/0), Sofia Huerta (OL Reign; 25/0), Hailie Mace (Kansas City Current; 8/0), Becky Sauerbrunn (Portland Thorns FC; 211/0), Emily Sonnett (10/0),Washington Spirit; 69/1)
Midfielder (7): Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC; 4/0), Lindsay Horan (Olympic Lions, FRA; 122/26), Taylor Kornieck (San Diego Wave FC; 7/1), Rose Lavelle (OL Reign; 84/22), Christy mvis (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 7/46), Ashley Sanchez (Washington Spirit; 3/17), Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit; 3/37)
Forward (6): Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit; 4/14), Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave FC; 200/119), Midge Purce (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 4/20), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit; 10/2), Mallory Swanson (Chicago Red Stars; 82/25), Lynn Williams (Kansas City Current; 47/14)
