The United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) yesterday posted its 26-player list for the upcoming camp in January that will begin on January 14 at Carson, California. The camp which will feature veteran defender Crystal Dunn and rising star Naomi Girma will focus on player development and depth-building as the team prepares for the SheBelieves Cup early in February.
USWNT January Camp Overview
This week-long camp will be outside of FIFA’s international window and therefore will have no matches. Instead, USWNT head coach Emma Hayes is using this opportunity to gauge players and find depth as the team looks toward the upcoming competitions.
Key players like Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith, and Mallory Swanson, along with others, have been given additional rest following the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season. Rose Lavelle, another USWNT mainstay, is also absent as she recovers from ankle surgery, which was scheduled at the optimal time to avoid further injury setbacks.
Key Players Missing and Injuries
Another one missing from the list is midfield player Rose Lavelle. Lavelle had a marvelous year in 2024 before undergoing surgery for the ankle problem that has been persisting. Her surgery will sit her out in January camp as well as at the SheBelieves Cup. Hayes believes she was ready to have the procedure done.
“Lavelle had an incredible year last year, but it’s just something that needs tidying up, and it was the right time to do it,” Hayes said. “So decisions were taken with a number of different people to do it now, but I do believe it will see her out of January, and SheBelieves, so she will be out for a little bit of time.”
USWNT Roster Breakdown
The January camp roster is a blend of veterans and emerging talent. Dunn, the most capped player on the roster with 155 international appearances, missed the fall games. She is joined by some of the more experienced players like Emily Sonnett (103 caps) and Lynn Williams (75 caps).
In terms of goalkeeping, Casey Murphy of the North Carolina Courage leads the pack with 20 caps. The absence of veteran Alyssa Naeher, who announced her retirement in November, has opened the door for Murphy to step into a more prominent role.
Here is a breakdown of the USWNT January camp roster by position:
Goalkeepers:
- Angelina Anderson (Angel City FC; 0 caps)
- Claudia Dickey (Seattle Reign FC; 0 caps)
- Mandy McGlynn (Utah Royals; 1 cap)
- Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage; 20 caps)
Defenders
- Tierna Davidson (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 65 caps)
- Crystal Dunn (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 155 caps)
- Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC; 44 caps)
- Alyssa Malonson (Bay FC; 1 cap)
- Tara McKeown (Washington Spirit; 0 caps)
- Jenna Nighswonger (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 18 caps)
- Emily Sams (Orlando Pride; 2 caps)
- Emily Sonnett (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 103 caps)
- Ryan Williams (North Carolina Courage; 0 caps)
Midfielders:
- Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC; 28 caps)
- Savannah DeMelo (Racing Louisville FC; 7 caps)
- Hal Hershfelt (Washington Spirit; 3 caps)
- Nealy Martin (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 0 caps)
- Ashley Sanchez (North Carolina Courage; 28 caps)
- Ally Sentnor (Utah Royals; 2 caps)
- Jaedyn Shaw (San Diego Wave FC; 21 caps)
Forwards:
- Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit; 22 caps)
- Emma Sears (Racing Louisville FC; 3 caps)
- Ella Stevens (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 0 caps)
- Alyssa Thompson (Angel City FC; 13 caps)
- Morgan Weaver (Portland Thorns FC; 2 caps)
- Lynn Williams (Seattle Reign FC; 75 caps)
Player Development Focus
Coach Emma Hayes has stated that building a deeper talent pool and a positive environment for player growth is key. Alongside the main camp, there will be a 24-player “futures camp” which will focus on U.S. Under-23 players. This structure is to assist the younger prospects in gaining invaluable experience in the USWNT setup.
“We want to continue to foster an environment and culture on the National Team that is player-centric and female athlete-centric and helps the players maximize their abilities,” Hayes said. “Having positive, growth experiences with the USWNT will help them in their careers and help us build a deeper player pool.”
### Moving Forward: SheBelieves Cup
With no international matches in the January camp, the training sessions will be very important to Hayes and her coaching staff as they gear up for the SheBelieves Cup, scheduled for next month. The tournament will give the team further insight into how deep and prepared the team remains as the USWNT continues to build towards future competitions.
The roster and facts of this report are based upon the latest up-to-date release from the US Women’s National Team as of January 2025. Please watch the official source for all changes or updates towards the January camp.
