Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe were both handed recalls by U.S. women’s national team head coach Vlatko Andonovski for the upcoming CONCACAF W Championship.
The two veterans have been called in for the first time in 2022, as they join a 23-player roster for the tournament that will serve as qualifying for the World Cup and the Olympics.
Morgan leads the NWSL in goals this season with nine in nine games, while Rapinoe has made just four substitute appearances for OL Reign this season.
Prior to the CONCACAF W Championship, the USWNT will face Colombia in a pair of friendlies on June 25 and June 28.
The USWNT will be without a host of notable players due to injury, including Abby Dahlkemper, Sam Mewis, Tierna Davidson, Catarina Macario, and Lynn Williams. Crystal Dunn is also out after recently giving birth.
Christen Press may also have been set to receive a recall but she was injured playing for Angel City FC over the weekend.
Andonovski has handed a maiden call-up to San Diego Wave midfielder Taylor Kornieck who, at 6-foot-1, will be the tallest field player in USWNT history when she makes her debut.
There will be three additional players joining the roster only for the Colombia friendlies: Carson Pickett, Jaelin Howell and Sam Coffey. Pickett, who was born without part of her left arm, is the first player with a limb difference ever called up by the USWNT.
“Since we were last together in April, we’ve been evaluating a lot of games and hours of video and have had extensive conversations among the coaching staff to arrive at this 26-player roster for the Colombia games and the final 23 for qualifying,” Andonovski said in a federation release. “As usual, the players don’t make these decisions easy, but we feel this is a roster that can accomplish all of our goals over the four weeks we will be together for what we hope will be seven successful games.”
USWNT roster (club; caps/goals)
GOALKEEPERS (3): Aubrey Kingsbury (Washington Spirit; 1), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage; 4), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars; 80)
DEFENDERS (7): Alana Cook (OL Reign; 9/0), Emily Fox (Racing Louisville FC; 13/0), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC; 1/0), Sofia Huerta (OL Reign; 12/0), Kelley O’Hara (Washington Spirit; 152/2), Becky Sauerbrunn (Portland Thorns FC; 202/0), Emily Sonnett (Washington Spirit; 65/0)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon; 109/25), Taylor Kornieck (San Diego Wave FC; 0/0), Rose Lavelle (OL Reign; 71/20), Kristie Mewis (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 38/5), Ashley Sanchez (Washington Spirit; 7/2), Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit; 27/3)
FORWARDS (7): Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit; 8/4), Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave FC; 190/115), Midge Purce (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 14/3), Mallory Pugh (Chicago Red Stars; 72/23), Megan Rapinoe (OL Reign; 187/62), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit; 3/1), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC; 15/4)
Additional players for Colombia matches
DEFENDERS (1): Carson Pickett (North Carolina Courage; 0/0)
MIDFIELDERS (2): Jaelin Howell (Racing Louisville: 5/1), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC; 0/0)
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