Naomi Girma was named to the U.S. women's national team roster Wednesday for a pair of upcoming matches against Italy after returning from a calf injury.
The defender has been sidelined since the start of the season for Chelsea but recently returned to the starting line-up after playing the first half of the season. the Blues' victory over St. Pölten with a score of 6:0 in the Champions League and will start the second half of their 1-1 draw with Liverpool at the weekend. She has not played for the United States since a 3-0 win over Canada on July 2.
“I’m so glad she’s back,” USWNT head coach Emma Hayes said on a conference call with reporters. “I am becoming more and more aware of the importance of not only her qualities on the field, but also her calm leadership – not only from a management point of view, but also off the field.
“Before we had to unveil the preliminary lineup, she made sure to call and text me several times to say, ‘I’m in shape. I'll come.” Like, I don’t know why she thinks we won’t bring her anyway if she’s fit and healthy. But let me tell you that Naomi will be the first person in the camp.
The United States will play its final two matches of the year against Italy on November 28 at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando and December 1 at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.
Hayes has included 26 players in the camp and 23 players will be available for each match.
Trinity Rodman has been removed from the lineup as she continues to recover from a knee injury. The striker came on as a substitute in the Washington Spirit's 2-0 semi-final win over the Portland Thorns last weekend and almost scored in the sixth minute of stoppage time, but her shot went wide of the target.
The Spirit will take on Gotham FC on Saturday in an NWSL Championship game in San Jose, California.
“She was lucky enough to get some minutes the other day, but she’s still trying to get back,” Hayes said. “And the reality is that we felt that between the important training camp and the playing minutes needed, she was not in a position to do that. And I think you know Trinh wants to play for the national team more than anyone, so we're hopeful that that can happen in the new year. But to be honest, it has come too soon and her well-being and well-being is important to me.”
Goalkeeper Fallon Tallis-Joyce was also left out of the U.S. squad while she recovers from a fractured orbital socket suffered while playing for Manchester United last week.
Midfielder Croix Bethune, who had not played for the United States since July, was included in the lineup. Like Rodman, Bethune plays for the Spirit.
Two players have been called up to the national team for the first time: Bay FC goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz and Chicago Stars forward Jameis Joseph. Washington Spirit guard Kate Wisner received her second call-up after being named a practice squad player for training camp last year.
Composition including club affiliation:
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Goalkeepers
Claudia Dickey (Seattle Reign), Mandy McGlynn (Utah Royals), Jordan Silkowitz (Bay)
Defenders
Jordyn Bugg (Seattle Rayne), Emily Fox (Arsenal), Girma (Chelsea), Avery Patterson (Houston Dash), Lilly Reale (Gotham), Izzy Rodriguez (Kansas City Current), Emily Sams (Orlando Pride), Emily Sonnett (Gotham), Kennedy Wesley (San Diego Wave), Wiesner (Washington Spirit)
Midfielders
Croix Bethune (Washington Spirit), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns), Lindsay Heaps (Lyon), Jaelin Howell (Gotham), Claire Hutton (Kansas City Current), Rose Lavelle (Gotham), Lily Johannes (Lyon)
Forwards
Jameis Joseph (Chicago Stars), Catarina Macario (Chelsea), Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns), Emma Sears (Racing Louisville), Jadyn Shaw (Gotham), Alyssa Thompson (Chelsea)
