NWSL standouts LaBonta, Abello named to USWNT roster for friendlies | OneFootball

US women’s national team head coach Emma Hayes has named a 24-player squad that will play two friendlies during the next international window. The squad is notable for first-time call-ups from two of the best teams in recent NWSL seasons: Kansas City Current midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta and Orlando Pride defender Kerry Abello. Claudia Dickey, goalkeeper for Seattle Reign, has also received her first call-up to the national team.

“First of all I think she’s deserving of the call-up. It’s the right moment to do it,” Hayes said of LaBonta said on Tuesday, adding that she thought Abello has been one of the most consistent performers for one of the NWSL’s best teams and that Dickey has been “the best performing goalkeeper in the NWSL this season.”

There are also some notable absences from the squad. Hayes confirmed that forward Mia Fishel and midfielders Korbin Albert and Jaedyn Shaw would instead be joining the US U-23 national team for their two friendlies against Germany. That roster is expected to be announced in full later this week.

Aside from that, the team includes familiar names. However, they will be without forward Mallory Swanson, who recently announced she is pregnant with her first child and thus will miss the 2025 NWSL season, as well as Trinity Rodman, who is taking time away from the field to tend to an ongoing back injury.

“It’s certainly been a multidisciplinary approach with Trin,” Hayes said of the player’s recovery. “She wants to get to a place where it doesn’t keep coming back. I think these are the right steps for her. Unfortunately you can’t put a timeframe on it, because we want to make sure she’s not carrying that pain any further.”

Naomi Girma also returns to the team after her big-money move to Chelsea, where she recently capped a strong season with a domestic treble alongside fellow call-up, forward Catarina Macario. Arsenal defender Emily Fox is expected to join the team straight after playing in the Uefa women’s Champions League final against Barcelona on 24 May.

The US will start off the international window with a friendly against China at Allianz Field in St Paul, Minnesota on 31 May, before heading to St Louis to play Jamaica at Energizer Park on 3 June.

Full US women’s national team squad

Goalkeepers: Claudia Dickey (Seattle Reign FC) Mandy McGlynn (Utah Royals), Phallon Tullis-Joyce (Manchester United).

Defenders: Kerry Abello (Orlando Pride), Crystal Dunn (Paris Saint-Germain), Emily Fox (Arsenal FC), Naomi Girma (Chelsea FC), Tara McKeown (Washington Spirit), Avery Patterson (Houston Dash, Emily Sams (Orlando Pride), Emily Sonnett (Gotham FC).

Midfielders: Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC), Lindsey Heaps (OL Lyonnes), Claire Hutton (Kansas City Current), Lo’eau LaBonta (Kansas City Current), Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns FC), Lily Yohannes (Ajax).

Forwards: Lynn Biyendolo (Seattle Reign FC), Michelle Cooper (Kansas City Current), Catarina Macario (Chelsea FC, ENG), Emma Sears (Racing Louisville), Ally Sentnor (Utah Royals), Alyssa Thompson (Angel City FC), Gisele Thompson (Angel City FC).

Header image: [Photograph: Bill Barrett/ISI Photos/Getty Images]