SANDY, Utah (Friday, January 4, 2019) – The Utah Royals FC trio of DF Becky Sauerbrunn, DF Kelley O’Hara, and FW Christen Press have been called up to the U.S. Women’s National Team by Head Coach Jill Ellis for January training camp held in Portugal. The U.S. will face the 2019 FIFA World Cup host France on January 19 in Le Havre, France, before facing Spain on January 22 in the first-ever meeting between the two sides in Alicante, Spain.
“It’s a real positive to start the year with this training period in Portugal and then play two top teams in France and Spain away,” said Ellis. “Finding ways to be successful against European teams in Europe is something every team in the World Cup will have to do to advance deep into the tournament, so this is an essential trip in our prep for the summer.”
2018 Utah Royals FC MVP and Co-Defensive Player of the Year winner Sauerbrunn made her first World Cup appearance with team USA in 2011. Sauerbrunn was also a member of the 2014 CONCACAF Women’s Championship where she played every minute of the tournament to help lead the team to the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Sauerbrunn holds 149 career caps on the USWNT backline.
O’Hara also appeared in the 2011 World Cup with team USA and was a member of the 2015 World Cup winning squad. O’Hara scored her first national team goal in the 2015 World Cup semifinal against Germany. O’Hara currently has 112 career caps and two goals with the USWNT.
Press holds 106 caps and 46 goals for team USA after first appearing with the USWNT in 2012 and was an alternate for the 2012 U.S. Olympic team. Press played in all five games of the 2014 CONCACAF Women’s Championship tallying two goals and one assist. She was also a member of the 2015 Women’s World Cup winning squad alongside URFC teammates, Sauerbrunn and O’Hara.
The USWNT will commence the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup held in France on June 11 against Thailand. Along with Thailand the USWNT is joined by Sweden and Chile in Group F.
All three players are scheduled rejoin URFC prior to the commencement of the 2019 preseason.
Season tickets for the 2019 Utah Royals FC season are now on sale via https://www.rsl.com/nwslor 844.REAL.TIX. The full 2019 NWSL schedule is expected to be revealed in the coming weeks.
U.S. WNT Roster by Position – January Camp 2019 (Caps/Goals):
GOALKEEPERS (4): Jane Campbell (Houston Dash; 3/0), Adrianna Franch (Portland Thorns FC; 0/0), Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride; 19/0), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars; 38/0)
DEFENDERS (8): Abby Dahlkemper (NC Courage; 30/0), Tierna Davidson (Stanford; 12/1), Crystal Dunn (NC Courage; 75/24), Emily Fox (UNC; 2/0), Kelley O’Hara (Utah Royals FC; 112/2), Becky Sauerbrunn (Utah Royals FC; 149/0), Casey Short (Chicago Red Stars; 27/0), Emily Sonnett (Portland Thorns FC; 26/0)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Morgan Brian (Chicago Red Stars; 81/6), Danielle Colaprico (Chicago Red Stars; 2/0), Julie Ertz (Chicago Red Stars; 73/18), Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC; 62/7), Rose Lavelle (Washington Spirit; 20/6), Samantha Mewis (NC Courage; 41/8), McCall Zerboni (NC Courage; 7/0)
FORWARDS (7): Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC; 142/25), Carli Lloyd (Sky Blue FC; 265/105), Jessica McDonald (NC Courage; 3/1), Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride;153/98), Christen Press (Utah Royals FC; 106/46), Mallory Pugh (Washington Spirit; 43/12), Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign FC; 145/41)
