SANDY, Utah (Tuesday, February 12, 2019) – Utah Royals FC trio of Becky Sauerbrunn, Kelley O’Hara, and Christen Press have been called to the U.S. Women’s National Team by Head Coach Jill Ellis for the inaugural 2019 SheBelieves Cup, ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The USWNT will open the SheBelieves Cup with match against Japan on February 27 at Talen Energy Stadium in Chester, Pennsylvania. On March 2, the USWNT will travel to the Music City, paying a visit to Nashville, Tennessee to face England at Nissan Stadium. The tournament will wrap-up on March 5 as the USWNT take on Brazil, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
“The SheBelieves Cup is a positive event in many ways, but it’s extremely valuable to get three challenging games against World Cup-bound teams in a short time span that can simulate navigating through group play,” said Ellis. “These are all teams that can go deep in the tournament this summer and provide the kind of tests we need as we continue to work to crystalize our lineup and our final roster for the World Cup.”
Sauerbrunn, O’Hara, and Press head into the 2019 World Cup year with veteran experience under their belts. Sauerbrunn and O’Hara are both in their third, while Press is in her second World Cup year. In 2015, the trio were all members of the Women’s World Cup champions team.
Leading up to the 2015 Women’s FIFA World Cup, the hashtag SheBelieves trended. The USWNT encouraged action for women to set high goals for themselves within their careers and work field. The SheBelieves Cup was established by U.S. Soccer as a four-team international tournament, to enrich women to make a difference beyond the soccer field and strive to strengthen the community.
Sauerbrunn, O’Hara, and Press are expected to rejoin Utah Royals FC prior to the commencement of the 2019 preseason.
U.S. WNT 2019 SheBelieves Cup Roster (Caps/Goals)
GOALKEEPERS (3): Adrianna Franch (Portland Thorns FC; 0/0), Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride; 19/0), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars; 40/0)
DEFENDERS (7): Abby Dahlkemper (NC Courage; 32/0), Tierna Davidson (Chicago Red Stars; 14/1), Crystal Dunn (NC Courage; 77/24), Kelley O’Hara (Utah Royals FC; 112/2), Becky Sauerbrunn (Utah Royals FC; 151/0), Casey Short (Chicago Red Stars; 27/0), Emily Sonnett (Portland Thorns FC; 28/0)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Danielle Colaprico (Chicago Red Stars; 2/0), Julie Ertz (Chicago Red Stars; 74/18), Rose Lavelle (Washington Spirit; 21/6), Samantha Mewis (NC Courage; 43/8), Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit 11/0), McCall Zerboni (NC Courage; 8/0)
FORWARDS (7): Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC; 143/25), Carli Lloyd (Sky Blue FC; 266/105), Jessica McDonald (NC Courage; 5/1), Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride; 155/98), Christen Press (Utah Royals FC; 108/47), Mallory Pugh (Washington Spirit; 45/13), Megan Rapinoe (Reign FC; 146/41)
