The dynamic U.S. women's national team trio of Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith and Mallory Swanson need time to heal from nagging injuries and won't travel for upcoming matches in Europe.
U.S. coach Emma Hayes announced her roster Monday for friendly matches against England and the Netherlands. She left the three forwards, who were nicknamed “Triple Espresso” at the Paris Olympics, off the 24-player squad.
All three players were on club teams that made the National Women's Soccer League playoffs. Rodman plays for the Washington Spirit, which will play in the league championship match on Saturday against the Orlando Pride.
Hayes emphasized that player welfare is her top priority.
“I want to make sure these players are prepared for a long time to come,” Hayes said on a conference call with reporters. “When you’re in the back end of a season, and you played a lot, and your body is tired, your mind’s tired. That’s where, you know, sometimes it can become risky.”
Without the three players who helped the United States win the gold medal at the Olympics, Hayes will field a younger squad with an eye on developing for the future.
The team will face England at Wembley Stadium on Nov. 30 before visiting The Hague to play the Netherlands on Dec. 3.
The roster includes 15 players from the Olympic team and two players who have never appeared in a U.S. match: Manchester United goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce and Utah Royals forward Ally Sentnor.
The roster also includes 17-year-old Lily Yohannes, who recently announced she would play for the United States on the international level. Yohannes was born in Virginia but she's lived in the Netherlands since she was a child, and was eligible to play for either national team.
“I’m excited about the roster and there’s opportunities for so many different players, or so many different permutations within that," Hayes said. "We’re in a different stage, I’m not preparing for a Euros next summer like England and Netherlands are. I’m preparing to qualify for a World Cup in ’27. So I need to do this, I like doing these things. I’ve developed rosters over a long period of time. Well, they don’t improve just by having (players) on the roster, we have to give them the opportunities to do that.”
___
Goalkeepers: Mandy Haught (Utah Royals), Phallon Tullis-Joyce (Manchester United), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)
Defenders: Tierna Davidson (Gotham FC), Emily Fox (Arsenal), Eva Gaetino (Paris Saint-Germain), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave), Casey Krueger (Washington Spirit), Alyssa Malonson (Bay FC), Jenna Nighswonger (Gotham FC), Emily Sams (Orlando Pride), Emily Sonnett (Gotham FC)
Midfielders: Korbin Albert (Paris Saint-Germain), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns), Hal Hershfelt (Washington Spirit), Lindsey Horan (Lyon), Rose Lavelle (Gotham FC), Lily Yohannes (Ajax)
Forwards: Yazmeen Ryan (Gotham FC), Emma Sears (Racing Louisville), Ally Sentnor (Utah Royals), Jaedyn Shaw (San Diego Wave), Alyssa Thompson (Angel City), Lynn Williams (Gotham FC)
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Anne M. Peterson, The Associated Press
