Naomi Girma will make her valiant return to the U.S. women’s national team roster this window after battling injuries throughout this calendar year.
Manager Emma Hayes has called up 26 players for the final training camp of 2025, which will include two matches against UEFA Women’s Euro semifinalists Italy in Orlando (Nov. 28) and Ft. Lauderdale (Dec. 1). As it pertains to Girma, this is the first roster she’s been on since the summer.
“First of all, I’m just happy she’s back,” Hayes told reporters over Zoom on Wednesday. “I realize more and more the importance, not just of her qualities on the field, but her quiet leadership, not just in terms of leading the line, but off the field as well.”
The star defender started back for club Chelsea in a Champions League win over St. Polten on Nov. 11, and then she played 45 minutes against Liverpool in Women’s Super League play on Nov. 16. Girma has only played in four of the USWNT’s 13 matches this year, and her presence will be huge for a squad still missing many of its veteran players. The timing is especially important as the team prepares to qualify for the 2027 World Cup next year.
“Before we had to put forward the provisional roster, [Girma] made sure she called and texted me several times to say, ‘I’m fit, I’m coming,'” Hayes said, smiling. “Like, I don’t know why she’d think that we wouldn’t bring her anyway if she’s fit and healthy. But let me tell you, Naomi will be the first person in camp. She is so excited to get back with the team, and we’re excited to have her. And like I said, I think we missed some of that leadership and that experience at the international level. And I’m so looking forward to having her back.”
This roster will look a bit different than the one Hayes called up in October, when the USWNT played three matches against Portugal and New Zealand. It features seven squad changes and includes two first-time call-ups in Bay FC goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz and Chicago Stars forward Jameese Joseph. Washington Spirit defender Kate Wiesner, also uncapped, gets her second call-up after being named as a training player during Hayes’ first USWNT camp in June 2024.
Hayes also called in Gotham FC midfielder Jaelin Howell, who last played for the national team in April 2022 and hasn’t been called up since October 2022.
“It’s been an exciting and important year for our group, and we’ve accomplished a lot of goals, expanded the player pool and made strides in our game model, so this camp will be an extension of that, but it will also set the groundwork for 2026, which will be our World Cup qualifying year,” Hayes said.
“Games against top European teams are so valuable as they give us an honest assessment of where we are in our growth as a team, so I know our players will embrace that challenge.”
Superstar Trinity Rodman, who suffered a sprained MCL while playing with her club last month, will not be in camp. She came on as a late substitute in the Washington Spirit’s 2-0 semifinal win over the Portland Thorns on Saturday to help her team reach its second straight NWSL championship – and Rodman could play in the final vs. Gotham FC on Saturday. But Hayes said she and Rodman agreed it would be best for her to sit this last international window out.
“She’s still working her way back,” Hayes said. “And the reality is, we felt together that we have an important camp with big game minutes required, and she’s not in position to do that. I think Trin more than anyone wants to be playing with the national team. So we hope that can happen again in the new year. But it’s just come too soon to be honest and her well-being and welfare is of importance to me.”
Another note is the absence of Manchester United goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce, who was ruled out of camp due to a facial injury sustained playing with her club. Tullis-Joyce only has four caps, but has looked like the frontrunner to become the Americans’ next starting goalkeeper. In her place, Hayes will look to Utah Royals’ Mandy McGlynn, Seattle Reign FC’s Claudia Dickey and Silkowitz.
These matches against Le Azzurre are the nations’ first time playing each other in 15 years. Their last meeting was on Nov. 27, 2010, which the U.S. won, 1-0, in the second leg of a World Cup playoff. The USWNT ultimately beat Italy 2-0 on aggregate to qualify for the 2011 World Cup.
Hayes said earlier this year that she sat down with her operations team and they asked her who she wanted the USWNT to play in the coming months. This was before the summer’s Euros and Hayes said Italy.
“They’re not only an up-and-coming team, but tactically, I think they are doing some very, very different things as a team,” Hayes said. “They rarely play the same way twice, so you will see two different structures from them, particularly out of possession in both games. And I think that presents challenges because it means you can prepare a certain way, but they’ve prepared a different way, and then you got to be able to adapt to that.”
Italy lost to eventual champion England in a dramatic Euro semifinal that was decided in extra time. Hayes believes Le Azzurre is one of the top teams in Europe now and is still brimming with confidence following this past summer’s tournament.
“I would consider them to be of the same quality of, you know, England, Spain,” Hayes said. “So this is going to be a really stern test for us and one where we’re going to be challenged, especially tactically. I think they’re really well coached. Their ability to go from really compact blocks and transition in the counterattack, I think they’re exceptional at it.Â
“So this, for me, is an unbelievable test for us, and one that we’re extremely excited about.”
U.S. Women’s National Team Roster by Position (Club; Caps/Goals)
GOALKEEPERS (3): Claudia Dickey (Seattle Reign FC; 4), Mandy McGlynn (Utah Royals; 4), Jordan Silkowitz (Bay FC; 0)
DEFENDERS (10): Jordyn Bugg (Seattle Reign FC; 4/0), Emily Fox (Arsenal FC, ENG; 69/1), Naomi Girma (Chelsea FC, ENG: 48/2), Avery Patterson (Houston Dash; 8/1), Lilly Reale (Gotham FC; 4/0), Izzy Rodriguez (Kansas City Current; 1/1), Emily Sams (Orlando Pride; 6/0), Emily Sonnett (Gotham FC; 112/2), Kennedy Wesley (San Diego Wave; 1/0), Kate Wiesner (Washington Spirit; 0/0)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Croix Bethune (Washington Spirit; 4/0), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC; 41/5), Lindsey Heaps (OL Lyonnes, FRA; 167/38), Jaelin Howell (Gotham FC; 5/1), Claire Hutton (Kansas City Current; 9/1), Rose Lavelle (Gotham FC; 115/26), Lily Yohannes (OL Lyonnes, FRA; 11/1)
FORWARDS (6): Jameese Joseph (Chicago Stars; 0/0), Catarina Macario (Chelsea FC, ENG; 27/13), Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns FC; 10/4), Emma Sears (Racing Louisville; 11/4), Jaedyn Shaw (Gotham FC; 29/8), Alyssa Thompson (Chelsea FC, ENG; 24/3)
Laken Litman covers college football, college basketball and soccer for FOX Sports. She previously wrote for Sports Illustrated, USA Today and The Indianapolis Star. She is the author of “Strong Like a Woman,” published in spring 2022 to mark the 50th anniversary of Title IX. Follow her at @LakenLitman.
