USWNT roster: Naomi Girma returns, Lo’eau LaBonta debuts, Korbin Albert absent

SPORTIVO
Article arrow_drop_down

Naomi Girma returns to the U.S. women’s national team (USWNT) for the first time this calendar year as head coach Emma Hayes shifts focus away from throwing players into the frying pan and toward building squad depth, having extended new or renewed invitations to players who have shone at the club level in the NWSL and abroad.

Advertisement

The USWNT manager named her 24-player roster on Tuesday for two upcoming friendlies against China on May 31 and Jamaica on June 3. In addition to Girma’s crucial return to the backline, the player list features two first-time call-ups in Kansas City Current midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta and Orlando Pride defender Kerry Abello.

Korbin Albert, the 21-year-old Paris Saint-Germain midfielder who was a part of the USWNT’s gold medal-winning Olympic team, was left off the roster for this window, and with Trinity Rodman out indefinitely to treat her back injury and Mal Swanson’s recent announcement of her pregnancy, the entirety of Triple Espresso will be stepping away from national team duties for some time. (Sophia Wilson announced her pregnancy in March.)

USWNT May and June friendlies roster

Goalkeepers (3): Claudia Dickey (Seattle Reign FC), Mandy McGlynn (Utah Royals), Phallon Tullis-Joyce (Manchester United)

Defenders (8): 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 (6): 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 (7): Lynn Biyendolo (Seattle Reign FC), Michelle Cooper (Kansas City Current), Catarina Macario (Chelsea FC), Emma Sears (Racing Louisville), Ally Sentnor (Utah Royals), Alyssa Thompson (Angel City FC), Gisele Thompson (Angel City FC)

Strengthening the bench

During the USWNT’s last two friendlies, in which it went 1-1 against Brazil in California, Hayes was clear about her intentions to evaluate and experiment. This time around, she is prioritizing depth, an objective made all the more convenient by the variety inherent in the fixtures themselves. Seven of the players on this roster did not compete against the South American giants in the Olympic gold medal rematches last month.

Advertisement

“We have two different types of opponents ahead of us, so we’ll have to be creative in breaking down those teams in different ways,” Hayes said in the U.S. Soccer news release. “Now that everyone has settled into a rhythm with their clubs, or is coming right off their European seasons, our players are at a good level. As has been one of our focuses this year, this camp and the following camp are going to be two amazing opportunities to develop squad depth.”

Given the current state of the team, depth means something different at each positional level. We’ll address the defense in a separate section, but as the USWNT midfield continues to be a long-term project in flux, Hayes’ focus on depth could provide an advantageous opportunity for LaBonta, whose steadying presence and command of the Current’s midfield has been critical to their success for two seasons now as they enjoy the view from the top of the table.

At 32, LaBonta could become the oldest player to earn a cap for the USWNT if she gets playing time during this window. Bringing her on midway through the second half of a game in which the U.S. is either trying to hold a lead or increase its goal tally could have high yields.

Up top, Hayes made an intriguing change in plucking 19-year-old Gisele Thompson from the back line to see how she fares as a forward. She’ll join her sister, Alyssa, who’s in arguably the best form of her career for club and country, and recently assisted her younger sister on a goal for Angel City FC when they upended the Washington Spirit last month. Like Crystal Dunn, the second-highest goal-scorer on this roster with 25 goals in 159 caps, Gisele possesses a high IQ on both sides of the ball, and her ability to carry the ball forward could come in handy if the U.S. needs to scramble an organized Chinese side or tease out a defensively-minded Jamaican one.

Auditioning for the role of Girma’s costar

With Girma back on the national team, fresh off an FA Cup title with Chelsea, Hayes can now resume her quest to appoint the star center-back’s counterpart in earnest. Though the assignment feels more like a beginning, considering the absence of Tierna Davidson, who has been ruled out for the season after tearing her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) last month. Hayes has appeared bullish on Tara McKeown, a striker-turned-central defender who quickly became a reliable pillar of the Washington Spirit’s defense. Her distribution and hunger to advance the ball when it’s at her feet could make for an interesting dynamic with Girma’s spatial acuity.

Advertisement

Emily Sams, last year’s NWSL Defender of the Year, has been given curious few minutes on the national team of late. While she was invited to camp for the Brazil friendlies, the Orlando Pride center-back last earned a cap when the U.S. played Australia at the SheBelieves Cup on Feb. 23. If there was a time for Hayes to inquire about her potential with Girma at the back, it’s increasingly beginning to feel like now or never.

You could argue, though, that in terms of current form for the club, both McKeown and Sams are competing with Emily Sonnett to play alongside Girma. With Davidson out, Sonnet has stepped up as an unstoppable force for NJ/NY Gotham FC.

The last time the U.S. played China, in 2023, it outscored its opponents 5-1 across two fixtures. Its last meeting with Jamaica was a 5-0 victory three years ago at the CONCACAF W Gold Cup in Monterrey. Between the two matches, it’s unlikely to encounter too much of an attacking threat, potentially offering more of a chance for Hayes to assess her back line on its attacking prowess. This, of course, is where the outside backs are expected to shine, and frankly, the kinds of scenarios in which first-time call-up Abello thrives with the Orlando Pride. The same goes for Avery Patterson, who recently netted a rocket for the Houston Dash a couple of weeks ago.

(Photo of Naomi Girma: Daniela Porcelli / ISI Photos / Getty Images)

This news was originally published on this post .

About the author

About the author call_made

SPORTIVO

More posts

trending_flat
What is McLaren’s ‘marginal’ Norris penalty most likely to be?

McLaren have caused a media storm at the United States Grand Prix by refusing to reveal details of a sporting penalty that will be applied to Lando Norris for colliding with title rival and team-mate Oscar Piastri in Singapore.McLaren chief executive Zak Brown and team principal Andrea Stella said after the race in Singapore that they saw no reason to take action over the first-lap overtake, but Norris stunned the paddock on Thursday in Austin by revealing he would face "repercussions" that could impact him until the end of the season. The Brit trails Piastri by 22 points with six rounds of the 2025 season remaining, with the unknown sanction appearing to stiffen his task of chasing down the Australian. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Oscar Piastri fumes on the radio as Lando Norris gets […]

trending_flat
Chiefs’ Rashee Rice to play first game in 12-plus months after 6-game suspension: ‘The time is finally here’

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice will play in his first game since Sept. 29, 2024 when he takes the field Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium against the Las Vegas Raiders.Rice, 25, flirted with a 1,000-yard season as a rookie in 2023, then missed most of the 2024 season with a knee injury and then served a six-game suspension to start the 2025 season because of his role in a multi-car Dallas crash that injured multiple people last year, for which he was sentenced to five years probation and 30 days in jail.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"I'm sure he's excited to play," Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said Friday. "He hasn't played in a real game for a year and six weeks or whatever it is."Rice, a former second-round pick out of SMU, has envisioned sharing the field with fellow Chiefs wideouts Xavier Worthy […]

Brasil vence o Marrocos na estreia do Mundial feminino sub-17

Vitória contra as donas da casa deixa a Seleção Brasileira na liderança do Grupo A (Foto: Buda Mendes/Getty Images)A Seleção Brasileira começou bem o Mundial feminino sub-17! Nesta sexta-feira (17), o Brasil enfrentou o Marrocos, país sede da competição, e venceu por 3 a 0, sem levar sustos. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADEEx-Botafogo e principal nome do elenco, a camisa 11 Giovanna Waksman, de 16 anos, foi o nome do jogo. Além de marcar um golaço, ela liderou as ações ofensivas da equipe e chamou a responsabilidade da partida para si. Atualmente no FC Florida, ela é a grande esperança do futuro do futebol feminino brasileiro.A vitória coloca o Brasil na liderança do Grupo A, que tem ainda Costa Rica e Itália. O próximo desafio das meninas acontece na próxima terça-feira (21), às 13h, com transmissão da CazéTV e do FIFA+. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE

trending_flat
Verstappen pips Norris to Sprint pole in Austin

Max Verstappen pipped Lando Norris to Sprint pole at the United States Grand Prix by 0.071s to reinforce a possible title fightback.Norris topped SQ1 and SQ2 but, not for the first time this year, Verstappen delivered an incredible lap when it mattered most to beat Norris and championship leader Oscar Piastri, who was nearly four tenths off the pace. Verstappen has taken 41 points out of Piastri in the last three races and trails the Australian by 63 points with six rounds to go, with points available in Saturday's Sprint at 6pm, live on Sky Sports F1."Stunning final sector from Max Verstappen," said Sky Sports F1's Martin Brundle on commentary."Once again, he delivers something nobody else on this grid can deliver at this time. Absolutely extraordinary the way he just kept the speed." Please use Chrome browser for a more […]

trending_flat
NFL Week 7 Preview, Stats, Storylines for Five-Game FOX Slate

Will Jayden Danniels get the Commanders back on track in Week 7, or will Dak Prescott add to his potential MVP campaign amid his strong start to the 2025 season? The matchup between Daniels and Prescott is the highlight of FOX's five-game slate for Week 7, with the Washington Commanders and Dallas Cowboys meeting up on "America's Game of the Week." Both NFC East rivals are in need of a win as they each lost at the buzzer in Week 6. That game isn't the only intriguing matchup on FOX's five-game slate for Week 7, which also features a game between two playoff teams from last season. Let's take a full look at the top stats and storylike for all five matchups. These two teams were 28-6 last year, but they're a combined 7-4 in 2025, equally meh as maybe-not-so-good NFC contenders. The […]

trending_flat
Use bet365 bonus code CBSBET365, get $200 bonus bets by targeting Dodgers-Brewers on Friday

Friday's sports schedule is jam-packed with college football and MLB postseason action, giving new users an opportunity to use the latest bet365 bonus code CBSBET365, which offers $200 in bonus bets after placing a first wager of $5 or more. California hosts North Carolina and Bill Belichick, while the Dodgers and Brewers square off in Game 4 of the NLCS. SportsLine's proven computer model is backing Minnesota to cover the spread as a home underdog, and it is also targeting the Brewers as a large underdog. Claim the latest bet365 bonus code here:Check out our bet365 promo code review for full details.The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every MLB and college football game 10,000 times. It entered the ALCS and NLCS rounds of the 2025 MLB playoffs a profitable 35-29 on top-rated MLB money-line picks this season. It has excelled making home run prop picks this […]

Related

trending_flat
What is McLaren’s ‘marginal’ Norris penalty most likely to be?

McLaren have caused a media storm at the United States Grand Prix by refusing to reveal details of a sporting penalty that will be applied to Lando Norris for colliding with title rival and team-mate Oscar Piastri in Singapore.McLaren chief executive Zak Brown and team principal Andrea Stella said after the race in Singapore that they saw no reason to take action over the first-lap overtake, but Norris stunned the paddock on Thursday in Austin by revealing he would face "repercussions" that could impact him until the end of the season. The Brit trails Piastri by 22 points with six rounds of the 2025 season remaining, with the unknown sanction appearing to stiffen his task of chasing down the Australian. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Oscar Piastri fumes on the radio as Lando Norris gets […]

trending_flat
Chiefs’ Rashee Rice to play first game in 12-plus months after 6-game suspension: ‘The time is finally here’

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice will play in his first game since Sept. 29, 2024 when he takes the field Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium against the Las Vegas Raiders.Rice, 25, flirted with a 1,000-yard season as a rookie in 2023, then missed most of the 2024 season with a knee injury and then served a six-game suspension to start the 2025 season because of his role in a multi-car Dallas crash that injured multiple people last year, for which he was sentenced to five years probation and 30 days in jail.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"I'm sure he's excited to play," Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said Friday. "He hasn't played in a real game for a year and six weeks or whatever it is."Rice, a former second-round pick out of SMU, has envisioned sharing the field with fellow Chiefs wideouts Xavier Worthy […]

Brasil vence o Marrocos na estreia do Mundial feminino sub-17

Vitória contra as donas da casa deixa a Seleção Brasileira na liderança do Grupo A (Foto: Buda Mendes/Getty Images)A Seleção Brasileira começou bem o Mundial feminino sub-17! Nesta sexta-feira (17), o Brasil enfrentou o Marrocos, país sede da competição, e venceu por 3 a 0, sem levar sustos. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADEEx-Botafogo e principal nome do elenco, a camisa 11 Giovanna Waksman, de 16 anos, foi o nome do jogo. Além de marcar um golaço, ela liderou as ações ofensivas da equipe e chamou a responsabilidade da partida para si. Atualmente no FC Florida, ela é a grande esperança do futuro do futebol feminino brasileiro.A vitória coloca o Brasil na liderança do Grupo A, que tem ainda Costa Rica e Itália. O próximo desafio das meninas acontece na próxima terça-feira (21), às 13h, com transmissão da CazéTV e do FIFA+. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE

trending_flat
Verstappen pips Norris to Sprint pole in Austin

Max Verstappen pipped Lando Norris to Sprint pole at the United States Grand Prix by 0.071s to reinforce a possible title fightback.Norris topped SQ1 and SQ2 but, not for the first time this year, Verstappen delivered an incredible lap when it mattered most to beat Norris and championship leader Oscar Piastri, who was nearly four tenths off the pace. Verstappen has taken 41 points out of Piastri in the last three races and trails the Australian by 63 points with six rounds to go, with points available in Saturday's Sprint at 6pm, live on Sky Sports F1."Stunning final sector from Max Verstappen," said Sky Sports F1's Martin Brundle on commentary."Once again, he delivers something nobody else on this grid can deliver at this time. Absolutely extraordinary the way he just kept the speed." Please use Chrome browser for a more […]

trending_flat
NFL Week 7 Preview, Stats, Storylines for Five-Game FOX Slate

Will Jayden Danniels get the Commanders back on track in Week 7, or will Dak Prescott add to his potential MVP campaign amid his strong start to the 2025 season? The matchup between Daniels and Prescott is the highlight of FOX's five-game slate for Week 7, with the Washington Commanders and Dallas Cowboys meeting up on "America's Game of the Week." Both NFC East rivals are in need of a win as they each lost at the buzzer in Week 6. That game isn't the only intriguing matchup on FOX's five-game slate for Week 7, which also features a game between two playoff teams from last season. Let's take a full look at the top stats and storylike for all five matchups. These two teams were 28-6 last year, but they're a combined 7-4 in 2025, equally meh as maybe-not-so-good NFC contenders. The […]

trending_flat
Use bet365 bonus code CBSBET365, get $200 bonus bets by targeting Dodgers-Brewers on Friday

Friday's sports schedule is jam-packed with college football and MLB postseason action, giving new users an opportunity to use the latest bet365 bonus code CBSBET365, which offers $200 in bonus bets after placing a first wager of $5 or more. California hosts North Carolina and Bill Belichick, while the Dodgers and Brewers square off in Game 4 of the NLCS. SportsLine's proven computer model is backing Minnesota to cover the spread as a home underdog, and it is also targeting the Brewers as a large underdog. Claim the latest bet365 bonus code here:Check out our bet365 promo code review for full details.The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every MLB and college football game 10,000 times. It entered the ALCS and NLCS rounds of the 2025 MLB playoffs a profitable 35-29 on top-rated MLB money-line picks this season. It has excelled making home run prop picks this […]

Be the first to leave a comment

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sportivo bridges the gap between talent and opportunity.

About SPORTIVO

Sportivo Network is a dedicated social platform for sports enthusiasts, athletes, and scouts. Whether you’re an aspiring athlete looking for opportunities, a coach searching for talent, or simply a sports lover wanting to connect with like-minded people, Sportivo is your go-to network. With features like direct messaging, profile showcasing, and talent scouting, Sportivo bridges the gap between talent and opportunity. Here, you can share your achievements, interact with professionals, and open doors to the next level in your sports journey. Join Sportivo Network – because every great athlete deserves to be discovered!
Copyright © 2025 SPORTIVO News. and SPORTIVO Network. All rights reserved.

Login to enjoy full advantages

Please login or subscribe to continue.

Go Premium!

Enjoy the full advantage of the premium access.

Stop following

Unfollow Cancel

Cancel subscription

Are you sure you want to cancel your subscription? You will lose your Premium access and stored playlists.

Go back Confirm cancellation