Rodman among US players called up to face Uzbekistan | Sports

Trinity Rodman was among the many younger gamers named to the U.S. girls’s nationwide staff roster for a pair of matches subsequent month towards Uzbekistan.

Coach Vlatko Andonovski left veterans together with Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, Christen Press and Tobin Heath off the squad introduced Tuesday as he continues to guage gamers forward of World Cup qualifying this summer time.

The staff has simply 4 matches to arrange for the CONCACAF W Championship in Monterrey, Mexico, in July. The event will decide the area’s 4 berths within the 2023 World Cup and one spot within the 2024 Olympics.

Among the many 23 gamers on the roster are 14 gamers with 15 or fewer nationwide staff appearances. Three gamers, goalkeepers Bella Bixby and Aubrey Kingsbury and defender Naomi Girma, have but to play in a sport for america.

Rodman, the daughter of former NBA star Dennis Rodman, has made two appearances with the nationwide staff. She signed a four-year contract this yr with the Washington Spirit price a reported $1.1 million, making her the highest-paid participant within the Nationwide Girls’s Soccer League.

The USA has by no means confronted Uzbekistan, ranked No. 48 on the earth.

Scheduling for the worldwide window was a problem as groups proceed to cope with worldwide COVID-19 restrictions. CONCACAF and UEFA even have World Cup qualifying matches through the April window, limiting accessible opponents. The USA is the defending World Cup champion.

“Clearly, we all know that there was a special opponent lined up on this window, however for various causes that didn’t occur. So I’m comfortable that we have been in a position to get these video games in, and Uzbekistan was the best ranked of the groups that was in entrance of us,” Andonovski stated. “However we’re going to take this sport no otherwise than another sport, or opponent. We’re taking this sport very significantly and I do know that the gamers have a look at this sport as a possibility to showcase themselves, to show themselves or to show that they belong on this staff.”

The video games towards Uzbekistan are scheduled for April 9 in Columbus, Ohio, and on April 12 in Chester, outdoors of Philadelphia.

Andonovski stated Rapinoe and Becky Sauerbrunn are nursing accidents. Tierna Davidson and Lynn Williams have been injured in preseason play within the Nationwide Girls’s Soccer League.

The roster for the friendlies towards Uzbekistan, with membership affiliation:

Goalkeepers: Bella Bixby (Portland Thorns), Aubrey Kingsbury (Washington Spirit), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Purple Stars).

Defenders: Alana Prepare dinner (OL Reign), Abby Dahlkemper (San Diego Wave), Imani Dorsey (Gotham), Emily Fox (Racing Louisville), Sofia Huerta (Reign), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave), Kelley O’Hara (Washington Spirit).

Midfielders: Lindsey Horan (Lyon), Jaelin Howell (Racing Louisville), Rose Lavelle (Reign), Catarina Macario (Lyon), Kristie Mewis (Gotham), Samantha Mewis (Kansas Metropolis Present), Ashley Sanchez (Washington Spirit), Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit)

Forwards: Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit), Mallory Pugh (Chicago Purple Stars), Margaret Purce (NJ/NY Gotham), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns).

Extra AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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