Lavelle, Pugh on January USWNT roster

The Washington Spirit duo are among Jill Ellis’s squad for France, Spain friendlies

Jill Ellis has named a 26-player squad for the United States women’s national team upcoming January camp. This USWNT camp, which convenes this coming Monday, will be based in Portugal ahead of friendlies at France (1/19) and Spain (1/22). The roster unsurprisingly includes Rose Lavelle and Mallory Pugh, two key figures for the Washington Spirit’s attack.

With the World Cup kicking off in just over five months, this January roster is a strong indicator for players on the fringes of the final squad that will get on the plane to France. Chicago Red Stars midfielder Danielle Colaprico, who received her first cap during the November international window, and the fit-again McCall Zerboni are now ahead of Allie Long in the midfield, while University of North Carolina defender Emily Fox has maintained her spot in the squad.

Elsewhere, Tierna Davidson, who missed the last camp due to a fractured leg suffered early in the college season, is back in the squad. Her competition with Abby Dahlkemper to be the central defensive partner for Becky Sauerbrunn is arguably the key battle for a starting job within a lineup that has otherwise seemed fairly settled in recent months.

The full roster is as follows:

Goalkeepers: Alyssa Naeher, Ashlyn Harris, Adrianna Franch, Jane Campbell

Defenders: Kelley O’Hara, Abby Dahlkemper, Becky Sauerbrunn, Crystal Dunn, Emily Sonnett, Tierna Davidson, Casey Short, Emily Fox

Midfielders: Lindsey Horan, Julie Ertz, Rose Lavelle, Morgan Brian, Samantha Mewis, McCall Zerboni, Danielle Colaprico

Forwards: Tobin Heath, Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, Mallory Pugh, Carli Lloyd, Christen Press, Jessica McDonald