Two FC Kansas City players named to U.S. roster for January camp

Two FC Kansas City players have been included in the latest U.S. Women’s National Team roster by head coach Jill Ellis. Becky Sauerbrunn and Amy Rodriguez are among the 29 players named to the first training camp roster of 2017. Camp will run from Jan. 13-23 at the U.S. Soccer National Training Center in Carson, California.

“The players have had a good break since our last games in November and I know everyone is anxious to get back to work,” said Ellis via press release. “January Camp has always been valuable to set the tone for the upcoming year and it will be good for the players to get back on the field. For the staff, evaluation and performance remain the focal points during the 11-day camp as we begin a build up to the SheBelieves Cup.”

This will be Amy Rodriguez’s first action since October of 2015 during the Women’s World Cup Victory Tour. This was after helping FC Kansas City to their second NWSL Championship. Rodriguez sat out all of 2016 for both the U.S. and FC Kansas City while she gave birth to her second child.

Sydney Leroux, FC Kansas City’s other national team forward that sat out 2016 to give birth was not named to the roster. Leroux gave birth to her and Sporting Kansas City Dom Dwyer’s baby a few months after Rodriguez but has been working hard to get in shape.

Ellis plans to use the January training camp as an evaluation period to choose the roster for the upcoming SheBelieves Cup. The tournament is just in its second year but will again feature four of the world’s top-five ranked teams in the USA (1), Germany (2), France (3) and England (5).

Despite the push to negotiate a new agreement, the U.S. Women’s National Team and U.S. Soccer will continue to operate under the previous Collective Bargaining Agreement for now.

U.S. Women's National Team Roster by Position:

GOALKEEPERS (4): Jane Campbell (Stanford), Adrianna Franch (Portland Thorns FC), Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)

DEFENDERS (7): Jaelene Hinkle (Western New York Flash), Julie Johnston (Chicago Red Stars), Ali Krieger (Orlando Pride), Kelley O'Hara (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City), Casey Short (Chicago Red Stars), Emily Sonnett (Portland Thorns FC)

MIDFIELDERS (11): Morgan Brian (Houston Dash), Kristen Edmonds (Orlando Pride), Christina Gibbons (Duke), Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC), Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC), Rose Lavelle (Wisconsin), Carli Lloyd (Houston Dash), Allie Long (Portland Thorns FC), Samantha Mewis (Western New York Flash), Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign FC), Taylor Smith (Western New York Flash)

FORWARDS (7): Crystal Dunn (Chelsea Ladies FC, ENG), Jessica McDonald (Western New York Flash), Alex Morgan (Olympique Lyonnais, FRA), Kealia Ohai (Houston Dash), Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars), Amy Rodriguez (FC Kansas City), Lynn Williams (Western New York Flash)