This week, we look at more high profile signings by NWSL sides and review the training camp rosters for the U.S. and Canada ahead of next month's CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
MORE NWSL INTERNATIONAL PLAYER FORAYS
NWSL continues to sign high impact international players who did well during the Women's World Cup 2015, including Dutch international Manon Melis (Goteborg IFK) and Swedish midfielder Antonia Göransson (Vittsjo GIK), both of whom were signed by Seattle Reign.
The Western New York Flash recently signed South Korean international midfielder Jeon Ga Eul, the first South Korean born player to sign with a NWSL team. Jeon was instrumental in the Korea Republic advancing to the Round of 16 in the FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada last summer for the first time, playing every minute of four games and scoring a goal against Costa Rica and an assist against Spain. Since her 2007 debut with her national side, she has 34 goals in 72 appearances. Korea's World Cup campaign came to an end in a 3-0 loss to France.
At the club level Jeon played with Hyundai Steel Red Angels of the Women's K-League after winning a league title with Suwon FMC in 2010, when she was the league MVP and the Japanese federation's top player. Jeon, 27, has 30 goals and 12 assists in 98 league matches in Korea.
Portland Thorns have filed an NWSL discover claim on French midfielder Amadeine Henry, which means that no other NWSL team can negotiate with her.
Henry, who won the Silver Ball at the 2015 World Cup as the second-best player behind Carli Lloyd, has spoken highly of the U.S. as a leader in women's football: “The United States is a notch above," Henry told foot365. “There, there is a true recognition; we speak of women's football as the first sport. It is a culture."
No doubt appealing to Henry is that Portland has an international reputation enhanced by its record average attendance (over 15,000 a game) and positive reviews from Spanish international midfielder Vero Boquette and former German international Nadine Angerer, who retired from international and club play in 2015 but will be a goalkeeping assistant coach for the Thorns in 2016.
The Washington Spirit has signed forward Katie Stengel for the 2016 season. Stengle, an U.S. U-23 international and a U-20 World Cup winner in 2012, helped lead Bayern Munich to the 2014-2015 Frauen-Bundesliga title with a team-leading nine goals. She was a four time All-ACC honoree and a three time All-American at Wake Forest University.
US NAMES ROSTER FOR OLYMPIC QUALIFYING PREPARATION CAMP
The US named 26 players to a Carson, California pre-Olympic qualifying camp, without seven 2015 World Cup champions: Shannon Boxx, Lori Chalupny, Lauren Holiday and Abby Wambach have all retired while Christie Rampone and Megan Rapinoe are injured and Amy Rodriguez is on maternity leave.
Jill Ellis explained: “This camp begins the next chapter of this program. We'll have just over two weeks together to begin to build cohesion and integrate the younger players into our processes, and then we will regroup for Olympic qualifying. The leadership and experience of our returning World Cup players will give us a solid starting point on which to build, and we are looking forward to the next challenge."
All the players are contracted to NWSL sides except for two in college—Emily Sonnett (University of Virginia--who is expected to be drafted by an NWSL side this week) and Rose Lavelle (University of Wisconsin), while U-17 and U-20 star Mallory Pugh is still in high school. Lindsey Horan's move to Portland Thorns from Paris St. Germain is expected to be formally announced this week. Goalkeeper Adrianna Franch, who played last season with Avaldsnes IL in Norway, has returned to the NWSL to play for the Portland Thorns in 2016. The Americans' last friendly before Olympic Qualifying is against the Republic of Ireland on January 23 in San Diego.
US Women's National Team Roster:
GOALKEEPERS (4): Adrianna Franch (Portland Thorns), Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars), Hope Solo (Seattle Reign).
DEFENDERS (8): Whitney Engen (Boston Breakers), Jaelene Hinkle (WNY Flash), Julie Johnston (Chicago Red Stars), Meghan Klingenberg (Portland Thorns), Ali Krieger (Washington Spirit), Kelley O'Hara (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City), Emily Sonnett (Univ. of Virginia).
MIDFIELDERS (8): Morgan Brian (Houston Dash), Danielle Colaprico (Chicago Red Stars), Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns), Lindsey Horan (Paris SG/FRA), Rose Lavelle (Univ. of Wisconsin), Carli Lloyd (Houston Dash), Samantha Mewis (WNY Flash), Heather O'Reilly (FC Kansas City).
FORWARDS (6): Crystal Dunn (Washington Spirit), Sydney Leroux (WNY Flash), Stephanie McCaffrey (Boston Breakers), Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride), Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars), Mallory Pugh (Real Colorado).
CANADA'S FINAL TRAINING CAMP ROSTER FOR OLYMPIC QUALIFIERS
Head Coach John Herdman has called 23 players into a camp beginning January 9th and will use this time to mold the 20 player squad that Canada will field in Houston next month as the team looks to clinch a spot in the 2016 Olympic Games. V Only 18 players can make the final Olympic Team roster if the team qualifies for Brazil. Herdman talked about the importance of this camp: “This is really a critical phase in our preparations. We had time together in November and December, so we have a strong sense of what these players can do. This camp will be about organization, firming up the connection between players, and striking the right balance on the pitch."
On the roster, 7 are with NWSL teams, 5 are contracted abroad in Sweden, England or Germany, 6 play in U.S. colleges and the rest are without a club, or play for an amateur club in Canada.
Note: Melissa Tancredi is finalizing a contract with Sweden's KIF Orebro.
Position/Name/Country Currently Playing In/Current Team
GK- Sabrina D'Angelo—Western New York Flash
GK- Stephanie Labbé | CAN /
GK- Erin McLeod | USA / Houston Dash
FB- Kadeisha Buchanan | USA / West Virginia U.
FB- Kennedy Faulknor | CAN / Unionville Milliken SC
FB- Rebecca Quinn | USA / Duke University
CB- Shelina Zadorsky | SWE / Vittsjö GIK
FB- Josée Belanger |SWE / FC Rosengård
FB- Allysha Chapman | USA / Houston Dash
FB- Marie-Eve Nault |SWE / KIF Örebro
FB- Rhian Wilkinson | USA / Portland Thorns FC
M- Jessie Fleming | CAN
M- Ashley Lawrence | USA / West Virginia Univ.
M- Diana Matheson | USA / Washington Spirit
M- Deanne Rose | CAN / Scarborough GS United
M- Sophie Schmidt| GER / FFC Frankfurt
M- Desiree Scott | ENG / Nott County Ladies
F- Janine Beckie | USA / Texas Tech
F- Gabrielle Carle | CAN / Dynamo de Québec
F- Marie Levasseur | USA / University of Memphis
F- Nichelle Prince | USA / Ohio State University
F- Christine Sinclair | USA / Portland Thorns FC
F- Melissa Tancredi | USA / Chicago Red Stars
Next week we will review the 2016 NWSL College Draft, an important source of players every year for the league.