This week, we review the 2021 NWSL College Draft and have some other NWSL news relating to expansion, NWSL management changes, 2021 season date targets and player news for some imports and a veteran player returning from Norway. We also look at the U.S Women's National Team camp in Florida and their two international friendlies against Colombia. We also have the lineup for the 2021 SheBelieves Cup this spring.

2021 NWSL College Draft

The NWSL College Draft usually requires players to register for the draft after their senior season and, in a typical year, over 300 players register in the weeks before the event. For 2021, for the 40 players that the 10 teams selected over 4 rounds—which doesn't guarantee a roster position—only 49 players pre-registered. With the changes driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, players did not have to register as some college conferences (including the PAC-12) were forced to delay their fall 2020 season to this spring. After making arrangements with the NCAA, the NWSL allowed all seniors to be eligible for the draft, rather than just those who had completed their four years of eligibility in the fall, which allowed players to be drafted who had yet to complete their senior season (if their league moved it to the spring of 2021). This ruling automatically made eligible all Division I players who exhausted three years of intercollegiate soccer eligibility prior to the 2020-2021 academic year. Also, some undergraduates were allowed to enter the draft while keeping their collegiately eligibility, which was deemed an optional path for some talented American U-20 players to turn professional in 2021. Players thus can still play in the spring college season and then turn professional with an NWSL side. Clubs will now hold the rights to each athlete selected in the draft until the beginning of the 2022 pre-season, whereas in past years rights were held to the end of the season in which a player was drafted.

In addition, two key college prospects passed on the college draft to go abroad. Brazilian-born Catarina Macario (who played three years at Stanford, was the NCAA Division 1 national player of the year twice and won a UWS summer league championship with LA Galaxy OC Women in 2019) has signed with five-time reigning European champions Olympique Lyon on a deal which runs through the end of the 2022-23 European season. She recently became a U.S. citizen and has just been approved by FIFA to play for the Americans, though she never played for Brazil at any level (see above). She scored 63 goals and tallied 47 assists for Stanford in 68 career college games across three years and will not play her senior campaign this spring in order to join Lyon right away. Stanford won the 2017 and 2019 College Cup titles while she was there.

Note: Macario is just the third female player to obtain her eligibility to play for the USWNT through a process with FIFA, joining the Orlando Pride's Sydney Leroux, who played on the youth level for Canada, and OL Reign's Sofia Huerta, who played on the youth and senior levels for Mexico. Macario is the first player born outside the USA who never played for the national team programs of her birth country to become eligible to play for the USWNT. Leroux was born in Vancouver. Huerta was born in Boise, Idaho.

Malia Berkely, a redshirt senior at Florida State University, has signed with FC Girondins de Bordeaux Feminines in France. She was a MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist in 2019 and won a NCAA title with FSU in 2018.

The forty-nine players who registered for the draft included two from the U.K.:

Forward Lucy Ashworth-Clifford of Lamar University, an import-heavy school in Beaumont Texas—she played for Manchester City and previously spent 6 seasons with Manchester United's Academy and is from Cheshire.

Defender Lucy Parker of UCLA—the native of Cambridge has played from the U-15 through the U-21 for England level as well as for Arsenal and won the FA Youth Cup twice with the Gunners. She transferred to UCLA ahead of the 2019 season from Louisiana State University.

One other collegiate player each from Africa and East Asia signed up for the draft:

Ugandan forward Sandra Nbwateme of Southwestern Oklahoma State University—as a freshman in 2016 she scored 22 goals in 21 matches.

Japanese midfielder Yuuka Kurosaki University of Oklahoma—she has been capped at the U-17 level.

Two of the registrants were Brazilians (one dual citizen with Portugal and the other a dual American/Brazilian national) and two each from Germany and Canada.

On January 13, the following players were drafted:

Round 1:

1. Racing Louisville. Emily Fox (defender, North Carolina)

2. Washington. Trinity Rodman (forward, Washington State)

3. Sky Blue FC. Brianna Pinto (midfielder, North Carolina)

4. Kansas City. Kiara Pickett (defender, Stanford)

5. Racing Louisville. Emina Ekic (forward/midfielder, Louisville)

6. Portland. Yazmeen Ryan (midfielder, TCU)

7. Chicago. Madison Haley (forward, Stanford)

8. Washington. Tara McKeown (forward, USC)

9. Orlando. Viviana Villacorta (midfielder, UCLA)

10. NC Courage. Deanne Rose (forward, Florida)

Round 2:

11. Racing Louisville. Taylor Otto (midfielder, North Carolina)

12. Portland. Sam Coffey (forward, Penn State)

13. Racing Louisville. Kirsten Davis (forward, Texas Tech)

14. Orlando. Mikayla Colohan (midfielder, BYU)

15. Kansas City. Victoria Pickett (midfielder, Wisconsin)

16. Kansas City. Lucy Parker (defender, UCLA)

17. Kansas City. Addie McCain (midfielder, Texas A&M)

18. Chicago. Kelsey Turnbow (forward, Santa Clara)

19. Washington. Anna Heilferty (forward, Boston Univ.)

20. NC Courage. Alyssa Malonson (defender, Auburn)

Round 3:

21. Racing Louisville. Parker Goins (forward, Arkansas)

22. Portland. Amirah Ali (forward/midfielder, Rutgers)

23. Sky Blue FC. Taryn Torres (midfielder, Virginia)

24. Orlando. Kerry Abello (forward, Penn State)

25. Chicago. Brianna Alger (defender, Washington State)

26. Houston. Joelle Anderson (forward/midfielder, Pepperdine)

27. Houston. Makamae Gomera-Stevens (forward, Washington State)

28. OL Reign. Jimena Lopez (defender, Texas A&M)

29. Washington. Sydney Schneider (goalkeeper, UNC Wilmington)

30. NC Courage. Myra Konte (defender, Vanderbilt)

Round 4:

31. Racing Louisville. Emily Smith (defender, UC Berkeley)

32. Chicago. Channing Foster (midfielder/forward, Mississippi)

33. Sky Blue FC. Delanie Sheehan (defender, UCLA)

34. Orlando. Kaylie Collins (goalkeeper, USC)

35. Chicago. Alissa Gorzak (forward, Virginia)

36. Kansas City. Alex Loera (defender, Santa Clara)

37. Portland. Hannah Betfort (defender, Wake Forest)

38. Kansas City. Brookelynn Entz (midfielder, Kansas State)

39. Washington. Mariana Speckmaier (forward, Clemson)

40. Sky Blue FC. Tess Boade (forward/midfielder, Duke)

Emily Fox, a defender out of the University of North Carolina, was the first overall pick in the draft by Racing Louisville FC. She was in the U.S. National Team camp ahead of the friendlies versus Colombia when she was selected number one (see below).

The Washington Spirit used the second overall pick in the draft to select U.S. U-20 international Trinity Rodman from Washington State University. The daughter of former NBA star Dennis Rodman, she didn't play at all at WSU since the Pac-12 switched the fall 2020 season to this spring. Rodman (18) was only the second teenager ever picked in the NWSL draft after last year's top draft choice Sophia Smith (19 at the time and a full international now) joined the Portland Thorns. Rodman scored 8 goals in CONCACAF U-20 championship in 2020.

Sky Blue FC selected another U.S. U-20 star, Briann Pinto, a junior from the University of North Carolina who will play her final season this spring and then join the New Jersey-based side in the summer. She was named the 2019 U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year. So far in her UNC career, Pinto has started 64 of her 65 matches, scored 23 goals, with six of them being game-winners, and 16 assists. Despite being only 20-years-old, Pinto has already had an incredible career on the international stage. She has trained with the U.S. U-14, U-17, U-19, U-20, & U-23 Women's National Teams. Pinto played on both the U.S. U-17 and U-20 FIFA World Cup teams in 2016 and 2018. She made her debut for the full USWNT in 2017 when she was named to the 2017 SheBelieves Cup roster at just 16 years old.

There were two players with international experience from other CONCACAF nations selected in the 2021 draft. The North Carolina Courage used the 20th overall pick in the first round to select Canadian international Deanne Rose from the University of Florida. As a teenager, she won an Olympic Bronze medal from the 2016 Rio games, scored a goal in the third place game and was on the 2019 Women's World Cup team for Canada. Rose scored 17 goals in 46 games at Florida over 4 seasons. Courage head coach Paul Riley said, "She's a full international in the first round and that's huge for us and obviously we really like her. She's a really good player, a smart player, and a good athlete too. She's a huge upside and we're excited to have her." The Washington Spirit selected goalkeeper Sydney Schneider from the University of North Carolina-Wilmington 29th overall in the third round; she represented Jamaica in the 2019 Women's World Cup in France. She helped her side to 7th place in the 2019 Pan American games in Peru and played in the regional Olympic Qualifiers early last year.

Three players each were selected from the University of North Carolina, UCLA and Washington State University, with two each coming from Stanford, USC, Penn State, Texas A&M and Santa Clara. The draft took just short of five hours to complete and didn't start until 7 p.m. Eastern Time—done virtually because of COVID-19—but that still is pretty lengthy as I have attended a number of drafts in the past and they typically are completed in 2-3 hours and held in the late morning or early afternoon. This year's draft prompted Chicago Red Stars head coach Rory Daimes to tweet, "Not the quickest NWSL draft we have ever had but a lot of research [was] being done in a small amount of time. The rules this year are new for everyone. Just remember the player picked at [#] 40 is just as excited as the player picked at [#] 1."

Other NWSL news around the draft:

NWSL Commissioner Lisa Baird, in a call with the media earlier in the week, confirmed that Sacramento, California will join the NWSL in 2022 along with Angel City FC in Los Angeles, taking the league to 12 teams.

Kansas City NWSL—what is seen by many as a temporary name after their move from Utah late last year—announced a temporary logo as well:

According to the club Kansas City, the two stars in the temporary brand represent the states of Kansas and Missouri, as there is a Kansas City, Kansas and a Kansas City, Missouri. Also, the three stripes represent the region's railways and crossroads, directly referencing the three most popular: Santa Fe, Oregon and California National Historic Trails. In a press release, the club explained, "The red and blue colors reflect the primary colors in the state flags of the region and the teal brings a fresh color and feel to the club, distinctly evoking the bright future of the team and organization."

Also, U.S. Soccer—which started the league ahead of the 2013 season and was a major funder and organizer—is no longer operating in the role and NWSL is now independent of the federation. They will still work closely together with the allocation of U.S. national team players and on other important matters.

Teams will begin reporting for preseason on February 1, with the Challenge Cup held in April. The plan is to host games in league cities but they may have to go back to a bubble format as they did so successfully last season in Utah if local health regulations limit travel and outdoor events, as COVID-19 still rages in the States. The regular season is set to start in May, which typically is in April, but the Challenge Cup is a recent innovation to provide competitive games in a tournament format before the season starts.

NWSL Player Moves

Sky Blue FC re-acquired Ghanaian midfielder Jennifer Cudjoe on draft day from expansion side Racing Louisville FC, who had selected her in the expansion draft late last year. Sky Blue sent its 13th overall pick in the 2021 draft to Racing along with $35,000 in allocation money. Cudjoe was signed as a free agent by Sky Blue before the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup after impressing the coaches during 2020 open tryouts. She was a revelation last summer, playing in all six Sky Blue matches and completing 128 passes with an 80.5% completion rate. She played collegiately at small schools in Oklahoma and Maine and in the WPSL, including one season with the Sacramento-area powerhouse California Storm.

The Orlando Pride has signed Canadian midfielder Jordyn Listro to a one year contract with an option for a second year. The Toronto, Ontario native has obtained a Green Card as a permanent U.S. resident so she will not occupy a valuable international spot on the team. She played at the University of South Florida and then with UDG Tenerife in Spain in 2017 for a short spell. She then worked full-time in the medical field and trialed with Orlando before the 2020 season. She played three games during the Fall Series, completing 81% of her passes—second highest on the team. Pride head coach Marc Skinner said, "We first saw Jordyn when she attended our open tryouts last year. Throughout the year we have seen a big development in her understanding of game situations and she has brought forth her qualities for all to see. She played a big part in the Fall Series and is extremely dedicated to the sport. The staff and I are looking forward to working with Jordyn and continuing to build on the skill set and mindset she already possesses. Her energy is infectious and this will be a great factor in her future development."

The Chicago Red Stars announced the signing of midfielder Nikki Stanton today, returning to the club after a season with Norwegian Club Klepp IL. She scored 2 goals in 15 games for Klepp, who finished seventh in the 2020 Toppserien with 18 points from a 5-3-10 (W-D-L) record, five and six points ahead of the two relegated clubs: Kolbotn (13) and Roa (12) in ninth and tenth, respectively. Stanton (30) said, "I am super excited to be a Red Star again. I look forward to being back with my people and at such a professional club. Most of all, I'm excited to play for the best fans in the NWSL. Chicago, I have missed you." She has played six NWSL seasons—the first four with Sky Blue FC—and in 2018 and 2019 with Chicago. Stanton played a key role in helping the Red Stars reach consecutive NWSL semifinals appearances and the club's first-ever NWSL Championship Game appearance in 2019. In total, Stanton has 81 appearances in her NWSL career and she also played four W-League seasons in Australia with Perth Glory from 2015-16 through 2018-19 and helped the club reach the W-League Grand Final in 2017 and 2019.

U.S. Women's National Team Camp and Two Matches versus Colombia

The U.S. Women's National Team held its first training camp of 2021—with the Olympic Games Finals re-scheduled for this July—from January 9 thru the 22nd in Orlando. The camp included two exhibitions against CONMEBOL's Colombia on January 18 and 22 at Exploria Stadium, the home to the Orlando Pride of the NWSL and Orlando City SC of MLS. The capacity of each match was limited to 4,000 fans.

U.S. Women's National Team head coach Vlatko Andonovski named a 27-player training camp roster that will train before selecting the 18-player rosters for each of the two matches. Five foreign-based players included were: defender Alana Cook of PSG in France and Abby Dahlkemper—who just signed with Manchester City of the WSL—and WSL teammates midfielder Rose Lavelle and Sam Mewis of Manchester City, and Catarina Macario, who just signed with Olympique Lyon of France (see above).

U.S. WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM – JANUARY TRAINING CAMP ROSTER BY POSITION:

GOALKEEPERS (4): Aubrey Bledsoe (Washington Spirit), Jane Campbell (Houston Dash), Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)

DEFENDERS (10): Alana Cook (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Abby Dahlkemper (North Carolina Courage/Manchester City/ENG), Tierna Davidson (Chicago Red Stars), Crystal Dunn (Portland Thorns FC), Emily Fox (UNC), Ali Krieger (Orlando Pride), Kelley O'Hara (Washington Spirit), Margaret Purce (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (Portland Thorns FC), Emily Sonnett (Washington Spirit)

MIDFIELDERS (8): Julie Ertz (Chicago Red Stars), Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC), Jaelin Howell (Florida State), Rose Lavelle (Manchester City/ENG), Catarina Macario (Stanford/Olympique Lyon/FRA), Kristie Mewis (Houston Dash), Samantha Mewis (Manchester City/ENG), Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit)

FORWARDS (5): Carli Lloyd (Sky Blue FC), Mallory Pugh (Chicago Red Stars), Megan Rapinoe (OL Reign), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC), Lynn Williams (North Carolina Courage).

Megan Rapinoe, Carli Lloyd and Mallory Pugh have all returned to camp after seeing limited or no action for their NWSL sides in 2020. Lloyd is just six caps away from becoming the third player in U.S. and world history to play 300 times for their country. She would join world record holder and former American stars Kristine Lilly (354) and Christie Rampone (311) in the exclusive 300-cap club.

A few familiar names are missing. Forward Alex Morgan, who made her return to the U.S. team for the first time since the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup Final when she played the second half in the 2-0 victory against the Netherlands on Nov. 27, was ruled out of attending training camp after testing positive for COVID-19. She is observing the prescribed quarantine protocols and doing well.

Forward Christen Press, who is currently playing for Manchester United in England and missed her final three FA Women's Super League matches before the holiday break due to a non-COVID illness, will remain in England as she works to regain her fitness.

Forward Tobin Heath, who is also currently playing for Manchester United, was invited to training camp but will remain in Manchester to compete in her team's January FA Women's Super League fixtures.

Four other 2019 world champions who won't be in Orlando include: goalkeeper Adrianna Franch, who has been injured, and Morgan (Brian) Guatrat (Chicago Red Stars), Allie Long (Portland Thorns) and Jessica McDonald (North Carolina Courage). Of the 23 players Andonovski called up for the Netherlands game in Breda, the only player besides Heath, Morgan and Press who won't be in Orlando is forward Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit).

The Americans have not played Colombia since 2016 when the sides tied 2-2 during the 2016 Rio Olympics in Manaus, Brazil. The USA is ranked #1 in the world while Colombia is ranked 26th and second in South America behind Brazil in the latest FIFA World rankings among women's national teams. Colombia finished fourth at the 2018 Copa America and thus did not qualify for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup or for the 2020 Olympics. That broke a run of four straight finals qualifications for world championships after the 2011 and 2015 FIFA Women's World Cups and 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games. Colombia did win the 2019 Pan American Games which also featured Mexico, Jamaica, Panama and Costa Rica from CONCACAF and host Peru, Argentina and Paraguay from CONMEBOL.

For Colombia, they brought an entirely home-based squad to Florida, with a fair number of their internationals playing in Spain and not brought in for the friendlies—including forward Lady Andrade at Deportivo de La Coruna, forward Mayra Ramirez at Sporting de Huelva, midfielder Isabella Echeverri at Sevilla, midfielder Leicy Santos at Atletico Madrid and defender and national team captain Natalia Gaitan at Seville after three seasons at Valenica (who played collegiately at the University of Toledo in Ohio) with COVID-19 protocols and quarantine periods hampering those not playing at home in Colombia. Four players each were selected from 2020 Colombian Liga Femenia Champions Santa Fe (4-1 winners on aggregate last month in the Final) and from runners-up America de Cali, determined through playoffs for the top 8 in the 12 team league first held initially via 3 groups.

COLOMBIA WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM ROSTER BY POSITION:

GOALKEEPERS (3): Natalia Giraldo (América de Cali), Sandra Sepulveda (Independiente Medellín), Valentina Gonzalez (Llaneros F.C.)

DEFENDERS (7): Kelly Ibarguen (Deportivo Cali), Daniela Arias (Junior F.C.), Orianica Velasquez (Junior F.C.), Jorelyn Carabali (Deportivo Cali), Carolina Arias (Deportivo Cali), Kelly Caicedo (Deportivo Cali), Nancy Acosta (Santa Fe)

MIDFIELDERS (5): Diana Ospina (Independiente Medellín), Ana Huertas (Santa Fe), Daniela Montoya (Junior F.C.), Maria Camila Reyes (Llaneros F.C.), Jessica Caro (América de Cali)

FORWARDS (7): Kena Romero (Santa Fe), Gisela Robledo (América de Cali), Catalina Usme (América de Cali), Ingrid Guerra (Deportivo Cali), Manuela Pavi (Deportivo Cali), Linda Caicedo (Deportivo Cali), Liana Salazar (Santa Fe)

In the first game on January 18, the Americans defeated Colombia 4-0 and were powered by a Samantha Mewis hat trick. Samantha Mewis' three goals marked her 19th, 20th and 21st career international goals. She's the 30th player in USWNT history to hit 20 goals. Sam Mewis' sister Kristie scored the final goal and they were the first sisters to score for the USWNT in the same match. Catarina Macario made her long awaited debut for the American as a substitute to start the second half (see more on her above). Alyssa Naeher recorded her 38th career shutout. She's kept a clean sheet in her last eight appearances for the USA, the longest streak of her international career.

Four Colombians were held out of the first match for COVID-19 protocols after a 'low risk' designation for three of them when a team staff member tested positive, while the fourth received inconclusive test results, but U.S. Soccer and NWSL protocols are very conservative because of the high contagion factor of the virus. If they test negative before the second game, they would be allowed to play. All other members of the Colombia delegation, players and staff, tested negative on arrival and in multiple tests during their pre-camp prior to traveling to Orlando.

U.S. Women's National Team Match Report -

Match: U.S. Women's National Team vs. Colombia

Date: January 18, 2021

Competition: International Friendly

Venue: Exploria Stadium; Orlando, Fla.

Attendance: 2,042 (Limited Attendance)

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F

USA 2 2 4

COL 0 0 0

USA – Samantha Mewis (Megan Rapinoe) 4th minute

USA – Samantha Mewis (Carli Lloyd) 33

USA – Samantha Mewis (Penalty Kick) 46

USA – Kristie Mewis (Carli Lloyd) 85

Lineups:

USA: 1-Alyssa Naeher; 5-Kelley O'Hara (23-Margaret Purce, 72), 7-Abby Dahlkemper, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn (Capt.), 19-Crystal Dunn (14-Emily Sonnett, 72); 8-Julie Ertz, 3-Samantha Mewis (16-Rose Lavelle, 64), 9-Lindsey Horan (22-Kristie Mewis, 64); 6-Lynn Williams, 10-Carli Lloyd, 15-Megan Rapinoe (29-Catarina Macario, 46)

Subs not used: 24-Jane Campbell, 25-Sophia Smith

Head coach: Vlatko Andonovski

COL: 12-Sandra Sepulveda; 2-Kelly Ibarguen, 16-Jorelyn Carabali, 3-Daniela Arias, 15-Orianica Velasquez (14-Ingrid Guerra, 77); 8-Jessica Caro, 21-Liana Salazar (7-Maria Camila Reyes, 67), 11-Caralina Usme (capt.), 18-Manuela Pavi (23-Nancy Acosta, 46), 10-Gisela Robledo (19-Kelly Caicedo, 89), 9-Kena Romero (20-Linda Caicedo, 46)

Subs not used: 1-Natalia Giraldo, 22-Valentina Gonzalez

Head coach: Nelson Abadia

Stats Summary: USA / COL

Shots: 22 / 0

Shots on Goal: 11 / 0

Saves: 7 / 0

Corner Kicks: 5 / 2

Fouls: 11 / 11

Offside: 4 / 2

Misconduct Summary:

COL – Manuela Pavi (caution) 23rd minute

COL – Kena Romero (caution) 40

In the second friendly between the two countries on January 22, the Americans won 2-0 with Megan Rapinoe scoring a brace while Catarina Macario and Midge Purce each scored their first international goals in their second and third matches, respectively. Purce has been playing in defense for the Americans but plays more in an attacking role at her club Sky Blue F.C., and that flexibility could help her in the race for one of the 18 Olympic Games Finals team slots, though she is considered a long shot as is Macario, but the recent American citizen could increase her chances if she plays regularly with Lyon this spring. Rapinoe now has 54 career national team goals in 170 games.

The U.S. had an incredible 20 corner kicks and held Colombia to no shots on goal for the second consecutive match. In goal, Jane Campbell, who helped Houston Dash to the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup title, recorded her first career solo shutout in her second career start. She could be the alternate goalkeeper in the 4-5 standbys for Tokyo as starter Alyssa Naeher and long-time backup Ashlyn Harris are expected to be in the final 18 selected, if the Games go ahead as scheduled.

U.S. Women's National Team Match Report

Match: U.S. Women's National Team vs. Colombia

Date: January 22, 2021

Competition: International Friendly

Venue: Exploria Stadium; Orlando, Fla.

Attendance: 3,202 (Limited Attendance)

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F

USA 3 3 6

COL 0 0 0

USA – Catarina Macario (Rose Lavelle) 3rd minute

USA – Megan Rapinoe (Emily Sonnett) 35

USA – Megan Rapinoe (Penalty Kick) 44

USA – Lynn Williams (Samantha Mewis) 60

USA – Lindsey Horan (Crystal Dunn) 73

USA – Margaret Purce (Carli Lloyd) 86

Lineups:

USA: 24-Jane Campbell; 11-Ali Krieger (27-Emily Fox, 79), 28-Alana Cook, 12-Tierna Davidson, 14-Emily Sonnett; 8-Julie Ertz, 16-Rose Lavelle (9-Lindsey Horan, 62), 3-Samantha Mewis (22-Kristie Mewis, 68); 6-Lynn Williams (23-Margaret Purce, 68), 29-Catarina Macario (10-Carli Lloyd, 63), 15-Megan Rapinoe (Capt.) (19-Crystal Dunn, 63)

Subs not used: 18-Ashlyn Harris

Head coach: Vlatko Andonovski

COL: 12-Sandra Sepulveda (1-Natalia Giraldo, 87); 17-Carolina Arias, 16-Jorelyn Carabali, 3-Daniela Arias, 23-Nancy Acosta; 4-Diana Ospina, 8-Jessica Caro (20-Linda Caicedo, 85), 5-Ana Huertas (10-Gisela Robledo, 46), 15-Orianica Velasquez (9-Kena Romero, 46) (14-Ingrid Guerra, 89); 6-Daniela Montoya (capt.), 11-Catalina Usme

Subs not used: 22-Valentina Gonzalez, 2-Kelly Ibarguen, 7-Maria Camila Reyes, 18-Manuela Pavi,19-Kelly Caicedo, 21-Liana Salazar

Head coach: Nelson Abadia

Stats Summary: USA / COL

Shots: 33 / 2

Shots on Goal: 12 / 0

Saves: 0 / 6

Corner Kicks: 20 / 0

Fouls: 11 / 0

Offside: 4 / 2

Misconduct Summary:

COL – Orianica Velasquez (caution) 39th minute

COL – Kena Romero (caution) 54

USA – Ali Krieger (caution) 78

She Believes Cup Lineup Set

In other U.S. Women's National Team news, the field has been set for their sixth annual SheBelievesCup invitation tournament from February 18-24, inviting Brazil, Canada and Japan, with all four sides participating this summer at the Tokyo Olympics. Norway was rumored to be a strong candidate instead of Canada but the tournament will benefit both CONCACAF Olympic Games Finals qualifiers. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all six matches—which will be played in three doubleheaders—will be staged at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Florida, home to the Orlando Pride of the NWSL and Orlando City SC of MLS. With the USA's two January games vs. Colombia also taking place at Exploria Stadium, the USWNT will play its first five matches of 2021 at the venue. Exploria hosted the first doubleheader of last year's SheBelieves Cup on March 5. As with the Colombia games in January, attendances are expected to be limited due to COVID-19 state restrictions.

Tim Grainey is a contributor to Tribal Football. His latest book Beyond Bend it Like Beckham on the global game of women's football. Get your copy today.

Follow Tim on Twitter: @TimGrainey