USWNT to hold October camp near Denver; Catarina Macario headlines roster’s prospects

Macario, a Brazilian-born Stanford midfielder, is one of the most-anticipated prospects in American soccer. She doesn't have U.S. citizenship yet, but will commit to the team when she gets it.

U.S. women's national team head coach Vlatko Andonovski.Read moreSteve Luciano / AP

by Anne M. Peterson, Associated Press

Published Oct. 8, 2020, 7:34 p.m. ET

Brazilian-born Stanford midfielder Catarina Macario is among the players who will take part in the U.S. women’s national team training camp this month.

The two-time winner of the MAC Hermann Trophy as the nation’s best college player, Macario had a Stanford single-season record of 32 goals and 23 assists last year. This is the first time Macario has been called into a senior national team camp.

Macario is currently pursuing her U.S. citizenship and is not yet able to appear in a match with the team. She has committed to play for the U.S. when she is cleared to do so.

Head coach Vlatko Andonovski called in 27 domestic-based players for the camp, leaving players who are currently in Europe off the roster. Rose Lavelle, Sam Mewis, Tobin Heath, Christen Press and Alex Morgan are playing on FA Women’s Super League teams in England.

FIFA has allowed clubs to retain players because of travel restrictions and quarantine rules.

“For this camp, it just did not make sense for the players in Europe to leave their club environments, where they are getting quality training games, as they are just starting to get settled,” Andonovski said in a statement. “But this opens up the important opportunity for other players to step up and show if they can contribute to the National Team during our run to the Olympics.”

The camp will run from Oct. 18 to Oct. 28 in Commerce City, Colorado, with players sequestered in a hotel because of the coronavirus. It is the first time the team has gathered since the SheBelieves Cup in March.

Twenty-three players are currently playing in the National Women’s Soccer League while four are in college.

Megan Rapinoe has opted out of the camp because of injury concerns. Delran native Carli Lloyd, Sky Blue’s Mallory Pugh and Portland goalkeeper Adrianna Franch are out with injuries, and Julie Ertz -- who has been based in Philadelphia lately after opting out of the NWSL Fall Series -- has a family commitment.

U.S. training camp roster

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

Defenders: Abby Dahlkemper (North Carolina Courage), Tierna Davidson (Chicago Red Stars), Crystal Dunn (North Carolina Courage), Naomi Girma (Stanford University), Sarah Gorden (Chicago Red Stars) Ali Krieger (Orlando Pride), Kelley O’Hara (Utah Royals), Margaret Purce (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (Portland Thorns), Casey Short (Chicago Red Stars)

Midfielders: Shea Groom (Houston Dash), Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns), Morgan Gautrat (Chicago Red Stars), Jaelin Howell (Florida State University), Catarina Macario (Stanford University), Kristie Mewis (Houston Dash), Ashley Sanchez (Washington Spirit)

Forwards: Bethany Balcer (OL Reign), Mia Fishel (UCLA), Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns), Kealia Watt (Chicago Red Stars), Lynn Williams (North Carolina Courage)

Inquirer staff writer Jonathan Tannenwald contributed to this report.