Rose Lavelle returns to USWNT camp and Naomi Girma features again after injuries

New York Times

3 days ago

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — U.S. women's national team coach Emma Hayes has been deliberate about inviting new, deserving players to senior camp and, more recently, allowing those based in Europe to rest this summer.
But as the USWNT prepares for a trio of international friendlies — two against Ireland on Thursday and Sunday, and one against Canada on July 2 — two familiar faces who've starred as fixtures on the roster before their injuries have reappeared: Rose Lavelle and Naomi Girma. Lavelle, a 30-year-old midfielder for Gotham FC, joins the USWNT for the first time this calendar year after recovering from an ankle injury. Her last match with the national team was Dec. 3, 2024, against the Netherlands.
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Girma, meanwhile, plays for Chelsea and makes her second consecutive national team roster after a calf injury.
Though the USWNT had only one training under its belt by the time Lavelle and Girma spoke to the media at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo., Lavelle said she'd 'missed it a lot' and that she was 'really happy to be back with the girls, happy to be back in the environment.'
Lavelle enters this international window as the most veteran national team player with 110 caps and reflected on the way her leadership role has shifted over the years. Of the other 23 players named to this camp, four are first-time call-ups, six don't have any senior caps, and 19 players have fewer than 10 appearances for the USWNT.
'I have been one of the more experienced players now for a little bit, which still feels weird, but I feel like I obviously have been in that position before where I was the newer, inexperienced player, and I always say I think I had a lot of really, really great older players to look up to, to help usher me into the position where I now can be that for the younger players, so it's definitely something that I lean into,' she said Wednesday afternoon.
Girma, who signed with Chelsea in January for a record-breaking $1.1 million transfer fee, falls squarely under the category of European club players whose seasons just ended. However, the calf injury she picked up during her debut game for the London-based side in March kept her out of action for several months for club and country.
She chose to attend this camp to build on her experiences and contributions under Hayes this year, which began during the last window when she played in two U.S. matches, both victories, against China and Jamaica.
'I'm in a different position (from other Europe-based players) where I transferred (to Chelsea) midyear, had a bit of an injury, so I've had some time out this year already, so I think it just made sense to continue staying fit, continue training, and come into this camp and just get another opportunity to play,' she said.
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When Hayes announced her decision to rest those abroad June 10, she also made it clear Girma would be an exception, citing conversations the two had had about her joining the USWNT this summer.
Girma will join nine other defenders Hayes has selected for this camp — some of whom, such as the Washington Spirit's Tara McKeown and Orlando Pride's Emily Sams, are ostensibly auditioning to play alongside Girma as central defenders as the team prepares for the 2027 World Cup and Hayes looks to solidify her core group. Others, such as 18-year-old fellow center back Jordyn Bugg and 21-year-old Lilly Reale, will be playing with Girma for the first time.
'Our back line has been strong, and I think it's really important for us to continue getting players in when they're young,' Girma said. 'That's something that I definitely benefited from, and I think as a defender that's something that you need to get that confidence and to feel like you understand how we're playing like how you wanna organize the team, so I think it's only gonna benefit us going forward.'