Alyssa and Gisele Thompson make USWNT roster for SheBelieves Cup
- Share via
Sisters Alyssa and Gisele Thompson were both called up Tuesday to the women’s national team for this month’s SheBelieves Cup, marking just the third time siblings have been named to the same senior national team roster. But there were also some big names missing from the 23-woman roster, among them defender Naomi Girma, who last month moved to Chelsea on a $1-million transfer, the most expensive in women’s soccer history.
Girma, who last year was named to the FIFA global Best XI after helping the U.S. to a gold medal in the Paris Olympics, was one of 10 Olympians left off the team.
Others missing include midfielder Rose Lavelle and forwards Sophia Smith, Mallory Swanson and Trinity Rodman. Meanwhile four of the women coach Emma Hayes called up have never appeared in a senior national team and seven others have eight or fewer caps.
The decision by Alyssa and Gisele Thompson to re-sign with Angel City is a reflection of the direction the team is heading under new ownership.
That gives coach Hayes a chance to audition a new wave of players.
“These are opportunities for both of the Thompsons to not only show a lot about who they are as players, but listen, they’re great characters off the pitch and I’m sure they’re both pretty excited to be coming to camp as sisters,” Hayes said. “I know I grew up playing football with my sister and how much fun that was. So I’m sure both of them are dizzy as hell today.”
But the first competitive matches of the year for the USWNT will be about more than fun and games for the sisters.
“Alyssa, we have been working hard on her development and particularly understanding of the way we want to play,” Hayes said. “I feel like it will take maybe half a dozen experiences with Alyssa and us to really get her into a place where I think we will start taking next steps.
“With Gisele, we need to develop more fullbacks. We have to prepare a deeper pool of players as we progress in the build up to qualify for the next World Cup. We need to develop certain players in certain positions and what better way to give them exposure [than to] put them in situations like the SheBelieves.”
The U.S. will open the four-team tournament against Colombia on Feb. 20 in Houston, then face Australia three days later in Glendale, Ariz., before finishing against Japan on Feb. 26 in San Diego. All three teams reached the quarterfinals of the last World Cup while Colombia and Japan also made the final eight of last summer’s Paris Olympics.
The Thompson sisters signed with Angel City as teenagers; Alyssa, a forward, in the winter of 2023 and Gisele, a defender, a year later. Alyssa, now 20, went on to play in the World Cup as a rookie while Gisele, 19, has been called into a previous national team training camp but has not appeared in a game.
The opening of the performance center comes six days after the hiring of general manager Mark Parsons, who said recruiting players will be much easier now.
The first pair of sisters called up for senior national team games were twins Lorrie and Ronnie Fair in the 1990s. More recently Samantha and Kristie Mewis were on the 2021 Olympic team together.
Sixteen of the players called up this month play in the NWSL while seven other come from five European clubs. One of those is Chelsea forward Catarina Macario, who had to withdraw from the Olympic team with a knee injury last summer. She hasn’t played for the U.S. since last June.
Defender Savy King, recently acquired by Angel City in a trade with Bay FC, will be in camp as a training player but will not appear on any game rosters. Hayes said King, 20, who has never played for the senior national team, is, like Gisele Thompson, in the pool of young players being considered for a spot on the back line.
U.S. women’s national team roster
Goalkeepers: Jane Campbell (Houston Dash), Mandy McGlynn (Utah Royals)
Defenders: Tierna Davidson (NJ/NY Gotham), Crystal Dunn (Paris Saint-Germain), Emily Fox (Arsenal), Tara McKeown (Washington Spirit), Jenna Nighswonger (Arsenal), Emily Sams (Orlando Pride), Emily Sonnett (NJ/NY Gotham), Gisele Thompson (Angel City FC)
Midfielders: Korbin Albert (Paris Saint-Germain), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC), Lindsey Heaps (née Horan) (Olympique Lyon), Claire Hutton (Kansas City Current), Jaedyn Shaw (North Carolina Courage), Lily Yohannes (Ajax)
Forwards: Lynn Biyendolo (née Williams) (Seattle Reign FC), Michelle Cooper (Kansas City Current), Catarina Macario (Chelsea FC), Yazmeen Ryan (Houston Dash), Emma Sears (Racing Louisville), Ally Sentnor (Utah Royals), Alyssa Thompson (Angel City)
