On Monday, the USWNT dropped their roster for the upcoming June friendlies against Colombia and the CONCACAF W Championship. Overall, it was a roster that made sense, considering the stated plan to integrate fresh young talent into the mix ahead of the 2023 World Cup while also retaining a few veterans for experience and leadership purposes.

The roster:

Notable rookies are Naomi Girma (Cleveland Ambassadors, WPSL), freshly graduated from Stanford and a key figure in San Diego Wave FC’s defense; Taylor Kornieck (Motor City FC, WPSL), who hasn’t capped with the USWNT yet but has proven herself in the NWSL for San Diego Wave FC; and Washington Spirit’s Trinity Rodman, the 20 year old phenom who is currently the highest paid player in the NWSL. Sam Coffey (New England Mutiny, UWS) and Carson Pickett are also notable fresh faces but were only selected for the friendlies.

Long time USWNT fans will also recognize a few names: Alex Morgan (California Storm, WPSL); Megan Rapinoe; and Becky Sauerbrunn. Alex Morgan is currently in the lead for the NWSL Golden Boot at 9 goals, with Mal Pugh behind her at 5, and has been absolutely terrifying for the San Diego Wave FC. A call up for her was obvious, most would say.

The two other main veterans, Christen Press and Tobin Heath (New York Fury, WPSL Elite), are currently injured or without a club (also currently) respectively, but interestingly, in the Monday press conference, Coach Vlatko stated that Press would not have been called up even if she wasn’t injured. Asked later to give more reasoning, he said: “...the thing with Christen is, she's doing well and performing well, but it's not just her now. It's her competing with the players that are in front of her... Outperform... the competition."

Press has been taking a break from National Team duty for mental health reasons and spoke out in the Washington Post against abuse she witnessed while playing for the Chicago Red Stars - which she reported at the time to US Soccer who did nothing at the time - but has been playing very well for an Angel City FC that is weak in the midfield. Excluding her for being low on the depth chart while including Megan Rapinoe who has only played 45 minutes for OL Reign this season had many scratching their heads.

This is illogical and the way he opened himself up to unnecessary criticism since she is injured makes no sense to me. https://t.co/bykZUmAzsm
— Anthony DiCicco (@DiCiccoMethod) June 13, 2022

Not taking Press makes sense if you don't take Pinoe. But you're taking Pinoe.
— Delphine Horan - Openly Vaxxed (@SouthernSylvs) June 13, 2022

These two statements back to back are… curious. #USWNT pic.twitter.com/UF4R2PQOjZ
— Rachel (she/her) (@RachTalksSoccer) June 13, 2022

Regardless, it’s a tough job for any coach to choose a roster from the US’ large talent pool and it’s up to Vlatko and Vlatko alone to make those decisions. The results of those decisions will be obvious during the CONCACAF W Championship when the USWNT will finally be tested against more challenging opponents like Mexico, Jamaica, and Canada.

But before then, the USWNT will play two friendlies against Colombia on June 25th (FS1) and June 28th (ESPN).

- Elisabeth Schendel