CHICAGO (November 20, 2023) – U.S. Women’s National Team interim head coach Twila Kilgore has named a 26-player training camp roster for the two December home-friendly matches against China PR that will close out the USA’s 2023 schedule. Notre Dame women’s soccer fans will take notice of a certain name that made the roster for the first time of her career – Korbin Albert.
In total, the roster includes two midfielders – 2023 NWSL Rookie of the Year Jenna Nighswonger and Paris Saint-Germain’s Korbin Albert – selected for their first full national team training camp. Albert’s call-up makes four players in this training camp who played at the 2022 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica, along with Olivia Moultrie, Jaedyn Shaw and Alyssa Thompson.
Albert had two more seasons of eligibility left at Notre Dame when she signed with PSG in January of 2023. Her 2022 season with the Irish was one to remember – she was named a Mac Hermann Trophy Finalist, a First Team All-American and the ACC Midfielder of the Year. She scored 16 total goals which was tops for any midfielder in the country that season.
Since her Notre Dame departure and arrival at PSG, she has played in 17 matches for the Paris club with 10 starts over the second half of last season and the start of this season. Of those 17 games, 12 have been in league, three in UEFA Champions League and two in the French Cup, including last year’s Final in which PSG fell to Lindsey Horan’s Olympique Lyon, 2-1.
Albert has experience with the U-15, U-17 and U-20 Women’s Youth National Teams. She has six U-20 caps and one goal. Two of those caps came at the 2022 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica.
Interim manager Twila Kilgore said the coaching staff has had its eye on Albert for “a good amount of time now,” and decided this was the right time to bring her in for a closer look. Hayes and Kilgore are using this camp to evaluate younger players, both for the Paris Olympics team and beyond.
“Her role has been increasing with her club. Obviously, she’s getting good Champions League games,” Kilgore said.
The USA will face the Steel Roses on Dec. 2 at DRV PNK Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (3 p.m. ET on TNT, Telemundo, Universo, Max and Peacock) and on Dec. 5 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas (7 p.m. CT / 8 p.m. ET on TruTV, Universo, Max and Peacock).
U.S. WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM ROSTER BY POSITION (CLUB; CAPS/GOALS) – DECEMBER FRIENDLIES VS. CHINA PR
GOALKEEPERS (3): Jane Campbell (Houston Dash; 7), Aubrey Kingsbury (Washington Spirit; 1), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage; 16)
DEFENDERS (7): Alana Cook (OL Reign; 29/1), Abby Dahlkemper (San Diego Wave FC; 79/0), Tierna Davidson (Chicago Red Stars; 50/1), Emily Fox (North Carolina Courage; 37/1), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC; 24/0), Casey Krueger (Chicago Red Stars; 41/0), M.A. Vignola (Angel City FC; 1/0)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Korbin Albert (Paris Saint-Germain, FRA; 0/0), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC; 5/0), Savannah DeMelo (Racing Louisville FC; 6/0), Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon, FRA; 137/30), Rose Lavelle (OL Reign; 91/24), Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns FC; 0/0), Jenna Nighswonger (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 0/0), Emily Sonnett (OL Reign; 81/2)
FORWARDS (8): Mia Fishel (Chelsea FC, ENG; 2/1), Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit; 21/5), Midge Purce (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 24/4), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit; 26/6), Jaedyn Shaw (San Diego Wave FC; 2/1), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC; 36/14), Alyssa Thompson (Angel City FC; 8/0), Lynn Williams (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 58/17)