Balcer, Cook, Huerta and Lavelle Called Up to USWNT for November Friendlies

OL Reign players Bethany Balcer, Alana Cook, Sofia Huerta and Rose Lavelle have been called up to the United States Women’s National Team for the team’s two friendly matches in Australia on November 26 and 30. 

The No. 1 ranked United Stated Women’s National Team will take on No. 11 ranked Australia on Friday, November 26 at Stadium Australia in Sydney, Australia at 8:00 p.m. PT on FS2. The two teams face off again at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle, Australia on Tuesday, November 30 at 1:05 a.m. on ESPN. This is the first time 21 years that the U.S. Women’s National Team has traveled to Australia. 

Balcer received her first call up to the senior national team in December 2019, when head coach Vlatko Andonovski called 24 players into a training camp in Florida. She previously played with the United States U23 team. The forward has not made an appearance in a match for the USWNT. 

Cook made her U.S. WNT debut in November 2019 in the team’s 6-0 win over Costa Rica. She has made a total of two appearances and played 90 minutes in both of her appearances, helping the team to earn a shutout in both games. Her second appearance was against Colombia, where the U.S. earned another 6-0 victory. 

Huerta made her debut for the U.S. WNT in September 2017, just one day after FIFA approved one-time change of national association. She earned one assist in that match and became the first player to play both for and against the U.S. WNT, after previously earning five caps with the Mexico Women’s National Team. She has since amassed seven caps with the United States.  

Lavelle last played with the U.S. WNT during the October FIFA window, where she played in two matches against Korea Republic and scored one goal. She also played in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo this summer, where the team earned a bronze medal. The midfielder has 66 caps and has scored 17 goals for the United States. 

November Match Schedule: 

Friday, November 26  

USWNT vs. Australia – Stadium Australia, Sydney, Australia – 8:00 p.m. PT, FS2 

Tuesday, November 30 

USWNT vs. Australia – McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle, Australia – 1:05 a.m. PT, ESPN 

U.S. Women’s National Team Roster by Position (Caps/Goals) – November matches vs. Australia: 

GOALKEEPERS (3): Bella Bixby (Portland Thorns FC; 0), Jane Campbell (Houston Dash; 7), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage; 0) 

DEFENDERS (7): Alana Cook (OL Reign; 2/0), Abby Dahlkemper (Houston Dash; 77/0), Tierna Davidson (Chicago Red Stars; 43/1), Emily Fox (Racing Louisville FC; 6/0), Sofia Huerta (OL Reign; 7/0), Becky Sauerbrunn (Portland Thorns FC; 197/0), Emily Sonnett (Washington Spirit; 61/0) 

MIDFIELDERS (6): Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC; 106/24), Rose Lavelle (OL Reign; 66/17), Catarina Macario (Olympique Lyon, FRA; 12/3), Kristie Mewis (Houston Dash; 31/4), Ashley Sanchez (Washington Spirit; 0/0), Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit; 20/2) 

FORWARDS (6): Bethany Balcer (OL Reign; 0/0), Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit; 2/0), Margaret Purce (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 7/2), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC; 10/1), Lynn Williams (North Carolina Courage; 43/13), Morgan Weaver (Portland Thorns FC; 0/0)