Racing Louisville FC defender Emily Fox has been called up by the U.S. Women’s National Team for a pair of friendlies against 2022 UEFA Women’s Euro finalist Germany.
USWNT coach Vlatko Andonovski on Monday listed Fox among the 24 players who will report to camp ahead of games at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13, in Harrison, New Jersey. Those matches will air on FS1 and ESPN, respectively.
Fox, 24, has been named to every USWNT camp roster in 2022, establishing herself as the primary left back in red, white and blue. The Ashburn, Virginia, native — selected first overall in the 2021 NWSL Draft — has made 20 appearances for the national team. She started each of the 23 games she appeared in for Racing this past season, tallying a goal and an assist and finishing sixth in the NWSL in possessions won and fifth in recoveries.
“These are the kinds of games that help our World Cup preparation in many ways and these 180 minutes to end our schedule this year are going to be extremely valuable for the players and coaches,” Andonovski said. “It will be good to get some players back on the roster and we’re all expecting these games to be very competitive and entertaining for fans.”
For the first time in five years, the United States is looking to bounce back from back-to-back losses after dropping friendlies against European powerhouses England and Spain in October.
Ranked third in the world, Germany is coming off a 2-1 friendly victory over France, marking its third consecutive win since losing to England in extra time of the Euro 2022 final. Die Nationalelf is the only other national team besides the USWNT (2015 and 2019) to have won back-to-back World Cups (2003 and 2007) dating back to the first tournament in 1991.
Both the U.S. and Germany have already qualified for next summer’s 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand as the top seeds in their respective groups.
The U.S. drew into Group E with Vietnam and the Netherlands, along with the winner of the playoff between Cameroon, Thailand and Portugal. Germany landed in Group H with Morocco, Colombia and South Korea.
U.S. Women’s National Team roster by position (club)
Goalkeepers (3): Adrianna Franch (Kansas City Current), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)
Defenders (7): Alana Cook (OL Reign), Crystal Dunn (Portland Thorns FC), Emily Fox (Racing Louisville FC), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC), Sofia Huerta (OL Reign), Hailie Mace (Kansas City Current), Becky Sauerbrunn (Portland Thorns FC)
Midfielders (7): Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC), Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon, FRA), Taylor Kornieck (San Diego Wave FC), Rose Lavelle (OL Reign), Kristie Mewis (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Ashley Sanchez (Washington Spirit), Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit)
Forwards (7): Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit), Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave FC), Mallory Pugh (Chicago Red Stars), Megan Rapinoe (OL Reign), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC), Alyssa Thompson (Total Futbol Academy)
