Thorns FC stars Franch, Heath, Horan, Sonnet all named to USWNT roster for FIFA World Cup
PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Thorns FC goalkeeper Adrianna Franch, midfielders Tobin Heath and Lindsey Horan and defender Emily Sonnett have been named to the 23-player U.S. Women’s National Team roster for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France, it was announced today. The roster will not become official until it is submitted to FIFA on May 24, which is the deadline for all teams to submit their final squads.
This marks the third time Heath has been named to the roster for the World Cup, featuring in the 2011 and 2015 tournaments, while Franch, Horan and Sonnett were named to a World Cup roster for the first time in their international careers.
Heath, 30, was a member of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup championship team. In 2015, she appeared in six matches (5 starts), scoring a goal in the World Cup Final against Japan. Since making her international debut in 2008, Heath has appeared in 147 matches, recording 28 goals. A two-time NWSL Best XI selection, the 2019 season is Heath’s seventh season with Portland. During that span, Heath has appeared in 60 career NWSL matches (54 starts), tallying 11 goals and 22 assists.
Franch, 28, earned her first cap with the USWNT at the SheBelieves Cup on March 2, 2019, against England. Now in her fourth season with Portland, Franch is a two-time NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year, who has appeared in 46 career matches (46 starts), registering 18 shutouts.
Horan, 24, made her debut for the USWNT in 2013 and has earned 66 caps, tallying eight goals at the international level. Since joining Thorns FC in 2016, Horan has appeared in 63 matches (63 starts), recording 22 goals and five assists. In 2018, she was named NWSL MVP, tallying 13 goals and two assists in 22 matches for Portland.
Sonnett, 25, has earned 31 caps since making her international debut in 2015. An NWSL Best XI selection in 2018, Sonnett has played in 62 career matches (62 starts) since joining Thorns FC in 2016, tallying five goals and two assists.
The Women’s World Cup roster will make up the squad for the U.S. Women’s National Team’s final three matches before departing for France. The three-match Send-Off Series begins May 12 against South Africa at 1:30 p.m. (Pacific) at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. The May 12 match will be broadcast on FOX. The United States then faces New Zealand on May 16 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Mo.; kickoff is set for 5 p.m. (Pacific) on ESPN2. In the final match of the Send-Off Series, the USWNT squares off against Mexico on May 26 at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J.; kickoff is set for 9 a.m. (Pacific) and will be broadcast on ESPN.
Playing in Group F this summer at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, the USWNT opens group play on June 11 against Thailand in Reims at Auguste-Delaune Stadium; kickoff is set for 12 noon (Pacific). Continuing group play, the United States takes on Chile in its second group match on June 16 at the Parc de Princes in Paris at 9 a.m. (Pacific). The United States plays its final group match on June 20 in Le Havre at Stade Océane against Sweden; kickoff is set for 12 noon (Pacific). All three matches will be broadcast on FOX, Telemundo and the FOX Sports app. The 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup runs from June 7-July 7 and all 52 games will be shown live on FOX, FOX Sports 1, FOX Sports 2 and on tablets and mobile devices through the FOX Sports app.
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