(Photo by Victor Tan / New Day Review)
Orlando Pride forward Chioma Ubogagu’s offseason will be busy with national-team duty—at least in early November. On Tuesday, the Pride announced Ubogagu’s call-up to United States women’s national team, her first-ever, for two international friendlies against the Canadian women’s national team.
“The call-up is a worthy reward for the very successful 2017 season Chi had,” said Pride head coach Tom Sermanni, who was the USWNT boss from 2013 to 2014, per the release. “Her game and confidence grew throughout the season and, with it, came enhanced performances. This will be a great opportunity for her to keep learning at the highest level.”
Last season, Ubogagu recorded four goals and three assists after a trade with the Houston Dash brought her to Central Florida in late January. Ubogagu also helped the U.S. win the 2012 U-20 Women’s World Cup and the 2012 Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Championship. She played for U-18 and U-23 teams as well.
Ubogagu is listed on head coach Jill Ellis’ roster as a defender, a position she seldom plays. In fact, Ubogagu first played at an outside-back position in a 1-1 draw with the Chicago Red Stars on Aug. 5.
“I’ve never played there in my life, so, I think, if I was apprehensive, it was ‘cause of that,” Ubogagu said after the draw. “But I understand that it’s what the team needed… And once I kinda wrapped my head around that, it was time to just do something that was bigger than me and do it for the team…”
Said Sermanni of Ubogagu’s first-ever performance at left-back after the draw: “I thought she did really well. I thought she had an excellent game. She was really apprehensive about playing there, and, obviously, she’s an attacker. She wants to be further forward. But, again, I thought her passing was good; I thought her defending was good; I thought she used the ball well. And, as I say, she got into some really good crossing positions and was a real danger down that side.”
Ubogagu will be joined by fellow Pride players Alex Morgan, whose nine goals were fifth in the league in 2017, and Ashlyn Harris, who allowed 1.4 goals per game in 14 matches in 2017.
The U.S. and Canada will first meet on Nov. 9 at BC Place in Vancouver at 10 p.m. EST on ESPN2. Three days later, both teams will cross the border and play at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, California, at 9 p.m. EST on FS1.
USWNT roster for friendlies with Canada (caps/goals)
GOALKEEPERS: Adrianna Franch (Portland Thorns, 0/0), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars, 21/0), Jane Campbell (Houston Dash, 2/0), Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride, 14/0)
DEFENDERS: Abby Dahlkemper (North Carolina Courage, 11/0), Sofia Huerta (Chicago Red Stars, 3/0), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City, 133/0), Casey Short (Chicago Red Stars, 17/0), Taylor Smith (North Carolina Courage, 5/0), Emily Sonnett (Portland Thorns, 12/0), Chioma Ubogagu (Orlando Pride, 0/0)
MIDFIELDERS: Julie Ertz (Chicago Red Stars, 55/33), Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns, 41/4), Carli Lloyd (Houston Dash, 244/97), Allie Long (Portland Thorns, 32/6), Samantha Mewis (North Carolina Courage, 32/7), Andi Sullivan (Stanford University, 5/0)
FORWARDS: Tobin Heath (Portalnd Thorns, 132/18), Alex Morgan (Oraldno Pride, 132/78), Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars, 94/44), Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign, 127/34), Lynn Williams (North Carolina Courage, 13/4)
For more on the Pride and their offseason, follow Victor Tan on Twitter at @NDR_VictorTan.
