Naomi Girma will play at home in Northern California with the U.S. team this month For the first time since the send-off match Towards 2023 women’s world cup.
Coach Emma Hayes announced Wednesday that Girma, who was born in San Jose and played at nearby Stanford University, will be on the U.S. squad for three consecutive games against Japan starting April 11 at Paypal Park in San Jose.
Her last national team appearance for her homeland came in a 2-0 win against Wales ahead of the 2023 World Cup.
“It’s always kind of a surreal feeling to play varsity at the Bay, and to see so many people who were there when I was playing club soccer and just having fun coming out to support me, it’s like, ‘Wow, I can’t believe we’re all here and we’ve made it this far.’ So it’s always really special for me,” Girma said.
Girma’s Stanford teammate, Sophia Wilson, was named to the roster for the first time in 15 months after taking time off last year to give birth to her daughter. Defender Tierna Davidson, who tore her ACL last season, is also expected to return.
“I think it’s a great test for us,” Girma said of Japan. “They’re a great team, they just won the Asia Cup. And I think they’re very organized defensively, but also offensively, they bring something different to a lot of the other opponents we play. So I think it’s always a good test to measure ourselves against them.”
Girma plays professionally for Chelsea in England. She joined the Women’s Super League club in early 2025 for a $1.1 million transfer. From San Diego Wave. The defender scored his first WSL goal in a 4-3 win against Aston Villa last weekend, lifting the Blues into second place behind Manchester City.
She made her national team debut in 2022. She appeared in 52 games for the United States and was part of the winning team. Gold medal at the Paris Olympics.
Wilson was left out of the U.S. squad for the recent SheBelieves Cup as she returns from maternity leave with her club team, the Portland Thorns. Wilson played in 58 games for the national team, scoring 24 goals, including three at the French Olympics.
Davidson, a left back, last played for the United States in February 2025 before being injured while playing for Gotham earlier in the NWSL season. She played in 67 games for the national team. Hayes said on a conference call with reporters Wednesday that his time is limited.
With the return of these experienced players and Hayes’ integration of the U-23 player camp and senior camp, Girma said the national team is in good shape with 15 months until the 2027 Brazil Women’s World Cup.
“I think it’s been a really smooth transition to see a lot of our young players coming into full-team camp and not missing a beat at all and not making us feel like we don’t know what’s going on or that we’re doing a little bit too much. And with some of the players coming back that weren’t there last year, I think it’s a really exciting time for the team,” Girma said. “We have a lot of people who have experience, whether it’s in the last year or the last few years, and they’re ready to fill the roles that are needed.”
After the game in San Jose, the series against Japan moves to Seattle’s Lumen Field on April 14. The final game will be held on April 17th at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado.
Roster by club and position:
Goalkeepers: Jane Campbell (Houston Dash), Claudia Dickie (Seattle Reign), Fallon Tallis-Joyce (Manchester United).
Defenders: Tierna Davidson (Gotham FC), Emily Fox (Arsenal), Naomi Girma (Chelsea), Avery Patterson (Houston Dash), Lily Leal (Gotham FC), Emily Sams (Angel City), Emily Sonnett (Gotham FC), Gisele Thompson (Angel City), Kennedy Wesley (San Diego Wave).
Midfielders: Sam Coffey (Manchester City), Lindsay Heaps (OL Lyons), Claire Hatton (Bay FC), Rose Lovell (Gotham FC), Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns), Jadyn Shaw (Gotham FC), Lily Johannes (OL Lyons).
Forwards: Michelle Cooper (Kansas City Current), Jameis Joseph (Chicago Stars), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Emma Sears (Racing Louisville), Allie Sentner (Kansas City Current), Alyssa Thompson (Chelsea), Sophia Wilson (Portland Thorns).
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