In the week leading up to the international break, NC Courage forward Kristen Hamilton was meant to be heading to England as an overage player with the U23s to take part in the 2019 Nordic Tournament. On Aug. 26, however, it was announced that the forward would instead be joining the senior team for its two friendlies against Portugal.
“With the injuries we currently have to several World Cup players, and with two of our main priorities on the Victory Tour being spreading around the minutes and keeping players healthy for their clubs during this critical playoff push, it made sense to call in Casey [Short] and Kristen to give us options and depth for these games against what will be a tough Portugal team,” said USWNT head coach Jill Ellis in a statement released Monday morning. “Both players have been performing very well in the NWSL and I know they’ll fit right in with our group for these matches.”
Hamilton is currently tied for third-best scorer in the NWSL, with eight goals on the season. She was also named the NWSL player of the month for July, a month where Hamilton scored five of her eight goals and also set up her teammates on two occasions.
The forward is currently uncapped, and the call-up is her first to the senior team. She will be joined for the two games by four of her Courage teammates: Sam Mewis, Abby Dahlkemper, Crystal Dunn and Jessica McDonald, all of whom were on the U.S. roster for the World Cup this summer.
While the USWNT has an absurd amount of depth in the forward line, the forwards who did attend the World Cup have struggled with injury since returning. Megan Rapinoe has yet to play for Reign FC since the tournament, and Alex Morgan has played just a combined 35 minutes for the Orlando Pride.
Of the starting front three from the World Cup (Rapinoe, Morgan and Tobin Heath) only Heath has played significant minutes for her club side since the tournament, with the forward playing a full 90 in five of the Portland Thorn’s last six games.
Given the injuries to the U.S.’s normal starters, Hamilton could see some minutes in one if not both of the friendlies.
Both friendlies will be played against Portugal, the first of which will be on Thursday, Aug. 29 in Philadelphia and the second will be Tuesday, Sept. 3 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Both games are set to kick off at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on FS1 and ESPN 2 respectively.
