Salina, Kansas Native & Kansas ODP Alumni gets Selected to Her 1st World Cup.
Olathe, KS (Thursday May 2, 2019) – Current Portland Thorns FC and former Kansas ODP alumni & Oklahoma State star goalkeeper was named to the 23 player United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) roster for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup that is taking place this summer in France! In her seventh year playing professional soccer, this is Adrianna’s first ever World Cup selection with the first team and is slotted behind fellow goalkeepers Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride) & Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars) who are both selected to their second World Cup Roster.
The USWNT are heading to France as the reigning World Cup Champions after defeating Japan in the 2015 World Cup Final that took place in Vancouver, Canada. “Selecting a World Cup team is a long process, and I want to thank the players – the ones that made the final team and the ones that didn’t – for all of their hard work over the past two and a half years,” said USWNT Head Coach Jill Ellis. “They all pushed each other in every training session and every game and challenged the coaches to make some tough decisions. These 23 players have been through adversity and success, and it’s a group that has the talent, confidence, experience and desire to help us win the World Cup.”
Franch is relatively new to the 1st team but has been involved in many stages of her international career leading up to her selection. Adrianna earned her 1st USWNT international cap on March 2nd, 2019 in a 2-2 draw against England in the SheBelieves Cup in Nashville, TN. Growing up she played for the U-20 and U-23 youth national teams and was selected to the 2010 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Germany which was also coached by Jill Ellis. She was called into USWNT Training Camps in 2012, 2013 & 2016.
2019 USA FIFA WOMEN'S WORLD CUP ROSTER BY POSITION (CLUB)
GOALKEEPERS (3): Adrianna Franch* (Portland Thorns FC), Ashlyn Harris** (Orlando Pride), Alyssa Naeher** (Chicago Red Stars)
DEFENDERS (7): Abby Dahlkemper* (NC Courage), Tierna Davidson* (Chicago Red Stars), Crystal Dunn* (NC Courage), Ali Krieger*** (Orlando Pride), Kelley O’Hara*** (Utah Royals FC), Becky Sauerbrunn*** (Utah Royals FC), Emily Sonnett* (Portland Thorns FC)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Morgan Brian** (Chicago Red Stars), Julie Ertz** (Chicago Red Stars), Lindsey Horan* (Portland Thorns FC), Rose Lavelle* (Washington Spirit), Allie Long* (Reign FC), Samantha Mewis* (NC Courage)
FORWARDS (7): Tobin Heath*** (Portland Thorns FC), Carli Lloyd**** (Sky Blue FC), Jessica McDonald* (NC Courage), Alex Morgan*** (Orlando Pride), Christen Press** (Utah Royals FC), Mallory Pugh* (Washington Spirit), Megan Rapinoe*** (Reign FC)
* First Women’s World Cup
** Second Women’s World Cup
*** Third Women’s World Cup
**** Fourth Women’s World Cup
Be sure to catch the USWNT as they prepare for France by playing in a Send-Off series across the United States in select cities.
Sunday May 12th: USWNT vs South Africa
Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA – Kickoff 3:30pm CT – TV Broadcast on FOX
Thursday May 16th: USWNT vs New Zealand
Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MO – Kickoff at 7pm CT – TV Broadcast on ESPN2
Sunday May 26th: USWNT vs Mexico
Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ – Kickoff 11am CT – TV Broadcast on ESPN
Heading to France the United States is playing in Group F and here is the schedule for those games currently:
Tuesday June 11th: USWNT vs Thailand
Auguste Delaune Stadium; Reims – Kickoff 2pm CT – TV Broadcast FOX
Sunday June 16th: USWNT vs Chile
Parc des Princes; Paris – Kickoff 11am CT – TV Broadcast FOX
Thursday June 20th: USWNT vs Sweden
Stade Oceeane; Le Havre – Kickoff 2pm CT – TV Broadcast FOX
Congratulations to Adrianna Franch as she becomes the 1st Kansas player to represents the United States and the State of Kansas at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Kansas Soccer Players in the FIFA Men’s & Women’s World Cups
2019 – Adrianna Franch – Salina, KS
2014 – Matt Besler – Overland Park, KS