Kristie Mewis and Jane Campbell Become Allocated USWNT Players

The comeback is complete. Or at the very least it must be very very close to completion. Kristie Mewis is finally one of 22 USA allocated players. After playing for three different NWSL teams in 2017, then tearing her ACL in 2018, she has finally returned to the top level of national team recognition. Should Mewis make the USA’s 18 player Olympic roster for Tokyo 2021, that’s when she can truly celebrate.

Alongside Mewis, Jane Campbell becomes just the second Houston Dash player to have a contract with the USSF since 2017(Carli Lloyd and Morgan Gautrat). The news today comes after both players played 90 minutes in the USA’s 6-0 victory over Argentina in the She Believes Cup. The emphatic win secured back-to-back tournament triumphs for the USA. The first time they have retained the trophy since its inception in 2016.

Canada Soccer has allocated defender Allysha Chapman, forward Nichelle Prince, and midfielder Sophie Schmidt. This is unchanged from the 2020 season.

Allocated players are players who will have their salaries paid by U.S. Soccer or Canada Soccer respectively. They will not take up a designated international slot on the Dash roster.

Revival

Much like the confetti that unfurled onto the pitch in Orlando last night, Mewis burst onto the international scene in 2013 before becoming cast aside from the inner core of the USA soccer federation. After scoring against South Korea in the summer of 2013, Mewis would have to wait over seven years before she found the back of the net for her country again.

Mewis has now featured 6 times for the USA under new head coach Vlatko Andonovski. However, it wasn’t until last night’s rout of Argentina that the attacking midfielder was handed a starting berth and played the full 90 minutes.

Being handed a chance is one thing, seizing that opportunity with both hands is another. Mewis chose the latter.

The USA swarmed Argentina in the first half with Mewis at the heart of it. Her incisive left footed slipped cross assisted Carli Lloyd for the USA’s third goal before she then scored the goal of the night in the 41st minute.

Mewis’ technique and execution were in perfect harmony. Dragging the ball away from Adriana Sachs with two touches and thrashing the ball into the corner with her incisive fourth touch. Since Mewis returned to the USA fold, she averages an incredible goal every 62 minutes.

With a plethora of elite options in attacking midfield, there is no guarantee that Mewis will make the roster for Tokyo. But she has done everything and more to put herself in with a chance. That is an achievement in itself.

The Dash’s comeback queen is about to go global. Prepare the confetti.