Girma Returns Home: USWNT Faces Japan in San Jose

Naomi Girma is set to return to Northern California to play with the U.S. national team later this month. This will be her first appearance in her home region since a send-off game ahead of the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

Hayes Announces Roster for Japan Series

Coach Emma Hayes announced Wednesday that Girma, a San Jose native and Stanford University alumna, will be on the roster for the first of three matches against Japan. The game will be held on April 11th at PayPal Park in San Jose.

Girma Reflects on Playing at Home

Girma expressed her excitement about playing in front of a home crowd, stating, “Playing for the national team in the Bay always just feels like kind of surreal, and seeing a lot of people who come to support me, who were there when I was playing club soccer, just playing for fun, and being like, ‘Wow, I can’t believe that we’re all here and we’ve made it this far.’ So it always is really special for me.”

Roster Includes Returning Players

Stanford teammate Sophia Wilson was also named to the roster, marking her first appearance in 15 months following maternity leave. Defender Tierna Davidson, recovering from an ACL tear last season, will also return to the team.

Preparing for a Challenging Opponent

Girma acknowledged the challenge Japan presents, saying, “I think it’s a great test for us. They’re a great side, just won the Asian Cup. And I think they’re very organized in their defense, but then also in their attack and they bring something different to a lot of other opponents that we play. So I think it’s always a good test for us to measure ourselves against them.”

Currently playing professionally for Chelsea in England, Girma joined the Women's Super League club in early 2025 on a $1.1 million transfer from the San Diego Wave. She recently scored her first WSL goal in a 4-3 victory over Aston Villa.

USWNT Schedule and Roster Details

Girma made her debut for the national team in 2022 and has since appeared in 52 games, including a gold medal-winning performance at the Paris Olympics. Wilson has played in 58 games for the national team, scoring 24 goals.

Following the San Jose match, the series against Japan will continue at Lumen Field in Seattle on April 14th, and conclude on April 17th at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado.

Roster by Position:

  • Goalkeepers: Jane Campbell, Claudia Dickey, Phallon Tullis-Joyce
  • Defenders: Tierna Davidson, Emily Fox, Naomi Girma, Avery Patterson, Lilly Reale, Emily Sams, Emily Sonnett, Gisele Thompson, Kennedy Wesley
  • Midfielders: Sam Coffey, Lindsey Heaps, Claire Hutton, Rose Lavelle, Olivia Moultrie, Jaedyn Shaw, Lily Yohannes
  • Forwards: Michelle Cooper, Jameese Joseph, Trinity Rodman, Emma Sears, Ally Sentnor, Alyssa Thompson, Sophia Wilson