Four Red Stars players called up to USWNT for Scandinavian trip

US Women’s National Team head coach Jill Ellis chose her 21-woman squad on Thursday to travel to Scandinavia for matches against Sweden and Norway next month.

Four Red Stars players are among those heading overseas: Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, defenders Julie Ertz and Casey Short, and forward Christen Press.

The USWNT will play Sweden on June 8 at Gamla Ullevi Stadium in Gothernberg and Norway at Komplett Arena in Sandefjord on June 11.

Ellis seems in high spirits going into the trip— which marks the United States’ first friendly matches in Europe since February 2015— and appears to be using these matches to measure the quality of her squad.

“This will be a quick trip against two very good teams in final preparations for the Euros, so I’m looking forward to seeing how we respond to these two quality opponents,” Ellis said.

The trip won’t affect the Red Stars’ league campaign— the NWSL will be observing the international break, with the Red Stars playing their last game before the bye week on June 4th at home against Seattle.

The Red Stars will square off against the North Carolina Courage on Saturday.