CHICAGO (October 18, 2023) — Chicago Red Stars defender Casey Krueger and goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher will join the United States Women's National Team (USWNT), while midfielder Bianca St-Georges will be part of the Canadian Women's National Team (CANWNT).
Krueger joins the USWNT for the third time this year after receiving call ups in April for the team's friendly matches against the Republic of Ireland and again in September for matches against South Africa. The Naperville native is fresh off an impressive season with the Chicago Red Stars that included playing and starting in 20 regular-season matches, a Best XI of the month recognition and a Save of the Week award. Back in August, during the team's Challenge Cup match against the Houston Dash, Krueger assisted on all three of Chicago's goals; a feat no Red Star has accomplished in any competition. This historic performance earned Krueger Player of the Week honors.
Goalkeeper, Alyssa Naeher, also wrapped up a record-setting and record-breaking season of her own in the National Women's Soccer League. Early in the 2023 season, Naeher played her 150th regular-season match becoming the first goalkeeper in the league to reach the milestone, and in the same match, recorded her 500th career save, making her the second goalkeeper in the league to reach 500 career saves. Two weeks later, the Connecticut native broke the league record for most career saves for a goalkeeper. On September 30, Naeher earned her 38th regular-season shutout, tying her with Nicole Barnhart (FC Kansas City) for most regular-season shutouts with a single club. Naeher, who joined the USWNT as part of the team that traveled to Australia and New Zealand for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, is one of four players to play every available minute for the US in the tournament.
This is Bianca St-Georges third call up to the CANWNT roster in 2023. St-Georges previously joined Canada's camp in February prior to the 2023 SheBelieves Cup and was named to the Candian roster for the team's Olympic qualifying matches against Jamaica September 22 and 26. Canada defeated Jamaica in Kingston, Jamaica, and in Toronto, Canada, officially clinching CANWNT's spot in the 2024 Paris Olympics. St-Georges, who joined the Canadian youth program in 2012, has five starts in seven appearances for the full CANWNT following her 2021 debut. For the Red Stars this year, St-Georges started in all but one of her 21 regular-season appearances, accumulated more expected goals (4.77) and took more shots (27) than any other Red Star in 2023. With four regular-season goals each this season, St-Georges and teammate Ella Stevens are tied for the most regular-season goals for Chicago in 2023.
Both Krueger and Naeher saw minutes during the USWNT's last pair of friendlies against South Africa. Naeher started in the first match against South Africa, earning a shutout in the team's 3-0 win. Krueger came off the bench for the U.S. in the first match against South Africa and started for the team in the rematch, which also marked the defender's 40th appearance with the national team. St-Georges was available off the bench for Canada in their two matches against Jamaica last month, but was not subbed in during either match.
The United States take on Colombia in Sandy, Utah, on Oct. 26, followed by a second match between the USWNT and Las Cafeteras in San Diego on Oct. 29. Sandy, Utah was the site of Casey Krueger's first appearance with the USWNT in a 4-0 win against Switzerland in 2016. Canada takes on Brazil in a pair of friendly matches October 28 in Montréal and October 31 in Halifax.
