Alex Morgan off USWNT roster, Dahlkemper returns vs. China - ESPN

United States women's national team interim manager Twila Kilgore has named a 26-player roster ahead of a pair of December friendlies against China, one that omits several USWNT mainstays, including Alex Morgan, and includes 11 players with fewer than 10 caps.

The U.S. will play the first friendly against China on Dec. 2 in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., with the second set to take place three days later in Frisco, Tex.

The matches take place following the naming of Chelsea manager Emma Hayes to take over as U.S. manager.

But with Hayes set to see out the remainder of the club season with the Blues, Kilgore will oversee the training camp and two friendlies.

The roster was put together in consultation with Hayes and U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker.

Among the absentees are six World Cup players who were on the USWNT roster for a pair of friendlies last month, a group that includes OL Reign defender Sofia Huerta, San Diego Wave FC forward Alex Morgan, Chicago Red Stars goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, Washington Spirit midfielder Ashley Sanchez, Portland Thorns FC defender Becky Sauerbrunn and Washington Spirit midfielder Andi Sullivan.

The roster includes two uncapped players in Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Korbin Albert as well as NJ/NY Gotham FC midfielder and NWSL Rookie of the Year Jenna Nighswonger.

«As we move forward with the next steps, we need more opportunities to see players from our pool in our unique National Team environment, in both training and games, so we can evaluate if and how they might contribute moving forward to the Olympics,» said Kilgore.

«We value these players who have recently been in camps or played in World Cup and were not chosen for this roster, and they are of course still a part of our pool,