‘Just chill’ Naomi Girma could make USWNT debut vs. Uzbekistan

When the U.S. women’s national soccer team (USWNT) returns to action this week with its first-ever friendlies against Uzbekistan, San Diego Wave defender Naomi Girma appears likely to make her senior national team debut.

Girma is one of three players — along with goalkeepers Aubrey Kingsbury (formerly Bledsoe) and Bella Bixby — looking to earn their first international cap with the USWNT.

The 21-year-old Girma previously starred for the USWNT at the youth level, including as captain of the under-20 women’s team. At Stanford, she was a two-time Pac-12 defender of the year and member of the Cardinal’s national championship team in 2019.

The No. 1 draft pick in the 2022 NWSL Draft, Girma has started all three of the San Diego Wave’s Challenge Cup games so far this season.

“Naomi has been improving very well,” U.S. soccer head coach Vlatko Andonovski said on Friday, adding that Girma and fellow USWNT defender Abby Dahlkemper have been playing side-by-side together for the San Diego Wave.

“In this camp, we can see the comfort level has (risen),” Andonovski said. “I feel pretty confident we will see Naomi in one of these two games.”

Girma has also gained experience from practicing against one of the best forwards in history: San Diego Wave teammate Alex Morgan.

“The level is higher, the players are better and playing against one of the top players in the world every day – I feel extremely blessed and grateful that I have this opportunity,” Girma said on a recent episode of Goal.com’s podcast “All of US: The U.S. Women’s Soccer Show.”

On Friday, Girma also received high praise from longtime best friend — and new Portland Thorns rival — Sophia Smith.

“I’m excited for everything that Naomi does, any time she does well, except