Rejuvenated Rose Lavelle’s Return to Colorado and USWNT

Commerce City, CO – Under a picture perfect sky at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado this past Thursday evening, U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team (USWNT) fan favorite Rose Lavelle returned to international play during a friendly with the Republic of Ireland. 

Since January, she has been on the mend from undergoing left ankle surgery, or as the USWNT head coach Emma Hayes stated, “a cleaning-up.” 

In December, Lavelle experienced an ankle injury that nagged her enough that it warranted repair. The procedure took Lavelle out of February’s annual SheBelieves Cup Tournament where she has been a mainstay for years on end.

With her rehabilitation walking boot sequestered to a closet and crutches tossed away, Lavelle made a grand return to play her North American Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) team Gotham FC some twenty days ago against the Kansas City Current. She came on in the 79th minute during the showdown with the KC in Harrison, New Jersey’s Sports Illustrated Stadium. The local crowd welcomed her a huge ovation.

This Thursday, the 30-year-old midfielder did not disappoint her fan base in sold out DSGP. Lavelle earned the start, her 111th career cap, with the Lady Yanks. 

In the 18th minute of match play, Lavelle set up Avery Patterson to score on set piece. Lavelle, sent a long cross into the box with her right foot. Patterson vaulted above her defender to head the ball into the back of the net.

In the 53rd minute of play, the Ohio native took it upon herself to score a goal in the North end that delighted the rambunctious crowd.

In accomplishing both, Lavelle is now the 19th player in USWNT history with 25-plus goals and 25-plus assists, and the 25th player in USWNT history with a combined 25 goals and 25 assists. 

During a virtual press conference ahead of the match, Hayes shared with media correspondents, “We are excited to have her back with us, for multiple reasons … First of all, her personality and the character in the locker room has been sorely missed in the past six months.”

Hayes elaborated, “She’s supremely gifted as a football player, playing between the 8 and the 10 position. She’s someone who as she’s maturing as a top level footballer, I think where her game has been going in the last 12 months, she’s started to add new dimensions between the lines.

“I’m so excited for her that she gets to be back with the team, but also get to be back with the team when we go to Cincinnati. Her home town, and I know she’s extremely excited for that.”

During a mixed-media event on Wednesday near the Colorado Rapids training pitch, Lavelle was asked about playing at altitude and in front of Colorado fans. 

Lavelle replied, “Oh my gosh, the first thing I think of when I come here is altitude, so that always makes it a little tough, but the crowd always shows up. I feel like it’s always like a sellout, and it’s always a really, really fun environment.”

She continued, “I think every time we come here, we know it’s going to be a great atmosphere. It’s going to be a lot of fans, and Yeah, it’s something we always look forward to.” 

With the youngest camp roster warming up near her, Lavelle was asked about her evolving role as a team leader. “I think I am. I have been one of the more experienced players now for a little bit, which still feels weird. I feel like I obviously have been in that position before where I was the newer player … I had a lot of really, really great, older players to look up to to help usher me into the position where I now can be that for the younger players.” 

She went on to elaborate, “One thing about the US is that we always have young talented players coming up, and I think you’re seeing that now. I think we have a lot of really, really exciting players. Even though we don’t have the bigger names that we’re used to, I still think we have a lot of talented younger players who can impact the game the second they step on the field.”

And in addition to her goal, three of the talented younger players stepped to score against Ireland. Twenty-three-year-old Avery Patterson scored her first goal. Sam Coffey (26) and twenty-year-old Alyssa Thompson both added pretty goals.

When quizzed by Burgundy Wave during the post-match media session about the three ‘debutantes,’ (Lily Reale, Jordan Bugg, and Claudia Dickey) and what Emma Hayes has done to bring them along, Lavelle said, “Oh my, gosh, yeah, I think there’s so many, like fun, up-and-coming players, and I’m so happy for Lily, Jordan and Claudia … I’m so excited.”

About Denver getting an NWSL team next year, a Lavelle turned a bit serious. “Well, they beat Cincinnati, but they’re gonna be in a great market. I think every time we come here it’s such a great crowd, and they really show up for us every time. So, I expect nothing less for the the team coming.”

Lavelle and her teammates are now in Cincinnati to play the second of back-to-back matches against Ireland. The game is set to be played on Sunday, June 29 at TQL Stadium at 1 pm MT 

Then, it’s a meeting with Concacaf rival Canada in the Allstate Continental Clásico Audi Field in Washington D.C. on Wednesday, July 2. 

Photo Credit: John Babiak and Maya VanVleet

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