Naomi Girma and Sam Coffey were forced out of the US Women’s National Team’s October camp due to respective injuries and head coach Emma Hayes’ absence on Tuesday.
Hayes provided updates on both players as the current USWNT squad continues training at the USA Soccer National Training Center in Fayetteville, Georgia. Both Girma and Coffey were originally included in Hayes’ squad for October’s doubles match against No. 1 Spain, but will now remain in England to recover from injuries.
Girma has suffered a calf setback that has continued to trouble him since his move to Chelsea in January 2025. When healthy, Girma is one of the first names on the team sheet for club and country, but has been unable to play in the WSL this season due to ongoing injury problems.
Hayes said U.S. Soccer will work with Chelsea to get Girma healthy and back on the field for both sides.
“It’s happened too often and if we want him to be in a position to play regularly for club and country, I think we need to change some things,” Hayes told a news conference. “He’s the last person who wants to be in this position and he’s worked hard to get himself back on track.
“Obviously, I don’t control it,” Hayes said, adding that Chelsea does not control Girma’s timetable for his return. “I am not the club but we are working closely with Chelsea to think differently about creating the right solutions because the player is suffering and I know he is absolutely devastated.”
Coffey is another key loss for the USWNT after picking up a minor ankle injury against Manchester City last weekend. The veteran midfielder appeared for 70 minutes in the Citizens’ 4-2 WSL win over Arsenal, which kept the reigning champions at the top of the league table with 15 points.
It would be important for Coffey to feature in a few matches against Spain, but Hayes believes his absence could open the door for someone else to step up.
“Of course he was devastated,” Hayes said. “Sam always wants to get involved, but like I said at the beginning, you just have to get used to these things.
“So, sometimes I hear such conversations: “Why is there this player? Why is that player in there?” “Look, I can’t tell you what the World Cup qualifiers or the World Cup squad will look like, but I have to make sure that we have a developed playing pool and these are great opportunities for players who get the chance to play ahead of them,” Hayes added.
Both Girma and Coffey will be hoping to return to the USWNT when the CONCACAF W Championship begins in late November.