Girma trains alone as USWNT place in doubt

Naomi Girma is fighting to re‑enter Chelsea’s line‑up even as her United States Women’s National Team prospects for the CONCACAF Championship remain unclear.

She has been training individually after a muscle injury suffered in October, Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor confirmed on Friday.

The USWNT defender missed the international break last month, which featured a two‑match series against No 1‑ranked Spain.

It has been over two months since Girma last played a competitive minute for club or country, having logged ninety minutes in each of Chelsea’s UEFA Women’s Champions League qualifying ties against Real Sociedad.

She has not featured for the USWNT since 17 August and has earned just four caps in 2026.

Bompastor ruled Girma out of Chelsea’s remaining fixtures ahead of the November international break, but she has not been excluded from the USWNT’s CONCACAF Championship roster.

“I think Lauren [James] is good, but I don’t think we expect to see her in this block. That’s the same for Nay [Naomi Girma],” Bompastor said, adding that both are progressing but will not feature in the current block.

Chelsea moved to the top of the WSL table on Saturday after a 1‑0 win over Manchester City.

The Blues will host Paris Saint‑Germain in UWCL action on Wednesday before travelling to Liverpool on 21 November for a league match.

Girma was named in Emma Hayes’ preliminary squad for the USWNT World Cup qualifying campaign, though she could miss the tournament if she is not fully fit by the 27 November clash with El Salvador.