Utah Royals Defender Kate Del Fava Called Up From U.S. U-23 WNT to Replace Naomi Girma on USWNT Roster for October Training Camp
Del Fava Earns First USWNT Call-Up at Age 28 After Stellar Season for Utah Royals
ATLANTA (Oct. 4, 2026) – U.S. Women’s National Team head coach Emma Hayes has called up Utah Royals defender Kate Del Fava to replace the injured Naomi Girma on the training camp roster for the October FIFA window that includes two matches against the world’s number one-ranked Spain.
Del Fava was already set to travel to Atlanta on Monday as an “overage” player in the U.S. Under-23 Women’s National Team training camp that is being held concurrently with Hayes’ camp at the Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center. She will now just switch hotels.
Del Fava was also an “overage” player on the U.S. U-23 WNT’s trip to Brazil in June, which was her first-ever U.S. National Team call-up at any level. Del Fava has been a rock in the middle of the Royals defense since the club re-joined the National Women’s Soccer League in 2024, playing every minute of every game in that time. This season she has helped Utah to its best season ever and to the brink of a NWSL playoff spot. She has scored twice this season, both on headers.
Del Fava’s inclusion brings the number of uncapped players on the roster to five, a group that also includes goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz, defender Evelyn Shores and forwards Trinity Byars and Pietra Tordin.
Del Fava is the first-ever player from Illinois State to receive a senior USWNT call-up.
In what will be two highly anticipated matches between the two top-ranked teams in the world, the USA will host Spain on Oct. 10 at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. (2:30 p.m. ET on TBS and HBO Max in English and on Telemundo, Universo and Peacock in Spanish) in a match presented by Purina and on Oct. 13 at Subaru Park in Chester, Pa. (7 p.m. ET on TNT and HBO Max in English and on Universo and Peacock in Spanish) in a match presented by AT&T. Both matches will also be available on the radio on Westwood One Sports with the Oct. 13 game also available in Spanish on Fútbol de Primera.
U.S. Women’s National Team Roster by Position (Club; Caps/Goals)
2026 October Matches vs. Spain
GOALKEEPERS (3): Claudia Dickey (Seattle Reign FC; 11), Jordan Silkowitz (Bay FC; 0), Phallon Tullis-Joyce (Manchester United, ENG; 7)
DEFENDERS (9): Tierna Davidson (Gotham FC; 70/3), Kate Del Fava (Utah Royals FC; 0/0), Emily Fox (Arsenal FC, ENG; 78/1), Avery Patterson (Houston Dash; 14/1), Lilly Reale (Boston Legacy FC; 9/0), Tara Rudd (Washington Spirit; 12/0), Evelyn Shores (Angel City FC; 0/0), Gisele Thompson (Angel City FC; 11/0), Kennedy Wesley (San Diego Wave FC; 7/1)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Sam Coffey (Manchester City FC, ENG; 46/5), Lindsey Heaps (Denver Summit FC; 178/40), Claire Hutton (Bay FC; 20/1), Rose Lavelle (Gotham FC; 122/29), Mallory Swanson (Chicago Stars; 103/38), Lily Yohannes (OL Lyonnes, FRA; 20/1)
FORWARDS (8): Trinity Byars (San Diego Wave FC; 0/0), Michelle Cooper (Kansas City Current; 14/1), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit; 57/13), Emma Sears (Racing Louisville FC; 21/6), Ashley Sanchez (North Carolina Courage; 28/3), Pietra Tordin (Portland Thorns FC; 0/0), Alyssa Thompson (Chelsea FC, ENG; 32/4), Sophia Wilson (Portland Thorns FC; 63/25)