Ally SentnorGetty Images
Celia BalfJan 29, 2025USANWSLUtah Royals

'I never take a call up for granted' - U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year Ally Sentnor on her experience at USWNT January camp

USWNT players rave about experience at January Camp, say Emma Hayes and staff 'just crushed it, world-class'

BEVERLY HILLS, California - Fresh off the plane from USWNT January camp in Florida, Ally Sentnor - the U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year - arrived at NWSL Media Day with a giant smile. It's hard to imagine she had just been competing at the highest level and vying for her spot on the SheBelieves Cup 2025 roster, but now, full media mode and full glam.

When asked about her experience at camp, Sentnor's eyes lit up: "I had so much fun," she said. "I never take a call up for granted."

Earlier this month, Sentnor was named to the January camp roster, which was designed to set the stage for the upcoming SheBelieves Cup. She also was named U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year after going No. 1 overall in the 2024 NWSL Draft and receiving her first senior USWNT call-up in the final two matches of the USWNT's 2024 season. It's been an accolade-heavy year for Sentnor, who even said last year was very "go go" and that she's looking forward to a much more intentional, building year ahead.

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    January camp recap

    The USWNT January camp was held simultaneously with the Futures camp, which was a way for the U.S. Soccer coaching staff to take a look at the broader pool of players across both youth and senior team levels. Overall, 24-players were called into Futures camp, while 25- players were called in for the senior camp. USWNT head coach Emma Hayes and her staff would coach the senior group early in the day and then the younger group later. On Thursday, many of these players attended NWSL Media Day in Beverly Hills, after a rigorous week competing in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

    "It was a great week to get our feet back under us," Sam Coffey, USWNT midfielder told INDIVISA. "It was a great week, weather was crummy, really cold, which was a bummer. But it was just a great week of training and it's always nice to have new faces in the environment."

    Coffey added, "The [coaches] days were full, every time i'd see them in the hotel I was like, 'How are you doing?' But, they just crushed it, world-class. They gave so much to both of the teams. They deserve some rest."

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    New faces, new perspective

    Alyssa Malonson, could be viewed as one of those newer faces. Although she made her first USWNT debut in 2024, she has fewer caps than most of the players named to the January camp squad. At NWSL Media Day, Malonson said she's "obviously very tired, it was a quick turnaround."

    She told INDIVISA that it was "it was great having the camp with the futures." When asked about her goals for the upcoming city with Bay FC, and general areas she wants to improve on as a player, she said she wants to approach this season "more confident."

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    'We all deserve to be there'

    There's something to be said about a 20-year-old having the maturity to say "we all deserve to be there" when referring to USWNT camp. It offered a perspective that no matter how challenging the days could get, every single person called in had a right to be competing, battling, and fighting for a look by Emma Hayes.

    When asked if there was a moment at camp that Sentnor, the midfielder for the Utah Royals, found challenging or eye opening, she said, "You can tell everyone deserves to be there. I definitely have to check my shoulder more than usual, but it really just pushes me to play to my next level and play one touch instead of three." As she looks at the year ahead, Sentnor is excited to take a deep breath and focus on building the next dimension of her game. She's also focused on one phone call, one that could put her on the squad for SheBelieves Cup 2025.

    "I'm trying to break into the U.S. team and get some consistent call ups, that would be amazing," she said.

    When it comes to what's in her control, "It's about creating for Utah, and being the mold in the midfield for the attack and being that player that can get on the ball and make things happen out of something or nothing at all."