U.S. Women’s National Team Extends Invitation to Midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta

The United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) has called up Kansas City Current midfielder Lo’eau LaBonta for the upcoming FIFA international window, U.S. Soccer announced on Sunday. LaBonta will replace Seattle Reign FC midfielder Sam Meza, who was ruled out of the roster due to a minor injury. The USWNT announced its initial 26-player roster on Oct. 15. 

This is the second U.S. National Team call-up in LaBonta’s career, the first which came earlier this year.  

LaBonta will join three Kansas City teammates – forward Michelle Cooper, midfielder Claire Hutton and forward/midfielder Ally Sentnor – for the October training camp. Now with four, the Current is tied with Gotham FC for the most players on this USWNT roster among all National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) teams. 

The USWNT begins the upcoming FIFA window with two matches against Portugal. The first match, presented by AT&T, will take place on Thursday, Oct. 23, at Subaru Park in Chester, Pa., with kickoff set for 6 p.m. CT. The U.S. and Portugal will meet again in East Hartford, Conn., on Sunday, Oct. 26, at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. That friendly, presented by Volkswagen, starts at 3 p.m. CT. Both contests will broadcast on TNT, truTV and HBO Max in English; on Peacock in Spanish; and on the radio on Westwood One Sports. The first match will also air on Peacock in Spanish and FDP Spanish Radio while the second will be available in Spanish on Universo.  

The Stars and Stripes conclude their three-match set against New Zealand in Kansas City on Wednesday, Oct. 29, at 7 p.m. CT. It marks the USWNT’s first-ever match at CPKC Stadium, the first stadium purpose-built for a professional women’s sports team. The match will broadcast on TNT, TruTV and HBO Max in English, on Universo and Peacock in Spanish, and on the radio on Westwood One Sports and FDP Spanish Radio. Limited tickets are available for purchase HERE. 

LaBonta’s first appearance for the Stars and Stripes was on May 31 when she came on as a substitute in the 70th minute, helping the team to a 3-0 win against China PR. She became the oldest player to debut for the USWNT in the program’s 40-year history at 32 years old. She then subbed in during the 58th minute in a 4-0 shutout over Jamaica on June 3.  

The Kansas City captain has anchored the club during its record-breaking 2025 campaign, helping lead the Current to their first NWSL Shield in franchise history. LaBonta solidified herself as one of the league’s all-time greats from the penalty spot on Sept. 26, 2025, when she converted her 14th career regular season PK. That moved her up to be tied with Megan Rapinoe and Marta for first in NWSL history for most regular season PKs. All five of her goals this year have been from the penalty spot, and she has also added one assist. LaBonta has twice been named to the NWSL Best XI this year and her 10 career monthly Best XI honors rank third all-time.