The United States Women’s Soccer Team will bring its top players to Brazil next month in search of gold.
Head coach Jill Ellis announced the 18-woman roster Thursday for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Popular stars like Carli Lloyd, Hope Solo and Alex Morgan are among the group, which includes 14 players who helped Team USA win the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Seven helped Team USA win the gold medal at the 2012 Olympics in London.
2016 U.S. Olympic Women’s Soccer Team Roster by Position
GOALKEEPERS: Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars), Hope Solo (Seattle Reign FC)
DEFENDERS (6): Whitney Engen (Boston Breakers), Julie Johnston (Chicago Red Stars), Meghan Klingenberg (Portland Thorns FC), Ali Krieger (Washington Spirit), Kelley O’Hara (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Morgan Brian (Houston Dash), Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC), Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC), Carli Lloyd (Houston Dash), Allie Long (Portland Thorns FC), Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign FC)
FORWARDS (4): Crystal Dunn (Washington Spirit), Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride), Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars), Mallory Pugh (Real Colorado)
“We’ve got a great blend of players with experience at the Olympic Games and in major events along with the youthful energy of some players who did not play in the Women’s World Cup last summer,” Ellis said in a statement on the U.S. Soccer Federation’s website. “As a coach in the Olympic Games, you want to put together a group capable of reaching the top of the podium while also being mindful of getting players prepared for the next World Cup, and I think we’ve done that.”
Ellis named midfielder Heather O’Reilly, goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris, defender Emily Sonnett and midfielder Samantha Mewis as alternates.
The United States will play France, Colombia and New Zealand in Group G.
The competition will begin Aug. 3. The quarterfinals will be Aug. 12, and the semifinals will take place Aug. 16. The gold- and bronze-medal games both will be held Aug. 19. The U.S. will play Costa Rica on July 22 in Kansas City, Kan., in its final Olympic warm-up game.
Team USA won gold medals at the Summer Olympics in 1996, 2004, 2008 and 2012. It won the silver medal in 2000.
If Team USA triumphs in the the 2016 competition, it will become the first team to win Olympic gold the year after winning the Women’s World Cup.
Thumbnail photo via Jennifer Buchanan/USA TODAY Sports Images
