Not only are the competitors in women’s soccer at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro representing their countries, they’re also showing the best of what their sport has to offer.
Unlike their male counterparts, the 2016 Olympic women’s soccer tournament features full national teams and is open to players of all ages. That means many of the stars of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup will be on display in Brazil as they vie for both a gold medal and bragging rights for the next three years.
The 2016 Olympic women’s soccer tournament kicks off Wednesday. Let’s take a look at some of the players to watch.
Kadeisha Buchanan
The 20-year-old Canada defender was named to the 2015 Women’s World Cup All-Star team, capturing the Young Player Award in the process. Buchanan undoubtedly has her eye on a bigger prize in Brazil, as Canada hopes to improve on its bronze-medal finish in 2012.
Crystal Dunn
The USA forward was the last cut from the all-conquering 2015 team and has used heartbreak as fuel for her growth as a national-team player. With 10 goals, Dunn trails Alex Morgan as Team USA’s leading scorer in 2016. If Dunn carries her pre-Olympic form into the tournament, her stardom will be born in Brazil.
Eugenie Le Sommer
The France midfielder will compete in her second Olympics. Since helping France win a bronze medal in 2012, Le Sommer has grown into one of her team’s leaders and prime attacking threats.
Carli Lloyd
With so many big-game heroics for Team USA, how can Lloyd top what she already has achieved? We’ll find out as the two-time gold medalist looks to add further gloss to her résumé.
Marta
The Brazil forward has won FIFA’s Women’s Player of the Year Award five times but has yet to lead her team to victory at a World Cup or an Olympics. Marta has worked hard to raise the profile of women’s soccer in Brazil. Winning a gold medal on home soil would be a crowning achievement in that regard.
Anja Mittag
The Germany forward is the all-time leading scorer in UEFA’s Women’s Champions League and has scored at an impressive rate internationally. Despite her undoubted talent, Mittag last helped Germany win a major title in 2007 (their best performance since then was a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympics.). Will Germany’s title drought end in Brazil, as it did for its men’s team in 2014?
Alex Morgan
The most famous women’s soccer player on the planet scored the game-winning goal in the epic 2012 semifinal win over Canada, but this challenge is different from the others. Abby Wambach has retired, and Sydney LeRoux will miss the Olympics because of her pregnancy, so Morgan bears the responsibility of leading Team USA’s attack in Brazil.
Christen Press
Press was an alternate on USA’s 2012 Olympic team and a role player at the 2015 World Cup. She’s expecting more playing time and glory this year. Like Morgan, Press has moved further into the spotlight, as the U.S. transitions to a new attacking era.
Hope Solo
The top women’s soccer goalkeeper in history needs no introduction. At age 35, Solo remains at the top of her game and is vying to win a fourth consecutive gold medal. While her presence stabilizes Team USA on the field, controversy seems to follow her off it.
Thumbnail photo via Gary Rohman/MLS/USA TODAY Sports Images
