USWNT announces strong, experienced roster for 2016 Rio Olympics
The red, white and blue are the gold medal favorites
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1 min read
U.S. women's national team coach Jill Ellis named her Olympic team on Tuesday, just under three weeks before the opening of the tournament in Rio.
Introducing your 2016 U.S. Olympic Women's Soccer Team: https://t.co/Gsg5tcyBAu. #OneNationOneTeam#RoadToRiopic.twitter.com/nK0avUpBuX
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@ussoccer_wnt) July 12, 2016
Here is the roster:
GOALKEEPERS (2)
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)
Seven of the players on the roster were on the 2012 Olympic team that won gold, while 14 were on the World Cup winning roster last summer.
"We've got excellent balance in the squad, and with some injuries lately to some major players, it has allowed us to get experience for a few newer players which helped them in their cases to make the team," Ellis said. "Now the task is getting our team 100 percent healthy and finalizing our preparations during the next camp."
Star Carli Lloyd has recovered from an ankle injury in April and is expected to lead the team. Young sensation Mallory Pugh has also made the team, to the surprise of nobody. It's a strong, experienced roster and it's gold medal or failure for the U.S.
The team is coming off a 1-0 win against South Africa on Saturday in a friendly. The USWNT will next play on July 22 in a friendly against Costa Rica.
The Americans will open Group G play on Aug. 3 against New Zealand in Belo Horizonte. The team has made the gold medal game in every Olympics it has participated in.
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