The US women’s national team roster for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games was revealed on Tuesday, with 14 players from the squad that won the 2015 Women’s World Cup included on head coach Jill Ellis’ 18-player roster.
Midfielders Carli Lloyd and Tobin Heath and goalkeeper Hope Solo were all named to their third Olympic roster, while midfielder Megan Rapinoe, forward Alex Morgan and defenders Kelley O’Hara and Becky Sauerbrunn will be playing in their second Olympic Games.
Seven players on the roster play their club soccer for teams that share ownership with MLS clubs. Portland Thorns FC are represented by Heath, Lindsey Horan, Meghan Klingenberg and Allie Long, the Houston Dash have Lloyd and Morgan Brian on the roster and the Orlando Pride are sending Alex Morgan to Rio.
Forward Mallory Pugh is the only player on the roster who does not currently play in the NWSL. Pugh, 18, recently finished high school and is scheduled to play at UCLA starting this fall.
The US have advanced to the gold medal game of every Olympic women’s soccer tournament, winning the gold in four of the five tournaments contested. The US have won the last three Olympic tournaments, taking the gold in Athens in 2004, Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012.
The US will open Group G play on August 3, two days before the official Olympic Opening Ceremony, against New Zealand in Belo Horizonte. They’ll remain there for their second match against France on August 6 before traveling to Manaus, the same city where the US men’s national team tied Portugal 2-2 at the 2014 World Cup, for their group finale against Colombia on August 9.
Ellis also named four alternates to the roster in FC Kansas City midfielder Heather O’Reilly, Orlando Pride goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris, Western New York Flash defender Emily Sonnett and Portland Thorns midfielder Samantha Mewis. All four will travel to Brazil for the tournament.
The Olympic team and the four alternates will play a final Olympic send-off match against Costa Rica on July 22 at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas.
2016 US Olympic women's soccer team
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)
