Forest Park High School graduate Ali Krieger was one of 18 players named Tuesday to the U.S. Women’s National Team that will compete in the 2016 Summer Olympic Games next month in Rio de Janeiro.
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The top-ranked US team, which has won silver medals at the past two Olympics, opens the tournament August 6 against Puerto Rico.
Veterans Alex Morgan, Carli Lloyd and Hope Solo lead the charge, while impressive 18-year-old Mallory Pugh and NWSL standout Crystal Dunn lead the contingent of non-World Cup players to work their way into the squad.
Team USA is aiming for its fourth straight gold in women’s soccer at the Rio Olympics. Midfielder Megan Rapinoe, forward Alex Morgan and defenders O’Hara and Becky Sauerbrunn will be playing in their second Olympics. Defender Emily Sonnett, 22, and midfielder Sam Mewis, 23, are both alternates for Rio and nearly certain to figure into the picture for the 2019 World Cup.
Among the players chosen was Megan Rapinoe, who made a quick recovery from a major knee injury. Ellis and her coaching staff finalized the 18-player roster based on what they saw at the training camp and during a series of exhibition games against foreign teams.
Solo is on track to earn her 200th cap, becoming the 11th USA player to hit 200 and the first goalkeeper in global soccer history.
Rebuilding, or to put it more accurately, building, is something that Jill Ellis definitely does have experience with.
Rosters in Olympic competition are limited to 18 players, five fewer players than teams were allowed to include in last year’s World Cup. Crystal Dunn, Mallory Pugh, Lindsey Horan and Long were not on the on the team in 2015. And she has the credibility and security – no matter what she says – to try out new players and systems and methods.
Two athletes named Carli Lloyd were both named to U.S. Olympic teams.
Rapinoe is a luxury add for an 18-player squad that is blessed with good wide play options (Heath, Pugh among them), but Ellis wouldn’t have taken her if she didn’t think she could play a role. If Rapinoe does not play in the USWNT’s final pre-Olympic friendly on July 22, that means she will make her return during the Olympics.
There were no surprises on the US women’s Olympic roster, named by coach Jill Ellis on Tuesday.
Rapinoe’s ACL injury is behind her, and she’s ready for action in Brazil.
“It was just a matter of time before we’d bring those players in”, Ellis said.
Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns): One of the most gifted US players on the ball, Heath is capable of doing at least one thing a game to get fans on their feet.
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Alyssa Naeher edged Ashlyn Harris to be the backup goalkeeper, and Long was chosen over Samantha Mewis at defensive midfielder. They’ll remain there for their second match against France on August 6 before traveling to Manaus, the same city where the U.S. men’s national team tied Portugal 2-2 at the 2014 World Cup, for their group finale against Colombia on August 9.
