1. Countdown to the World Cup
Women’s squad in final preparations
By Susan Margrave, Staff Writer
On April 15th, a sense of relief, anticipation, and in some cases,
disappointment swept the US Women’s National Team as head coach Jill Ellis
announced the roster for June’s World Cup competition.
Ellis revealed the line-up ahead of Fifa’s May 25th deadline so her players
could make preparations as they started their season with their club teams in the National
Women’s Soccer League.
Most players will spend a few weeks with their club teams to help them
prepare for the World Cup before they all meet back in Los Angeles for their final camp
before they start their friend- lies in May.
There were few surprises on the roster as all the usual suspects made the
team. The only surprises were Crystal Dunn and Rachel Van Hollebeke’s inclusion, and
Lori Chalupny and Shannon Boxx’s return to the national team after they both missed
more than a year for health reasons.
It is interesting to note that this World Cup will be team captain Christie
Rampone’s fifth, which now ties Kirstine Lilly for most appearances in a World Cup.
Veterans Abby Wambach and Shannon Boxx will be making their fourth appearance
while Carli Lloyd, Hope Solo and Heather O’Reilly will be in their second. Newcomers
Julie Johnston and Morgan Brian join a slew of national players making their World Cup
debut this summer.
The team has a good mix of veterans and young fresh players and this
makes for a very good team. The U.S. squad essentially has two starting lineups that can
start any game and this will prove very difficult for any opponent that the team will play
come June.
The USWNT Starting Roster
Goal Keepers:
Hope Solo, Ashyln Harris and Alyssa Naeher
Defenders:

2. Christie Rampone, Lori Chalupny, Becky Sauerbrunn, Ali Krieger, Kelley O’Hara,
Meghan Klingenberg, Whitney Engen and Julie Johnston.
Midfielders:
Heather O’Reilly, Carli Lloyd, Shannon Boxx, Lauren Holiday, Megan Rapinoe, Tobin
Heath and Morgan Brian.
Forwards:
Abby Wambach, Amy Rodriguez, Alex Morgan, Sydney Leroux and Christen Press.
Just a week after the roster was announced, Nike revealed a new kit for the
national team. Reaction to the new home uniforms has not been good. People have said
that the uniform is not American because it does not have any of the country’s national
colors, red and blue. The kit is all white with black lettering. Also noticeably different are
the socks, which are a neon green.
“ The goal was to create something stunning and impactful on the pitch,”
said Nike’s soccer global creative director Martin Lotti. “It is clean, modern and
futuristic. The head-to-toe shoe, sock, jersey is one collective point of view, one full
composition.”
The kit is unique as it was constructed from recycled polyester made from
18 plastic bottles.
And for the first time ever, the women’s jersey will be available in men’s
sizes. This really shows just how much the women’s team has impacted the United States
as a whole. It’s a big step for women’s soccer and shows that the sport is finally gaining
popularity and proving that it is relevant in the American sports market.
The team will debut the kits on May 30th when they play at Red Bull
Stadium in New Jersey. Next, the squad will face off against South Korea in a friendly
before they leave for Canada.