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:

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.