Houston Dash midfielders Morgan Brian and Carli Lloyd were selected by U.S. Women’s National Team head coach Jill Ellis for the 18-player roster for the 2016 Olympic Games. The roster was announced by U.S. Soccer earlier today.
The USWNT are the defending gold medal winners and their quest for a fourth straight gold medal begins on Aug. 3 against New Zealand. Three days later the USWNT face France and the final group game will take place on Aug. 9 against Colombia.
This will be the first Olympic Games for Brian, who has earned 54 caps with the USWNT and won the Golden Ball as the most outstanding player at the CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Championship last February. The 23-year-old midfielder is one of 14 players who were members of the 2015 Women’s World Cup championship team that will compete in Brazil.
Lloyd returned to the pitch last Saturday in the USWNT’s 1-0 victory over South Africa after she suffered a knee injury in April. The reigning FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year has played 223 times for the USWNT and is tied with goalkeeper Hope Solo for the most Olympic appearances on the current roster with 12 each. Additionally, Lloyd has scored the winning goal in the gold medal game at each of the last two Olympics. The USWNT co-captain leads the team in scoring with 87 career goals.
2016 U.S. Olympic Women’s Soccer Team Roster by Position
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)
