The best women’s soccer team in the world is coming to Kansas City.
Before seeking a fourth straight Olympic gold medal at the 2016 summer games in Brazil, the United States Women’s National Team will play its last tune-up match against Costa Rica on Friday at state-of-the-art Children’s Mercy Park. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. CT on ESPN and tickets can be purchased via Ticketmaster.com or at the stadium box office on game day.
Atop the latest FIFA rankings and just a year removed from winning the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the U.S. WNT will visit Children’s Mercy Park for the third time while making its seventh trip to Kansas City. Head coach Jill Ellis’ squad enters the 2016 Olympic Games as tournament favorites and boasts a wealth of talent from top to bottom. Needless to say, there are more than a few reasons for excitement ahead of the Americans’ final Olympic send-off match.
No Shortage of Star Power
The U.S. roster includes some of the world’s best women’s players. Reigning FIFA World Player of the Year Carli Lloyd is joined by goalkeeper Hope Solo, midfielder Megan Rapine, forward Alex Morgan and FC Kansas City defender Becky Sauerbrunn to form the spine of a team stocked with depth at each position. Christen Press, Julie Johnston, Crystal Dunn and 18-year-old starlet Mallory Pugh — as well as seven others — are primed for their Olympic debuts.
Experience in the Spotlight
The 18-player Olympic roster features 14 players who were members of the 2015 World Cup championship team, and seven were gold medalists in 2012. Lloyd, Heath and Solo will play in their third Olympic Games, while Rapine, Morgan, Sauerbrunn and Kelley O’Hara will make their second Olympic appearances.
Olympic Dominance
The U.S. has claimed four gold medals since the Olympics added women’s soccer in 1996. The Americans settled for silver at the 2000 tournament, a year after they won the World Cup title, but has won three straight championships since — beating Brazil in 2004 and 2008 and topping Japan in 2012. The U.S. WNT will now look to win a World Cup and an Olympic gold medal in consecutive years for the first time ever.
Unbeatable in 2016
Ellis’ side has been nearly perfect in 2016, going 13-0-1 with 12 shutouts while outscoring opponents 48-4. The impressive run of results includes a 5-0 Olympic qualifying victory over Friday’s opponent Costa Rica and a 1-0 defeat of South Africa when the team last played on July 9.
Undefeated in Kansas City
The U.S. Women have played in Kansas City six times since their inaugural visit in 1999, winning three and drawing three. Children’s Mercy Park will play host to its third U.S WNT contest, having welcomed crowds for a 1-1 friendly draw against Canada in 2011 and a 1-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago in the 2014 CONCACAF Women’s Championship.
Olympic Outlook
One of 12 women’s teams competing for gold, the U.S. will open Group G play on Aug. 3 — two days before the Olympic Opening Ceremony — against 17th-ranked New Zealand at Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte. The Americans will stay in the same city to face No. 3 France on Aug. 6 before wrapping up the group stage against No. 24 Colombia on Aug. 9 at Amazonia Stadium Manaus, a whopping 1,700 miles from the Olympics host city of Rio de Janeiro.
U.S. WNT 2016 OLYMPIC ROSTER
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)
Alternate replacements (4): MID Heather O’Reilly (FC Kansas City), GK Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride), DEF Emily Sonnett (Portland Thorns FC), MID Samantha Mewis (Western New York Flash)
