Come see Alex Morgan and the USA debut new Nike Away Kits at the 2015 Algarve Cup in France

March 4th, 20152 pm ETPurchase your tickets at ussoccer.com

USWNT vs NorwayOne Nation. One Team. One Place.

Kick It With the USWNTOne Nation. One Team. One Place. April 2015

Vol. 13

Alex Morgan can feel it all coming back now: The precise timing on her runs, the connection with her teammates, the breathtaking speed and the confidence that comes with knowing her lethal left foot can put a shot exactly where she wants it on goal.

Morgan has missed nearly 10 months in the last year and a half with ankle injuries, but she said she’s nearly where she wants to be ahead of Wednesday’s Algarve Cup opener against Norway (Fox Sports 1, 2 p.m. ET) and a World Cup that’s less than three months away.

“2012 was a great year, but I wanted to build off that, and seeing my stats for the last two years is very underwhelming,” Morgan said. “You can’t make up time. It’s just learning to accept the last two years haven’t been my best with injury and play on the field. But I know I have an amazing opportunity this year to do something great.”

The Return of Alex Morgan

Final 23-Woman World Cup Roster Named

Hope Solo’s Suspension is Lifted

Table of Contents

Page 4 Up Next Letters to the Editor Mission Statement Staff Box

Page 3 Wambach’s Drive to Win Nike Unveils New Kit Featured Player Quote

Page 2 Road to the World Cup Player Spotlight NWSL Player of the Month

The United States opens up the Women’s World Cup on June 8th in Winnipeg, Canada, and manager Jill Ellis has named the players who will represent our country.

Hope Solo will be in net for the USWNT, despite all the off the field issues that have transpired over the past year.

Christie Rampone will travel to her fifth World Cup at the young age of 39, while Shannon Boxx makes her fourth World Cup roster at 37.

The midfield has five players with over 100 caps for the USWNT, including Heather O’Reilly, Megan Rapinoe and Carli Lloyd.

Up top the U.S. will rely on the tandem of Abby Wambach and Alex Morgan, with Sydney Leroux making her World Cup debut in her birth nation of Canada.

Full Roster:

Goalkeepers: Hope Solo, Ashlyn Harris, Alyssa Naeher

Defenders: Christie Rampone, Becky Sauerbrunn, Meghan Klingenberg, Ali Krieger, Julie Johnston, Lori Chalupny, Whitney Engen, Kelley O’Hara

Midfielders: Lauren Holiday, Carli Lloyd, Megan Rapinoe, Shannon Boxx, Morgan Brian, Tobin Heath, Heather O’Reilly

Forwards: Abby Wambach, Alex Morgan, Sydney Leroux, Christen Press, Amy Rodriguez

camp and suspended 30 days af-ter her husband, former NFL player Jerramy Stevens, was charged with DUI while behind the wheel of a U.S. Soccer van.

Goalkeeper Hope Solo’s suspension was lifted by U.S. Soccer on Saturday when the two-time Olympic champion was named to the roster for the women’s national team ahead of next month’s Algarve Cup tournament in Portugal.

Solo, whose brillance on the field has been rivaled by her troubles off it, was sent home from January’s training

Kick It With the USWNTOne Nation. One Team. One Place.

Shown: #10 Carli Lloyd sliding to save the

ball.

Road to the World CupThe U.S. Women are coming off a victorious turn at the 2015 Algarve Cup in Portugal, where the Americans triumphed 2-0 against France in the championship game to win its 10th title. The USA will play just 360 more minutes of international soccer before the Women’s World Cup kicks off this summer. The team comes into its next match against New Zealand – its first domestic match of the year – with a 4-1-1 record so far in 2015.

The other three remaining matches will be part of the USA’s Send-Off Series.These three games will take the WNT to the new Avaya Stadium in San Jose, California, to face Ireland on May 10; the familiar surroundings of StubHub Center in Carson, California, on May 17 to face Mexico; and Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey, on May 30, to play the Korea Republic. The USA’s 23-player Women’s World Cup roster will likely be named before the squad begins the Send-Off Series.

The U.S. Women’s National Team was drawn into Group D at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup where it will face Australia, Nigeria and Sweden. The seventh edition of the tournament will take place from June 6-July 5 in Canada. The U.S. will open the tournament against Australia on June 8 at Winnipeg Stadium, face Sweden on June 12 in Winnipeg, and finish Group D play against Nigeria on June 16 at BC Place in Vancouver. The USA, Nigeria and Sweden have competed in every edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Player Spotlight: LloydCarli Lloyd has played in two World Cups, two Olympics and 10 Algarve Cups. Her decade-long career with the U.S. national team has included 192 caps, 63 goals, 32 assists and countless memories on and off the field.

Lloyd is a fierce player, considered by many to be one of the finest #10’s in the women’s game. She’s a two-time Olympic gold-medalist and this will be her third World Cup with the USWNT. She’s a player that relies on tough training sessions and hard work, and it shows on the field. Lloyd is a player you’d rather not face on the field, but you’re glad to have her on your side.

NWSL Player of the Month: Christen PressChicago Red Stars forward Christen Press was voted the National Women’s Soccer League Player of the Month by the media for April 2015. The U.S. Women’s National Team star had a standout month, scoring four goals in her side’s first two games of the 2015 campaign, including a dramatic stoppage-time winner against Shield holders Seattle Reign FC in the Red Stars season opener.

Press’ heroics against Seattle goalkeeping giant Hope Solo earned the 26-year-old Player of the Week honors for Week 2, followed by another nomination for her brace against league leaders Portland Thorns FC. The 26-year-old currently leads the league in goals with four, despite having only played 180 minutes.

Press is the first Red Stars player to be named NWSL Player of the Month.

USWNT player Christen

Press poses in her USA

jersey.

2

Abby Wambach’s Drive to Win

3

Pictured: #14 Abby Wambach celebrates after winning

the gold medal at the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Abby Wambach is no stranger to accolades: the U.S. women’s soccer star is a two-time Olympic gold medalist, a former FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year, a six-time U.S. Soccer Female Athlete of the Year... and the list goes on and on.

The one thing Wambach doesn’t have? A World Cup title.

Earlier in March, the 34-year-old announced she’ll sit out this National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season toprepare for this summer’s World Cup in Canada. In an interview with BBC Sport, the 34-year-old explained what winning that title would mean to her:

“I would trade all the individual awards I’ve won for a World Cup... The idea of standing on the podium at the end of the tournament in Canada, getting a gold medal wrapped around my neck and lifting the trophy at the end gives me goosebumps... This will be my last World Cup. I don’t know how else you would cap off a career like mine in a better way.”

Wambach also says that she wants to do it for her country:

“I have one more opportunity to win a World Cup for my country, I’ve never won one.” “I want to make my country proud. And I know that in 2011 we did but we fell short, we didn’t come home with the World Cup. I know people think we won the World Cup because of that Brazil goal, but didn’t win. And I feel that hurt and the heartbreak every single day.”

Nike Unveils New Kits

Featured Player Quote

“The new kit was designed to showcase the USA’s tremendous sense of national pride as well as their distinct sense of style, while also capturing the nation’s eternal optimism for achieving greatness,” said Martin Lotti, Creative Director for Nike Soccer.

While the new kit features Nike’s signature style and passion, it has also been designed to offer players the very latest in performance innovation, kit technology and environmental sustainability.

“You have to do what must

be done knowing happiness

doesn’t always come from

that, but greatness does.”

Sydney Leroux

#11 Sydney Leroux’s post goal

celebration above.

Kick It With the USWNTOne Nation. One Team. One Place.

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“Our goal is to provide USWNT fans with timely news on the status of our organization, its players and the team’s progress.

We aim to serve our fan base byinforming them of all changes and decisions made involving the team and making this information easily accessible.”

Our Mission Statement Staff Box

Editor

Laurie KaplanLaurie.Kaplan@nytimes.com

Writer

Rebeccah BortzRbortz@USWNT.org

Photographer

Noah GrahamNoah@NGphotography.com

Dear Editor,

I am an avid subscriber and supporter of your newsletter. It never disappoints to provide vital and timely information on my favorite soccer team. Thanks for always making it easy for me to keep up with the USWNT with my busy schedule. I will continue to read your newsletter for many years to come!

Thanks,Lisa Peters

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

I read your newsletter every month as I am a die-hard USWNT fan. I am excited for the upcoming World Cup this summer! I am a little nervous, though, after they were drawn into the “Group of Death.” Do you have any thoughts on the competition and the team’s chances at winning this year? I would love to hear your analysis.

Thank you,Eric Johnson

Upcoming games:

Tomorrow: Saturday, April 4 vs New Zealand @

St. Louis, MO

Sunday May 10, 2015 vs Ireland @ San Jose, CASunday May 17, 2015 vs Mexico @ Carson, CASaturday May 30, 2015 vs Korea Republic @ Harrison, NJ

The World Cup Begins:

Monday June 8 2015 vs Australia @ CanadaFriday June 12 2015 vs Sweden @ CanadaTuesday June 16 vs Nigeria @ Canada

Coming Up Next

The USWNT faces off against New Zealand tomorrow at

Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MO at 2:30pm on Fox Sports1

Kick It With the USWNTOne Nation. One Team. One Place.

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