U.S. Women's National Soccer Team: Power Ranking Every Player on the Roster

The U.S. Women's National Team is headed to Japan to compete in the 2012 Kirin Challenge Cup against Brazil and 2011 Women's World Cup champion Japan.

This will mark the first meeting between the United States and Brazil since the historic match at last year's World Cup. It also puts the U.S. back on the pitch with Japan following the loss at the Algarve Cup in early March.

Head Coach Pia Sundhage has released the 23-player roster for the trip, and we break it down in this power ranking.

No. 23: Ashlyn Harris, GK

The 2011 Coast Guard Goalkeeper of the Year in the WPS joins the team for the trip to Japan.

However, she has yet to get her first cap for the national team. Harris is a good keeper who helped lead the Western New York Flash to the 2011 WPS Championship.

No. 22: Meghan Klingenberg, M

The University of North Carolina standout rejoins the national team after last year's Four Nations tournament in China. Klingenberg brings fresh legs to the pitch that may be called upon against two of the best teams in the world.

No. 21: Whitney Engen, D

Engen was called up to the squad for the Algarve Cup but saw no time on the pitch. She was the 2011 WPS Defender of the Year for the league champion Western New York Flash.

No. 20: Stephanie Cox, D

Stephanie Cox has made a few appearances for the U.S. in 2012. She adds a wealth of experience and depth to the defensive side of the ball.

No. 19: Heather Mitts, D

Heather Mitts is one of the USWNT's most veteran players. Mitts is just one of five on the roster with over 100 caps.

The veteran defender has started twice and come off the bench in two other matches in 2012 to help shut down opposing offenses.

No. 18: Lori Lindsey, M

"Lightning" has provided a spark in 2012, starting in two games and appearing in four others, while tallying a goal—her first-ever international goal for the WNT—in the 13-0 blowout of Guatemala in Olympic qualifying in January.

With Lindsey, it's not a case of if lightning will strike twice, but when.

No. 17: Becky Sauerbrunn, D

Becky Sauerbrunn is another piece of the tenacious defensive puzzle.

Sauerbrunn played every minute of the first two WPS seasons before she took off for the World Cup. She has started four matches in 2012 after a successful stint in 2011.

No. 16: Tobin Heath, M

The skilled midfielder has found the back of the net twice in the 2012 campaign. Once in the 14-0 shellacking of the Dominican Republic and again in the 3-0 victory over Costa Rica in Olympic qualifying.

Heath gives the U.S. many options with her dribbling, control and added scoring ability from the midfield position.

No. 15: Megan Rapinoe, M

One of the heroes of the World Cup, Rapinoe continues to be one of the top "super-subs" for the National Team.

She brings a near-unrivaled energy off the bench for the squad. Rapinoe has accuracy with both feet and gives the U.S. great chances to score, either by assisting the prolific U.S. forwards or by finding the back of the net herself.

No. 14: Nicole Barnhart, GK

Barnhart has seen the pitch twice in 2012, replacing Solo in the second half of the match versus New Zealand and starting against Sweden.

Sweden defeated the USWNT in the group stage of the 2011 World Cup, but Barnhart made sure there would not be a repeat during the Algarve Cup. She shut them out and the USWNT walked away with a redeeming 4-0 victory.

Barnhart showed that the U.S. is not just limited to Hope Solo in the net.

No. 13: Amy Rodriguez, F

A-Rod exploded for five goals early in 2012 against the Dominican Republic. She added a sixth in the next game versus Guatemala.

She has since cooled off but remains a threat to score at any time. Of the 10 contests in 2012, she has started four and come off the bench in the other six (including her five-goal performance).

Rodriguez brings speed and experience to the table in the potent U.S. attack.

No. 12: Kelley O'Hara, D

O'Hara has been a key defender in 2012 with seven starts in the 10 matches. In those contests, only two goals were given up—one versus New Zealand and one versus Japan.

The former Stanford Cardinal provides great support on the back line and makes life difficult for those who try to find their way toward the Americans' goal.

No. 11: Sydney Leroux, F

Leroux saw her first action of 2012 in the second game of the year versus Guatemala, and we may have seen a star born. She replaced Abby Wambach in the second half and exploded for a record-tying five goals.

Since that game, she's found the back of the net twice more. The 21-year-old UCLA Bruin has given the opposition another dangerous forward to worry about. A scary addition to the U.S. attack.

No. 10: Amy LePeilbet, D

The two-time WPS Defender of the Year has started eight of the 10 2012 matches. LePeilbet creates hardship for opposing players trying to work their way to the goal.

She is a constant force to be reckoned with and a vital piece to one of the best back lines in soccer today.

No. 9: Shannon Boxx, M

The long-time USWNT midfielder provides a unique physical presence on the pitch.

Boxx is one of the very best defensive midfielders in the world and sets the team up with good possessions. She is not just a defensive midfielder, however—she also has the ability to score.

In the 2012 campaign, she has started eight matches and came on as a substitute against Guatemala.

No. 8: Heather O'Reilly, M

The attacking midfielder has had a great start to 2012.

HAO has scored four times—once against Mexico and a hat trick versus the Dominican Republic, both Olympic qualifying matches.

She has seen the pitch in nine of the 10 matches (starting eight), giving opposing keepers nightmares by setting up scoring opportunities for herself and her teammates.

No. 7: Rachel Buehler, D

You do not get a nickname like "The Buehl-dozer" if you are not one of the best defenders on the globe. Rachel Buehler attacks the ball and puts the pressure on her opposition.

Through the first portion of 2012 she has seven starts under her belt, and even notched a goal against the Dominican Republic in the 14-0 drubbing.

She will look to keep it up when the USWNT take on Brazil and Japan in early April.

No. 6: Carli Lloyd, M

Lloyd has started all 10 of the USWNT matches in 2012.

On top of that, the midfielder has tallied up seven goals just three months into the year. She has scored in half of the games played, registering a hat trick against Mexico.

Lloyd is able to strike or set up the host of scoring options at her disposal, creating chaos for opposing defenses.

No. 5: Christie Rampone, D

The Captain.

Rampone is one of the leaders on the team and the most experienced player on the roster. She is the anchor of the defense, starting all 10 matches in 2012 and helping the U.S. keep most teams off the board entirely.

The USWNT back line has only given up three goals in 2012 and Rampone is a major reason why.

No. 4: Lauren Cheney, F

Cheney showed what she could do in last year's World Cup with an all-around performance. She is the USWNT's most versatile player.

Cheney has started seven of the 2012 matches and scored twice. She can be a goal scorer, a passer or quality defensive presence from the forward or midfield position.

Lauren Cheney is a valuable cog in the machine that gives head coach Pia Sundhage a wealth of options to attack with.

No. 3: Abby Wambach, F

Abby Wambach is the current face of the USWNT. Wambach finished third in the FIFA Player of the Year voting for 2011 coming off of her dramatic performance in the World Cup.

All she has done in her 10 starts in 2012 is score nine goals. That's it. Just another day at the office.

Wambach has scored twice in three different matches this year and is second all-time on the USWNT's international goals-scored list behind Mia Hamm (158).

No. 2: Alex Morgan, F

The one known as "Baby Horse" became a household name during the 2011 World Cup. She was becoming known as a closer with her late goals, but in 2012 she has turned it up even more.

2012 may be the year of the Baby Horse.

She has seen action in nine games—with six starts—and posted 11 goals. Morgan scored twice in three consecutive games against Canada, New Zealand and Norway.

And in the rematch with Sweden, Morgan put a stamp on the revenge with her first-ever hat trick.

Alex Morgan has elevated her game in 2012, right in time for the USWNT's trip to the Olympics.

No. 1: Hope Solo, GK

She is the world's best keeper. No. 1. Solo. Hope Solo.

She keeps the other teams off the board and gives the USWNT the best possible chance at victory.

Solo has only given up two goals in 2012—a last-second shot from Norway and one to Japan. Solo is the biggest asset to the United States. There is no other national team with this kind of athlete between the posts to stop others from scoring.

She is essential to the 2012 Olympic Gold dreams of the USWNT. But first will come Brazil and Japan in early April, and Solo will be up to the challenge.