Jill Ellis, USWNT Agree to New Contract: Latest Details and Reaction

The United States women's national soccer team emerged victorious at the 2015 Women's World Cup, and head coach Jill Ellis has been rewarded for her side's achievement. 

The Washington Post's Steven Goff reported Ellis and the United States Soccer Federation have agreed to terms on a new deal after declining to exercise an option that could have extended her previous contract by "up to five additional years." The US Soccer Federation announced the deal on Wednesday:

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“When we hired Jill, we all knew the great challenge that was ahead of her and the team,” said U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati. “She met that challenge with tremendous passion and knowledge to win what was perhaps the most difficult Women’s World Cup tournament in history. As we look towards the Rio Olympics and build towards the 2019 World Cup in France, we think Jill is the ideal person to lead the next generation of the Women’s National Team.”

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Terms of the deal won't be disclosed until next year, but according to Goff, "Ellis is expected to guide the squad through the 2019 World Cup in France and perhaps the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo."

The new contract also ensures Ellis will be front and center for the team's participation in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

During the 2015 Women's World Cup, the United States stifled opponents with a stingy defense that didn't allow a goal between its tournament opener against Australia and the final triumph over Japan. 

"It just feels really, really good," Ellis said following the win, per ESPN.com's Jeff Carlisle. "And I couldn't be more proud of this group of players and this staff. I knew they had it in them, they knew they had it in them, and I'm just so happy the world gets to see it."

Carli Lloyd—who bagged a hat trick against Japan—was vocal in her support of Ellis after the USWNT hoisted the hardware. 

"What Jill did and the coaching staff did from start to finish earned us this World Cup," Lloyd said, per Goff. 

And while Ellis didn't consistently draw rave reviews as the U.S. tallied a draw against Sweden and a 1-0 victory over Nigeria in the group stage before downing Colombia in the round of 16, a final flourish that included wins over China, Germany and Japan helped quell concerns.

"It's evident from the performances of the players that belief in Ellis and the staff stayed constant, and perhaps even rose during the tournament," Carlisle wrote. 

Now that the U.S. has a target on its back as it preps for the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Ellis has a new challenger on her hands.

But if perseverance during the 2015 World Cup was any indication, solving world powers on another international stage could bring out the best in the red, white and blue.