USA Women's Soccer Roster Revealed for Rio 2016 Olympics

The United States women's national soccer team have announced their 18-woman squad for the 2016 Olympics. 

Head coach Jill Ellis has been tasked with leading the World Cup winners to glory in Rio de Janeiro following three successive Olympic triumphs. 

The Stars and Stripes would become the first nation to ever follow up a World Cup win with Olympic gold if they won the tournament.

2015 FIFA Women's World Player of the Year Carli Lloyd is the headliner of America's squad. She will be joined by goalkeeper Hope Solo and fellow midfielder Tobin Heath.

The USWNT confirmed the squad via their official Twitter account:

Player	Position	Club
Alternates
Hope Solo	Goalkeeper	Seattle Reign
Alyssa Naeher	Goalkeeper	Chicago Red Stars
Becky Sauerbrunn	Defender	FC Kansas City
Julie Johnston	Defender	Chicago Red Stars
Ali Krieger	Defender	Washington Spirit
Meghan Klingenberg	Defender	Portland Thorns
Kelley O'Hara	Defender	Sky Blue FC
Whitney Engen	Defender	Boston Breakers
Carli Lloyd	Midfielder	Houston Dash
Morgan Brian	Midfielder	Houston Dash
Tobin Heath	Midfielder	Portland Thorns
Lindsey Horan	Midfielder	Portland Thorns
Allie Long	Midfielder	Portland Thorns
Megan Rapinoe	Midfielder	Seattle Reign
Alex Morgan	Attacker	Orlando Pride
Christen Press	Attacker	Chicago Red Stars
Mallory Pugh	Attacker	Real Colorado/UCLA
Crystal Dunn	Attacker	Washington Spirit
Ashlyn Harris	Goalkeeper	Orlando Pride
Emily Sonnett	Defender	Portland Thorns
Heather O'Reilly	Midfielder	FC Kansas City
Samantha Mewis	Midfielder	Western New York

Ellis' roster has plenty of Olympic experience, with 53 combined appearances.

"We've got a great blend of players with experience at the Olympic Games and in major events along with the youthful energy of some players who did not play in the Women's World Cup last summer," Ellis remarked, via U.S. Soccer. "As a coach in the Olympic Games, you want to put together a group capable of reaching the top of the podium while also being mindful of getting players prepared for the next World Cup, and I think we've done that."

Per Sports-Reference.com, 41-year-old Christie Rampone would have become the oldest female soccer player ever to grace the Olympics. However, her knee injury and subsequent surgery in December put an end to her hopes of recording a fifth consecutive Olympics with the USA.

Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

Conversely, 18-year-old forward Mallory Pugh will be the second-youngest American soccer player since Louis Menges in 1904 to feature at the Olympics, per Sports-Reference.com.

Ultimately, the decisions made by Ellis were fairly straightforward. During last year's World Cup, it appeared it would be a begrudging task to narrow the national team to just 18 players. However, a number of factors have simplified the coach's thinking.

First, Abby Wambach, Lauren Holiday, Shannon Boxx and Lori Chalupny all retired, and then Amy Rodriguez and Sydney Leroux each became pregnant. From that moment on, the crux of the key decision-making had already been decided.

The USA's back five are a balanced and well-organised unit, complemented by the forward-thinking of Pugh and Crystal Dunn. 

There were no surprises for FourFourTwo USA Editor Jeff Kassouf:

Heading into the tournament in Brazil, the defending champions have been drawn alongside New Zealand, France and Colombia during the group stage, with matches set for August 3, 6 and 9 before the knockout stage begins.