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Lloyd, Morgan, Solo headline first USWNT roster of 2016

Photo by Joe Camporeale/USA Today Sports
Photo by Joe Camporeale/USA Today Sports

The U.S. Women’s National Team is officially turning the page.

Having spent the past few months saying goodbye to a number of key veterans, the U.S. will open 2016 with a 26-player roster for a training camp in Carson, California. Carli Lloyd, Hope Solo, and Alex Morgan are among the more familiar faces summoned by head coach Jill Ellis, and will report for the start of the camp on Jan. 5 before heading to San Diego, California, to play the Republic of Ireland on Jan. 23.

The friendly vs. the Republic of Ireland at Qualcomm Stadium is the last tuneup the Americans will have ahead of the start of the CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Championship on Feb. 10.

“This camp begins the next chapter of this program,” said Ellis in a statement released by U.S. Soccer. “We’ll have just over two weeks together to begin to build cohesion and integrate the younger players into our processes, and then we will regroup for Olympic qualifying. The leadership and experience of our returning World Cup players will give us a solid starting point on which to build, and we are looking forward to the next challenge.”

Among the new faces in camp are Portland Thorns goalkeeper Adrianna Franch and 17-year-old forward Mallory Pugh, who register as the only two players that were not a part of the  final stretch of the Women’s World Cup Victory Tour in December.

Here is the full U.S. roster:

Goalkeepers (4): Adrianna Franch (Portland Thorns FC), Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars), Hope Solo (Seattle Reign FC)

Defenders (8): Whitney Engen (Boston Breakers), Jaelene Hinkle (Western New York Flash), 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), Emily Sonnett (Univ. of Virginia)

Midfielders (8): Morgan Brian (Houston Dash), Danielle Colaprico (Chicago Red Stars), Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC), Lindsey Horan (PSG), Rose Lavelle (Wisconsin), Carli Lloyd (Houston Dash), Samantha Mewis (Western New York Flash), Heather O’Reilly (FC Kansas City)

Forwards (6): Crystal Dunn (Washington Spirit), Sydney Leroux (Western New York Flash), Stephanie McCaffrey (Boston Breakers), Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride), Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars), Mallory Pugh (Real Colorado)

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What do you think of this USWNT roster? Any surprise omissions/inclusions? Which of these players do you see making up the Olympic qualifying squad?

Share your thoughts below.

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