COMMERCE CITY, COLORADO – JUNE 1: United States player Rose Lavelle (number 16) dribbles with the ball during an international friendly match between South Korea and the United States Women’s National Team at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado on June 1, 2024. (Photo by Robin Alam/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The 18-player roster for the U.S. Olympic soccer team heading to Paris has been finalized.
Emma Hayes, who took over as head coach of the U.S. Women’s National Team in mid-May, has selected a team she hopes will lead the U.S. to its first Olympic soccer gold medal since 2012. With the new coach comes new roster of players, with nine making their Olympic debuts.
Veterans such as goalkeeper Alyssa Naher, midfielder Lindsey Horan and forward Crystal Dunn are returning to the Olympics, while young stars such as defender Naomi Girma and forwards Trinity Rodman and Sophia Smith will make their Olympic debuts in Paris this summer.
Cincinnati native Rose Lavelle also made the cut and will play in her second Olympic Games. One notable player not on the team sheet was Alex Morgan, who was not included in the U.S. Olympic or World Cup squad for the first time since 2008.
U.S. Women’s Olympic Soccer Team
Goalkeeper (2) Casey Murphy (University of North Carolina College), Alyssa Naher (Chicago Red Stars)
Defender (6) Tierna Davidson (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Emily Fox (Arsenal), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC), Casey Kruger (Washington Spirit), Jenna Neiswonger (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Emily Sonnett (NJ/NY Gotham FC)
Midfielder (5) Corvin Albert (Paris Saint-Germain), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC), Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyonnais), Rose Lavelle (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Catalina Macario (Chelsea FC)
Forward (5): Crystal Dunn (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Jaedyn Shaw (San Diego Wave FC), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC), Mallory Swanson (Chicago Red Stars)
The U.S. women’s soccer team has won four gold medals in the first five Olympic soccer tournaments, but has not reached the final in the past two Olympics. In Rio 2016, the U.S. team lost to Sweden in a penalty shootout in the quarterfinals. In Tokyo 2021, Canada beat the U.S. in the semifinals, but the U.S. beat Australia to win the bronze medal.
The U.S. women’s team will play in Olympic action against Zambia in Nice on July 25 at 3 p.m. Olympic soccer action can be viewed on NBC4, Peacock and NBCUniversal.
