We officially know who will be representing the US women's football team [1] at the Tokyo Olympics this summer. The 18-player Olympic roster [2] includes 17 athletes from the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup championship team, eleven of which also competed at the 2016 Games in Rio. This will be Carli Lloyd [3] and Tobin Heath's fourth Olympic appearance, a feat that, until now, has only been accomplished once before in USWNT history, by former captain Christie Pearce Rampone.
Team USA has brought home a total of five Olympic medals [4], four of which are gold, since women's football was first played at the Olympics 25 years ago. They'll be looking to reclaim their rightful spot atop the podium this summer after a devastating loss to Sweden in 2016, during a quarterfinal match that ended in penalty kicks. If we know anything about the USWNT, it's that these athletes won't go down without a fight [5], and we can't wait to watch what Tokyo has in store. In the meantime, get to know the players, and be sure to bookmark their 2021 Olympic game schedule [6].
To learn more about all the Olympic hopefuls, visit TeamUSA.org [7]. The Tokyo Olympics begin July 23 on NBC.
Abby Dahlkemper
Position: defender
Hometown: Menlo Park, CA
Club: Manchester City (England)
In her first four seasons in the NWSL, Dahlkemper won three championships. This will be her first Olympic appearance.
Tierna Davidson
Position: defender
Hometown: Menlo Park, CA
Club: Chicago Red Stars
Davidson, who was the youngest player on the 2019 World Cup team, is making her first Olympic appearance.
Crystal Dunn
Position: defender
Hometown: Rockville Centre, NY
Club: Portland Thorns FC
Olympic appearances: Rio 2016
To this day, Dunn remains the youngest player (age 23) to be named the NWSL's Most Valuable Player, and in 2016, she tied a USWNT record, scoring five goals in a single match at the CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament. She'll be striving for her first Olympic medal this summer.
Julie Ertz
Position: defender
Hometown: Mesa, AZ
Club: Chicago Red Stars
Olympic appearances: Rio 2016
Ertz was named US Football's 2019 Female Player of the Year. After a fifth place finish with the Olympic team in 2016, Ertz is vying for her first medal in Tokyo.
Adrianna Franch
Position: goalkeeper
Hometown: Salina, KS
Club: Portland Thorns FC
Franch was named NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year in 2017 and 2018. This is her first Olympic appearance.
Tobin Heath
Position: forward
Hometown: Basking Ridge, NJ
Club: Unattached
Olympic appearances: Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016
Heath is one of two American players who will be making their fourth Olympic appearance in Tokyo. While playing on the USWNT, she has scored 33 goals and has won two World Cups.
Lindsey Horan
Position: midfielder
Hometown: Golden, CO
Club: Portland Thorns FC
Olympic appearances: Rio 2016
Horan made history as the first woman to bypass collegiate football and go right to the pros. She'll be making her second Olympic appearance in Tokyo.
Rose Lavelle
Position: midfielder
Hometown: Cincinnati
Club: OL Reign
Lavelle is known for her quick footwork and was a powerhouse for the USWNT in the 2019 World Cup, scoring three goals. She'll be making her Olympic debut this summer.
Carli Lloyd
Position: forward
Hometown: Delran, NJ
Club: NJ/NY Gotham FC
Olympic appearances: Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016
Lloyd's resumé is long and impressive: she's a two-time World Cup champion, two-time Olympic gold medalist, and two-time FIFA World Player of the Year. This will be her fourth time competing at the Olympics.
Kristie Mewis
Position: midfielder
Hometown: Hanson, MA
Club: Houston Dash
Mewis is the only player on the Olympic roster who wasn't part of the World Cup championship squad in 2019. She'll be making her Olympic debut alongside her sister, Sam.
Samantha Mewis
Position: midfielder
Hometown: Hanson, MA
Club: North Carolina Courage
Mewis was an alternate for the 2016 US Olympic team. This time, she'll be experiencing the Olympics with her older sister, Kristie, by her side.
Alex Morgan
Position: forward
Hometown: Diamond Bar, CA
Club: Orlando Pride
Olympic appearances: London 2012, Rio 2016
Morgan scored her 100th national team goal in 2019 and is a two-time World Cup champion. This will be her third Olympic appearance; she has one gold medal under her belt.
Alyssa Naeher
Position: goalkeeper
Hometown: Stratford, CT
Club: Chicago Red Stars
Olympic appearances: Rio 2016
Naeher is competing at the Olympics for the second time in hopes of earning her first medal. She was the starting goalkeeper for the USWNT in the 2019 World Cup.
Kelley O'Hara
Position: defender
Hometown: Fayetteville, GA
Club: Washington Spirit
Olympic appearances: London 2012, Rio 2016
O'Hara is a two-time World Cup champion and a one-time Olympic gold medalist, making her third appearance at the Games.
Christen Press
Position: forward
Hometown: Palos Verdes Estates, CA
Club: Unattached
Olympic appearances: Rio 2016
Press, a two-time World Cup champion, will be competing for her first medal in Tokyo, her second Olympic appearance.
Megan Rapinoe
Position: forward
Hometown: Redding, CA
Club: OL Reign
Olympic appearances: London 2012, Rio 2016
Among her many accomplishments, Rapinoe is a two-time World Cup champion and one-time Olympic gold medalist, making her third Olympic appearance in Tokyo. As a leader on the team, she has continuously and publicly fought for equal pay for women athletes.
Becky Sauerbrunn
Position: defender
Hometown: St. Louis
Club: Portland Thorns FC
Olympic appearances: London 2012, Rio 2016
Sauerbrunn has played for the USWNT in three World Cups and will make her third Olympic appearance in Tokyo. She won Olympic gold in 2012 and was named NWSL Defender of the Year three years in a row.
Emily Sonnett
Position: defender
Hometown: Marietta, GA
Club: Washington Spirit
Sonnett's first World Cup appearance was in 2019, when the USWNT clinched the championship. This will be her first time playing at the Olympics.