Ellis leading US women into World Cup qualifying

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) Jill Ellis was chatting with some of her U.S. women's national team players this week when one of them mentioned that it was about time they played some games that mattered.

They had endured weeks of training camps, and it seemed to them they went on forever. And that struck Ellis as kind of funny, because everything has flown by for her.

Since taking over the U.S team on a full-time basis in May, after two stints as interim coach, Ellis has been consumed by training camps and preparation. It all has built to this, the first round of World Cup qualifying beginning Wednesday night against Trinidad and Tobago.

The Americans will continue with games against Guatemala on Friday night in Chicago, and Haiti on Monday night in Washington, D.C.