Jill Ellis adds eight to USWNT's World Cup 23 for roster vs. Brazil

Jill Ellis brings all 23 World Cup players and eight newcomers into the U.S. women's national team's friendlies against Brazil.

SI Staff | Oct 16, 2015

Jill Ellis adds eight to USWNT's World Cup 23 for roster vs. Brazil /

U.S. women's national team manager Jill Ellis has called on her World Cup squad in addition to eight others for an upcoming pair of friendlies against Brazil.

The U.S. women take on Marta & Co. in Seattle on Oct. 21 and then again in Orlando on Oct. 25, and Ellis will have 31 players from which to choose, including a trio of players who are making their final go-around in a U.S. shirt.

The October matches will be the last ones for Lauren Holiday, Shannon Boxx and Lori Chalupny. Boxx will have her last match take place in Seattle, while Holiday and Chalupny will play through the finale in Florida.

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"We are looking forward to two competitive games against Brazil," Ellis said in a statement. "They are a highly motivated team and certainly they have some exciting and dangerous attacking players. These are the kinds of games where we get tested and it provides a chance to evaluate our player pool. The more matches we can play like this, the better."

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Among the eight additions are reigning NWSL MVP Crystal Dunn, who scored a pair of goals in the USA's last pair of friendlies against Australia stand-in Haiti; Paris Saint-Germain forward Lindsey Horan; Bayern Munich defender Gina Lewandowski (no relation to Robert) and college defender Emily Sonnett.

Following the games against Brazil, the USA will conclude its World Cup victory tour with four more matches.

Two will take place against Trinidad & Tobago, in Honolulu and San Antonio on Dec. 6 and 10, respectively. One yet-to-be-announced match will take place Dec. 13, while the finale will be against China at the New Orleans Superdome on Dec. 16.

Here is the full U.S. squad that will face Brazil:

GOALKEEPERS: Ashlyn Harris (Washington Spirit), Alyssa Naeher (Boston Breakers), Hope Solo (Seattle Reign FC)

DEFENDERS: Lori Chalupny (Chicago Red Stars), Crystal Dunn (Washington Spirit), Whitney Engen (Western NY Flash), Jaelene Hinkle (Western NY Flash), Julie Johnston (Chicago Red Stars), Meghan Klingenberg (Houston Dash), Ali Krieger (Washington Spirit), Gina Lewandowski (FC Bayern Munich), Kelley O'Hara (Sky Blue FC), Christie Rampone (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City), Emily Sonnett (Univ. of Virginia)

MIDFIELDERS: Shannon Boxx (unattached), Morgan Brian (Houston Dash), Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC), Lauren Holiday (FC Kansas City), Carli Lloyd (Houston Dash), Samantha Mewis (Western NY Flash), Christine Nairn (Washington Spirit), Heather O'Reilly (FC Kansas City), Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign FC)

FORWARDS: Lindsey Horan (Paris Saint-Germain), Sydney Leroux (Western NY Flash), Stephanie McCaffrey (Boston Breakers), Alex Morgan (Portland Thorns FC), Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars), Amy Rodriguez (FC Kansas City), Abby Wambach (unattached)