Wambach makes last U.S. roster, leads USWNT for victory tour's end
Abby Wambach has made a U.S. women's national team roster for the last time in her career, headlining the 28-player squad that Jill Ellis will coach for the final four games of the USA's World Cup victory tour.
Wambach, who announced her retirement last month, will lead the U.S. in games against Trinidad & Tobago in Honolulu and San Antonio and against China in Glendale, Arizona, and New Orleans on Dec. 6, 10, 13 and 16, respectively. She'll conclude her super career at the Superdome, looking to add to her world-record of 184 international goals in the USA's final matches of the year.
Abby Wambach retires at appropriate time, place to cap iconic career
Wambach is joined by the 19 other active players from the USA's World Cup-winning squad (Lauren Holiday, Lori Chalupny and Shannon Boxx have all retired) and eight other new faces.
After the victory tour, the U.S. turns its attention to Olympic qualifying. Monday, the U.S. was drawn into a group with Mexico, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico, with games taking place in Houston and Dallas in February.
“It has been a fantastic and thrilling year and we are looking forward to ending it on a high note, and especially honoring Abby and her legendary career in New Orleans,” Ellis said in a statement. “T&T and China are very competitive teams and once again we’ll look to these games to continue the process of preparing for Olympic Qualifying, especially now that we know our path during the qualifying tournament in February.”
Here is the full squad for the end of the victory tour:
GOALKEEPERS: Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars), Hope Solo (Seattle Reign FC)
DEFENDERS: Crystal Dunn (Washington Spirit), Whitney Engen (Boston Breakers), Jaelene Hinkle (Western NY Flash), Julie Johnston (Chicago Red Stars), Meghan Klingenberg (Portland Thorns FC), Ali Krieger (Washington Spirit), Kelley O’Hara (Sky Blue FC), Christie Rampone (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City), Emily Sonnett (Univ. of Virginia)
MIDFIELDERS: Morgan Brian (Houston Dash), Danielle Colaprico (Chicago Red Stars), Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC), Rose Lavelle (Wisconsin), Carli Lloyd (Houston Dash), Samantha Mewis (Western NY Flash), Heather O’Reilly (FC Kansas City), Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign FC)
FORWARDS: Lindsey Horan (PSG), Sydney Leroux (Western NY Flash), Stephanie McCaffrey (Boston Breakers), Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride), Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars), Amy Rodriguez (FC Kansas City), Abby Wambach (unattached)
