In just 55 days, the U.S. Women’s National Team will be playing their first match in the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, and Reign FC’s Hope Solo and Megan Rapinoe will be there representing the United States on women’s soccer’s grandest stage.
The nod marks Solo’s third trip to a World Cup in her professional career. In 2011, Solo had a standout performance at the Women’s World Cup in Germany, where she played every minute of the tournament and won the Golden Glove award.
“It’s funny because I am a veteran now and it’s my third World Cup, but still, when the roster was released, when Jill called me up and said ‘Congratulations, you’ve made the World Cup roster,’ I still felt emotional, happy, filled with joy and proud,” said Solo. “Anything can happen. You work for four years to make another roster and another roster and so it was just a nice dose of reality to know that I officially made the roster.”
Solo has 161 starts with the U.S. WNT, and has amassed 82 shutouts in her career, both leading marks for a goalkeeper in WNT history.
One of the USA’s most skillful attackers and goal scorers, Rapinoe jumped to the forefront of women’s soccer after sending the cross that Abby Wambach headed home in the dying seconds of extra time against Brazil in the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup quarterfinal.
“It’s so exciting. The World Cup is everything. To be able to say that in my career, this will be the second one I am going to go to is really special. It definitely doesn’t get old by any means,” said Rapinoe. “I am thrilled and I can’t wait. It feels like it’s getting to that time and the energy is really rising. Everyone is really excited.”
The midfielder recently received her 100th cap, becoming the 31st woman in USWNT history to achieve the century mark.
“It’s all happening at once. Getting called up to the roster, 100 caps, recorded my first-ever official hat trick in the season opener with Seattle. It’s exciting. I am buzzing right now.”
Both Solo and Rapinoe will remain with Reign FC as the team heads to Lisle, Ill. later this week to take on the Chicago Red Stars in their second match of the 2015 campaign.
2015 United States FIFA Women’s World Cup Roster By Position
GOALKEEPERS (3): Ashlyn Harris* (Washington Spirit), Alyssa Naeher* (Boston Breakers), Hope Solo*** (Seattle Reign FC)
DEFENDERS (8): Lori Chalupny** (Chicago Red Stars), Whitney Engen* (Western NY Flash), Julie Johnston* (Chicago Red Stars), Meghan Klingenberg* (Houston Dash), Ali Krieger** (Washington Spirit), Kelley O’Hara** (Sky Blue FC), Christie Rampone***** (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn** (FC Kansas City)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Shannon Boxx**** (Chicago Red Stars), Morgan Brian* (Houston Dash), Tobin Heath** (Portland Thorns FC), Lauren Holiday** (FC Kansas City), Carli Lloyd*** (Houston Dash), Heather O’Reilly*** (FC Kansas City), Megan Rapinoe** (Seattle Reign FC)
FORWARDS (5): Sydney Leroux* (Western NY Flash), Alex Morgan** (Portland Thorns FC), Christen Press* (Chicago Red Stars), Amy Rodriguez** (FC Kansas City), Abby Wambach**** (unattached)
* First Women’s World Cup
** Second Women’s World Cup
*** Third Women’s World Cup
**** Fourth Women’s World Cup
***** Fifth Women’s World Cup
Support Solo, Rapinoe, and the rest of the USWNT in their quest to win the World Cup and shop our #SRFCUSA Collection now!
Images by Jane G. Photography
Published by Seattle Reign FC
