The news for Philadelphia soccer fans keeps getting better Sunday, as not only will 18,500 people was the U.s. Women's Soccer Team take on China (7 p.m. ET) at PPL Park Sunday, everyone in attendance will get the first look at the complete 18-player roster Team U.S.A. will field for the London Games.
Hours before playing China, U.S. head coach Pia Sundhage announced the final roster cuts. Here's a look at her final decisions:
GOALKEEPERS (2): Nicole Barnhart, Hope Solo
DEFENDERS (6): Rachel Buehler, Amy LePeilbet, Heather Mitts, Kelley O’Hara, Christie Rampone, Becky Sauerbrunn
MIDFIELDERS (6): Shannon Boxx, Lauren Cheney, Tobin Heath, Carli Lloyd, Heather O’Reilly, Megan Rapinoe
FORWARDS (4): Sydney Leroux, Alex Morgan, Amy Rodriguez, Abby Wambach
ALTERNATES (4): Midfielder Lori Lindsey, goalkeeper Jill Loyden, midfielder Meghan Klingenberg and forward Christen Press.
“As always, these players make it very difficult to select rosters, and for this Olympic team it was a long, productive and interesting process to cut the pool down to these 18,” said Sundhage. “The team is a mix of very experienced players and several new fresh faces. All the players are versatile, which is extremely important when you have just 16 field players on a roster. This is a group that is focused on some very high goals and it will be a pleasure to coach them in the Olympics.”
All-in-all, 11 players return for the 2008 Gold Medal squad. Starting at the end of July, Team USA will try and win their third straight gold medal.
For more on the U.S. Women's Soccer Game vs. China, check back to this SB Nation Philly StoryStream.