There weren’t many surprises in the 18-woman US Olympic roster selected by head coach Jill Ellis, but there are few questions that need to be answered.
The United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) currently sit in the top spot in the FIFA world rankings. They are the favorites to win the gold medal at the Rio Olympics. Manager Jill Ellis called in 18 players and four alternates to take to Brazil. While nearly every player selected was expected to make it, there are still a few questions yet to be answered.
Should Heather O’Reilly have been selected?
O’Reilly — who can play in the midfield as well as defense — has been a mainstay of the USWNT for a decade. At 31, she was seeking to make her fourth trip to the Olympics. Ellis, however, elected to go in another direction, listing her among the alternates.
At outside back, Kelley O’Hara has emerged as the favored right back, and Meghan Klingenberg has had the left back position locked up for some time. Ali Krieger will battle O’Hara for playing time and can cover both positions if need be. With plenty of wide midfielders making the trip, O’Reilly was deemed redundant. Her leadership and experience will be missed.
Will Megan Rapinoe be healthy enough to contribute?
When it’s all said and done, Rapinoe, who hasn’t played since December due to an ACL tear, was probably the one that took O’Reilly’s plane ticket to Rio. When healthy, she is a consistent threat on the left wing for the USWNT. But is she healthy?
Ellis said that Rapinoe had been scheduled to make her return against South Africa last Saturday before straining her quad. The current plan is for her to play in the Olympic send-off game on July 22nd, when the USA take on Costa Rica in Kansas City. If not, Rapinoe will play her first game in eight months at the Olympics. Will the gamble to bring Rapinoe over a healthy O’Rielly pay off?
Who should start at the forward positions?
Ellis has favored a formation that utilizes two strikers. The ever present Alex Morgan will surely take up one of those spots. Will Jill Ellis finally let Christen Press take ownership of the other one?
Press has been shuffled around in various attacking positions in the past with the USWNT. With so many wing options — including the young dynamic duo of Mallory Pugh and Crystal Dunn, though both are listed as forwards — it would make since to let the speedy and competent finisher have a few consecutive starts up top. Morgan and Press will wreak havoc on any backline unfortunate enough to lineup opposite them.
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