Ellis selects U.S. roster for upcoming Tournament of Nations in East Hartford

The U.S. women’s national soccer team takes on Australia in the Four Nations Tournament in East Hartford on Sunday, July 29.

CHICAGO, July 23 – Jill Ellis, head coach of the U.S. women’s soccer national team has named the final 23 player roster for the upcoming 2018 Tournament of Nations, which will have a doubleheader played at Rentschler Field in East Hartford on Sunday, July 29.

The United States will face Australia at 7 p.m., on the Rentschler Field turf at Pratt & Whitney Stadium following the game between Brazil and Japan at 4:15 p.m. The tournament begins on Thursday, July 26, with two games in Kansas City including the U.S. facing Japan at 7 p.m.

Japan, Australia and Brazil have all already qualified for the 2019 FIFA World Cup.

Stratford goalie Alyssa Naeher is the only Connecticut native on the U.S. women’s national. Naeher is a goalie with the Chicago Red Stars in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). She is one of three goalies on the team along with Adrianna French (Portland Thorns) and Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride).

Tickets are available via phone at 1-877-522-8499 (8 a.m. to 10 p.m.) and at the XL Center ticket office (open Monday-Friday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.)

Ellis is bringing six defenders including Abby Dahlkemper (NC Courage), Tierna Davidson (Stanford), Merritt Mathias (NC Courage), Becky Sauerbrunn (Utah Royals FC), Casey Short (Chicago Red Stars) and Emily Sonnett (Portland Thorns).

Carli Lloyd, who has scored 100 goals in 254 caps (appearances), leads the group of eight midfielders that include Julie Ertz (Chicago, 15 goals), Morgan Brian (Chicago), Lindsey Hordan (Portland), Rose Lavelle (Washington Spirit), Samathan Mewis (NC Courage), Allie Long (Seattle Reign) and McChall Zerboni (NC Courage).

Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride), who has 86 career goals in 142 international appearances with the United States, leads a group of six forwards along with Megan Rapinoe (Seattle, 37 goals), Tobin Heath (Portland, 19 goals), Amy Rodriguez (Utah Royals, 30 goals), Crystal Dunn (NC Courage, 23 goals) and Christen Press (Utah, 44 goals).

2018 TOURNAMENT OF NATIONS SCHEDULE