CHICAGO (AP) — Abby Wambach returns to the U.S. Olympic team and Pia Sundhage picked six newcomers for the 18-woman squad that will try and defend its gold medal at this summer’s London Games.
Wambach missed the Beijing Olympics after breaking her leg. She played in the 2004 Games, scoring the winning goal in the gold-medal game against Brazil.
Sydney Leroux, who has played in only nine games for the U.S., will make her Olympic debut along with Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, Kelley O’Hara, Amy LePeilbet and Becky Sauerbrunn.
Captain Christie Rampone is the most veteran player on the squad, becoming the first player to make four Olympic teams. Rampone needs to play in only one more game to set the U.S. record for Olympic appearances.
