The squad includes goalkeeper Hope Solo, midfielder Carli Lloyd, forward Alex Morgan and all five regular defenders.

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“The last few camps capped a nine-month evaluation process and the players certainly made it a real challenge to narrow the roster down to 18,” Ellis said. “We’ve got a great blend of players with experience at the Olympic Games and in major events along with the youthful energy of some players who did not play in the Women’s World Cup last summer. As a coach in the Olympic Games, you want to put together a group capable of reaching the top of the podium while also being mindful of getting players prepared for the next World Cup, and I think we’ve done that.”

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The Brazil-bound players who were not on the World Cup team are Washington Spirit forward Crystal Dunn, the 2015 National Women’s Soccer League MVP; Portland Thorns midfielders Lindsey Horan and Allie Long; and forward Mallory Pugh, 18, who will enter UCLA this fall. Dunn, Pugh and Horan are likely starters this summer.

Dunn’s Spirit teammate, defender Ali Krieger, made her first Olympic squad. The Dumfries, Va., native and Forest Park High School graduate missed the 2012 Games with a knee injury.

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Two former University of Virginia stars from the World Cup squad are also on the Olympic team: defender Becky Sauerbrunn and midfielder Morgan Brian. Defender Emily Sonnett, who finished her U-Va. career last fall, is an alternate.

Almost all of the roster slots were set months ago, even though Ellis could select only 18 players, five fewer than the World Cup. The International Olympic Committee has tighter guidelines on participating athletes than FIFA, which oversees the World Cup. However, the IOC does allow four alternates, who will travel to Brazil and remain eligible to play in case of significant injury.

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World Cup forwards Sydney Leroux and Amy Rodriguez are not available because of pregnancy. Four veterans, including all-time scoring leader Abby Wambach, retired last winter.

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The Americans, 13-0-1 this year, will attempt to become the first team to win Women’s World Cup and Olympic titles in consecutive years. The previous six world champions have failed to repeat their success at the Summer Games.

The United States has won four of the past five gold medals, settling for silver in 2000.

The path to another gold is not easy: Group G includes medal contender France. The second-place finisher is likely to face Germany in the quarterfinals. Host Brazil is a possible semifinal opponent.

The Americans will play their first two matches in Belo Horizonte (vs. New Zealand and France), then complete group play in the Amazonian city of Manaus (vs. Colombia).

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The final will be played at Rio’s Maracana Stadium.

U.S. ROSTER

Goalkeepers: Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars), Hope Solo (Seattle Reign).

Defenders: Whitney Engen (Boston Breakers), Julie Johnston (Chicago Red Stars), Meghan Klingenberg (Portland Thorns), Ali Krieger (Washington Spirit), Kelley O’Hara (Sky Blue), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City).

Midfielders: Morgan Brian (Houston Dash), Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns), Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns), Carli Lloyd (Houston Dash), Allie Long (Portland Thorns), Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign).

Forwards: Crystal Dunn (Washington Spirit), Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride), Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars), Mallory Pugh (UCLA).