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SANDY — There are nine teams in the National Women's Soccer League, the country's top flight of professional women's soccer in North America.

That represents nearly 250 players, both American and international, playing in what is arguably the top (or at least deepest) league in the world. And while not all of those players are American, it leaves a significant pool for U.S. women's national team coach Jill Ellis to draw from for the upcoming FIFA Women's World Cup in France.

And three of those players she'll select for the quadrennial tournament come from Utah.

Utah Royals FC teammates Becky Sauerbrunn, Christen Press and Kelley O'Hara were named to the preliminary roster for the U.S. women's national team, Ellis announced Thursday, setting in motion their upcoming trip to France with the defending world champions.

The squad also features several regulars, like Carli Lloyd, the Sky Blue FC (N.J.) striker who will make her fourth World Cup appearance, and Alex Morgan, a three-time World Cup veteran who plays for Orlando in the NWSL.

"Even though this is my fourth World Cup roster, it’s just as special as the first one I was named to," said Lloyd, 36, who was the breakout star of the Women's World Cup title squad in 2015. "It's a different chapter of my career, this most likely being my last World Cup, but it’s an honor to be among this talented group we have going to France.

"Even though we won in 2015, there’s still so much hunger on this team to go after that trophy and I’m looking forward to this experience with my teammates as it will be one of the biggest and most exciting challenges of our careers."

Consistency is a hallmark of Sauerbrunn, the Royals team captain who coach Laura Harvey rated among the most consistent players she's ever coached — and then some.

United States' Becky Sauerbrunn, right, fights for the ball with France's Camille Abily during a group G match of the women's Olympic football tournament between United States and France at the Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016. (Photo: Eugenio Savio, AP)

"Becky's Becky. She is by far the most consistent player I've ever seen, ever," Harvey said. "Every week, you know what you are going to get from her. Her performances are always excellent, and she puts every foot right."

Sauerbrunn, 33, is the captain of Utah Royals FC (and first player signed in club history), and among the most tenured U.S. players available in the pool. With 155 caps dating back to 2008, Sauerbrunn was an integral part of the national team that won the World Cup title in Canada in 2015, as well as the second-place squad in Germany in 2011 and Olympic gold medalists in the 2012 Summer Games in London.

"I'm so incredibly honored to be representing the United States this summer," said Sauerbrunn, who will feature in her third World Cup. "I was fortunate to be on the team that won four years ago and now I hope to bring the World Cup trophy back to the states and add a fourth star to our jersey."

Press, 30, is another long-time U.S. international who has been on the national team radar since her Herman Trophy-winning days at Stanford in 2010. Still the Cardinal’s all-time leading scorer with 71 goals, Press has scored 47 goals in 113 appearances with the women’s national team, and the Los Angeles native has played with Utah professionally since the middle of the 2018 season.

"Christen is in great form," Harvey said. "I think she is in the form you want her to be in if you are Jill Ellis."

Back home at URFC

Strong defense, 'FOMO' fuel Utah Royals' fast start to 2019 campaign Utah will open Week 4 of the NWSL regular season Friday night against the Chicago Red Stars (1-0-2, 5 points) as the second-best team in the league, and first in points per game.

O'Hara, 30, played most of last season with several injuries for Utah, scoring her first goal against the Washington Spirit in May and cycling in and out of the starting lineup at both outside back and winger before finishing the year with arthroscopic ankle surgery in October that sat her out for nearly three months.

Still, the native of Fayetteville, Georgia with 115 international caps played with the squad as recently as at the 2018 CONCACAF women’s championship last year, as well as a handful of friendlies prior to the current NWSL season. Rostered to the 2015 World Cup squad, O’Hara did not play during the team’s title run, but the Stanford product is expected to see as much time as her recovering 5-foot, 5-inch frame can handle in France.

O'Hara has progressively played more for Utah Royals FC in 2019, coming off the bench in both matches for the second-year NWSL side during its 2-0-0 start.

"We just want Kelley to be healthy, fit and ready to go," Harvey said. "She's close; I wish them all the best."

United States forward Christen Press, second from right, is congratulated by Crystal Dunn (16, Ali Krieger, second from left, and Allie Long, right, after scoring against Costa Rica in the second half of women's international friendly soccer match, Friday, July. 22, 2016, in Kansas City, Kan. (Photo: Colin E. Braley, AP)

O'Hara should be able to come back healthy, as Ellis' roster includes seven defenders — with fellow outside backs Crystal Dunn and Ali Krieger.

The United States will play three warmup games prior to departing for France, beginning Sunday, May 12 when the United States faces South Africa at 2:30 p.m. MT at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The squad will also play New Zealand — featuring Utah outside back Katie Bowen — May 16 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, and conclude the sendoff series May 26 at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey against CONCACAF rival Mexico.

The United States will open the World Cup against Group F opponent Thailand on June 11 in Reims, France. The team will then face Chile on June 16 in Paris and conclude group play June 20 against Sweden in Le Havre.

Here's the complete roster.

U.S. roster for 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup

Goalkeepers: Adrianna Franch (Portland Thorns FC), Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)

Defenders: Abby Dahlkemper (North Carolina Courage), Tierna Davidson (Chicago Red Stars), Crystal Dunn (North Carolina Courage), Ali Krieger (Orlando Pride), Kelley O'Hara (Utah Royals FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (Utah Royals FC), Emily Sonnett (Portland Thorns FC)

Midfielders: Morgan Brian (Chicago Red Stars), Julie Ertz (Chicago Red Stars), Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC), Rose Lavelle (Washington Spirit), Allien Long (Reign FC), Samantha Mewis (NC Courage)

Forwards: Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns), Carli Lloyd (Sky Blue FC), Jessica McDonald (NC Courage), Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride), Christen Press (Utah Royals), Mallory Pugh (Washington Spirit), Megan Rapinoe (Reign FC)

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