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U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo is regarded as one of the best at her position in the world. (Rick Bowmer/The Associated Press)

Hope Solo, the starting goaltender as the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team heads for the World Cup in Canada next month, quietly returned to Nike's marketing spotlight Wednesday.

Just as quietly, Solo had vanished in recent months from Nike's social and mainstream media landscapes as she dealt with a domestic violence criminal case and a suspension from the national team.

Nike Soccer on Wednesday posted a photograph of Solo to its Twitter account -- a shot of the goalkeeper training with a piece of resistance equipment. The post is a promotion for a free Nike smartphone app. (Nike Soccer - which focuses on the global game in the U.S. -- has 1.34 million Twitter followers; Solo has 867,000.)

Also this week, Solo launched an e-commerce line of Hope Solo T-shirts, hoodies, sweatpants and caps.

Excited to open my official store with a special discount! Use code LAUNCH15 to save 15% http://t.co/7I8CUPmTZw pic.twitter.com/SPmMCnA3XI — Hope Solo (@hopesolo) May 18, 2015

Just a month ago, however, Solo was not among the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team members who modeled the Nike-designed home kits at an introduction event. And when Nike Soccer tweeted a photo Feb. 16 of several team members clad in the Nike-designed away kit, Solo was not in the picture. Backup goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris, however, was.

Earlier this year Solo served a one-month suspension from the team following her husband's arrest for DUI while driving a team van in January. Solo, in training camp at the time, was also in the van. She had been ordered to refrain from drinking alcohol last year after being arrested at her sister's home on domestic violence charges that were later dropped.

Before those troubles, Solo was a model athlete for Nike soccer, training and women's apparel.

The United States, which has won two World Cups, the last one in 1999, begins the month-long tournament on June 8 against Australia in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

--Allan Brettman

503-294-5900

@allanbrettman