Back to the Philadelphia Union Newsfeed

Depth is key for U.S. women's Olympic soccer team

U.S. Depth Is Key to SuccessUnited States coach Jill Ellis' biggest challenge is making the best use of the team's unparalleled depth in the Olympics' short time span.

If the month-long World Cup is a marathon, the two-and-a-half-week Summer Games are a sprint. And this time, the roster is just 18 players instead of the World Cup's 23.

So the odds are high that you'll see every one of those 18 players in Brazil, from Alex Morgan to Whitney Engen.

You might even see backup goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher spell Hope Solo for a time, especially if passage to the quarterfinals is secured before the group stage finale against Colombia.