U.S. women's national team manager Jill Ellis has chosen the squad she thinks is capable of repeating as Women's World Cup champions–and that includes the return of a pair of veterans who figured to be on the outside looking in.
Ellis has revealed her final 23-player roster for this summer's competition in France, where the U.S. will look to win a record fourth title and re-cement its status as the best in the world. She has been working with a large nucleus for some time but still had room for a pair of final-cut surprises. Right back Ali Krieger, the 2015 Women's World Cup champion who had just made her return to the team for the first time in two years during last month's camp, ultimately earned a ticket to France.