#ThanksAbby ​USWNT Victory Tour vs. China Date: Wednesday, December 16th, 2015 Location: New Orleans, LA Time: 7pm CT TV: FS1 Watch with your #AOFamily at one of our 185 chapter locations! The Hype What more can be said about a team that’s won a world championship, again? Ignore the haters, dump the doubters, and embrace the love. We knew it all along (#WeWantThreeStars) and now #WeHAVEThreeStars. The United States women’s national team embarks on their ten-city “Victory Tour” to celebrate and, of course, the American Outlaws, as we were in Canada, will be behind them, cheering them on. #WeAreGoingToBrazilPartDois (Olympic qualifying) kicks off in January so these matches are part celebration, part preparation to defend their Gold Medal from the 2012 London Olympics. A few key players from the summer campaign in Canada are sidelined with injuries, but the bulk of the squad will play in front of pack crowds all across the country. “As the games progress I think it will be more and more Olympic oriented,” Christen Press said of the 10-game tour that began here and builds toward Olympic qualifying and next summer’s Games in Brazil. “We’re just here to celebrate. We’re happy to be back together.” (Source: Sports Illustrated) For Shannon Boxx, Lauren Holiday, and Lori Chalupny these will be their last competitive matches wearing the red, white, and blue. International soccer’s all-time leading scorer Abby Wambach and iron-lady Christine Rampone have yet to make a decision about her playing future, but these matches could be their last as well. Expect some of the World Cup’s fringe players like Syndey Leroux, backup goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris (KHALEESI!!!), Whitney Engen, Kelly O’Hara, Christen Press, and Amy Rodriguez to get significant minutes as the make their case for Brazil next summer. And now a call up for Crystal Dunn, who just missed the WC roster and is on a tear in the NWSL, with a chance to prove herself useful. She already has three goals and three assists since joining the roster. Seven players have been added to the roster for the remainder of the Victory Tour for coach Ellis to evaluate before Olympic qualifying begins in January. They include forwards Lindsey Horan of Paris Saint-Germain and Stephanie McCaffrey of the Boston Breakers, midfielders Samantha Mewis of the Western NY Flash and Christine Nairn from the Washington Spirit, and defenders Jaelene Hinkle of the Western New York Flash, Gina Lewandowski of FC Bayern Munich, and Emily Sonnett from the University of Virginia. Getting their first call-ups are Danielle Colaprico, the NWSL Rookie of the Year and a midfielder from the Chicago Red Stars, and Rose Lavelle, a junior midfielder at Wisconsin, who was one of the top players for the USA at the 2014 Under-20 Women’s World Cup. But the real focus will, of course, be on the heroes of the tournament: Golden Glove winner Hope Solo, Golden Ball winner Carli Lloyd, the magnificent back four of Julie Johnson, Meghan Klingenburg, Ali Krieger, and Becky Sauerbrunn; plus familiar faces and fan favorites like Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan. So head to your local AO chapter bar to relive that #winning feeling from this summer and support our USWNT on this victory lap! XOXO, AO Victory Tour (Click on each for AO Events) August 16 - Pittsburgh, PA vs. Costa Rica (8-0 win) August 19 - Chattanooga, TN vs. Costa Rica (7-2 win) September 17 - Detroit, MI vs. Haiti (5-0 win) September 20 - Birmingham, AL vs. Haiti (8-0 win) October 21 - Seattle, WA vs. Brazil (1-1 draw) October 25 - Orlando, FL vs. Brazil (3-0 win) December 6 - Honolulu, HI vs. Trinidad & Tobago - CANCELLED December 10 - San Antonio, TX vs. Trinidad & Tobago (6-0 win) December 13 - Phoenix, AZ vs. China (2-0 win) December 16 - New Orleans, LA vs. China USWNT Roster (subject to change) GOALKEEPERS (3): Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars), Hope Solo (Seattle Reign FC) DEFENDERS (10): Crystal Dunn (Washington Spirit), Whitney Engen (Boston Breakers), Jaelene Hinkle (Western NY Flash), Julie Johnston (Chicago Red Stars), Meghan Klingenberg (Portland Thorns FC), Ali Krieger (Washington Spirit), Kelley O’Hara (Sky Blue FC), Christie Rampone (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City), Emily Sonnett (Univ. of Virginia) MIDFIELDERS (8): Morgan Brian (Houston Dash), Danielle Colaprico (Chicago Red Stars), Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC), Rose Lavelle (Wisconsin), Carli Lloyd (Houston Dash), Samantha Mewis (Western NY Flash), Heather O’Reilly (FC Kansas City), Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign FC) FORWARDS (7): Lindsey Horan (PSG), Sydney Leroux (Western NY Flash), Stephanie McCaffrey (Boston Breakers), Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride), Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars), Amy Rodriguez (FC Kansas City), Abby Wambach (unattached)