Tonight, Abby Wambach and the USA Women's National Team faces Sweden just up the road in Omaha, NE. The match will be shown live on ESPN2 at 8 p.m. CT. If you leave now, you could still make it to Creighton in time for the match. If not, tune in tonight as our women prepare for the 2011 Women's World Cup CONCACAF Qualifying.

U.S. WNT head coach Pia Sundhage has named the 20-player roster for the 2010 CONCACAF Women's World Cup Qualifying tournament in Mexico. A few surprises perhaps, but it's also stocked with experience. Sundhage seems to have put together a nice mix of veterans and young players as well as a balanced squad strong in both the attack and defense.

What is Individual Functional Movement Screening? Good question. It was the first activity of WNT training camp so the WNT Blog decided to find out exactly what the heck was going on in the gym at the hotel this morning. Turns out, in layman's terms, it is tests that measure the right and/or left side imbalances in strength, range of motion and flexibility, all important factors to help a soccer player train as efficiently as possible and avoid injury.

Here are some photos from the WPS All-Star Game week in Atlanta, Ga. on Monday June 28 and Tuesday, June 29. Tune in to the WPS All-Star Game on Fox Soccer Channel on Wednesday, June 30th, at 7:30pm ET to catch teams Abby XI and Marta XI in action!

WPS Sunday on FSC announcer Jenn Hildreth and WPS Commissioner Tonya Antonucci prepare for the All-Star Pick 'Em Event on June 28, 2010.

Pia Sundhage will leave no stones unturned, people! Today, the preliminary roster for the USWNT training camp that will determine the (from what I understand) two different sets of eighteen players for two separate friendlies against China in October... was announced today. And, as various WPS teams get kicked out of the playoffs, Pia will then nab a few from those squads as well.

The U.S. team celebrated yet another birthday on the road today and this time it was Yael Averbuch on the receiving end of the birthday song. The midfielder turned 24, and perhaps celebrated two days early when she scored her first career goal against Costa Rica on Nov. 1. It has become tradition on the U.

Christie Rampone challenges Alex Morgan in the air
The U.S. WNT held its final training in Mexico today and the level of intensity was palpable. If the loss to Mexico was a wake-up call, suffice it to say the U.S. team is wide awake. The training featured some intense competition, heavy tackles and lots of talk and encouragement amongst the players.

Diamond Bar's Alex Morgan, the USA's youngest player at age 21, seen here practicing earlier in the week for Saturday's game against Italy, has scored four goals in just eight caps in her short women's national team career (AP Photo).

The U.S. leads 1-0 after the first leg in Italy.

It's business as usual for the USWNT. This week, our fearless leaderâ„¢ released the 2010 Algarve Cup roster which contained a few surprises.

Off the roster: Christie Rampone (pregnant), Kate Markgraf (post-pregnant), Megan Rapinoe (illness), Lori Chalupny (concussion), Natasha Kai (girl better be off this roster cause she's mending her broke shoulders.

Midfielder Shannon Boxx leads a strong St. Louis side.

View full size photo »

By Scott French

Women's Professional Soccer's second season kicks off Saturday, and there's a lot that's new: clubs in Atlanta and New England, some exceptional foreign talent and the best of an impressive, top-heavy college draft.

By DAN LAULETTA

Sky Blue FC will be forced to open defense of the WPS championship without the services of goalkeeper Jenni Branam after she suffered a broken patella in a collision during a Monday scrimmage. Branam is expected to undergo surgery on her right knee and the timetable for her return has been estimated at four to six weeks.

The only thing cooler than making a roster for a Women's World Cup qualifying tournament is making it to an actual Women's World Cup, but the former can often lead to the latter, which is why the upcoming training camp for the U.S. Women's National Team is so important. U.S.head coach Pia Sundhage has called in 30 players to the camp, although several will be arriving at different times during the training period due to the WPS playoffs.

U.S. head coach Pia Sundhage has chosen the 18 players who will suit up to face China at PPL Park on Wednesday, Oct. 6, at 7 p.m. in a match televised live on ESPN2. And here they are:
GOALKEEPERS (2): Nicole Barnhart (FC Gold Pride), Jill Loyden (Chicago Red Stars)
DEFENDERS (5): Rachel Buehler (FC Gold Pride), Amy LePeilbet (Boston Breakers), Heather Mitts (Philadelphia Independence), Christie Rampone (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (Washington Freedom)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Yael Averbuch (Sky Blue FC), Shannon Boxx (FC Gold Pride), Kristine Lilly (Boston Breakers), Carli Lloyd (Sky Blue FC), Heather O'Reilly (Sky Blue FC), Megan Rapinoe (Chicago Red Stars), Lindsay Tarpley (Boston Breakers)
FORWARDS (4): Lauren Cheney (Boston Breakers), Alex Morgan (California), Amy Rodriguez (Philadelphia Independence), Abby Wambach (Washington Freedom)
Sundhage made three changes to the 18 that faced China on Oct.

The U.S Women's National Team tied China by the score of 1–1 in an international friendly at PPL Park. Here are some photos from Wednesday's game. (Click on the photo for a full-size photo.)

The US Women's National Team took on China in an International Friendly

Starting players for the Chinese team

U.

*Chivas USA striker Alan Gordon will miss two of the club's last three games after the MLS Disciplinary Committee today decided the former Galaxy striker deserved additional punishment after he was given a 74th minute yellow card during last weekend's game against Toronto for "endangering the safety" of defender Adrian Cann.

Air Rapinoe: This shot didn't go on frame, but oh man, if it had scored...

The 2010 CONCACAF Women's World Cup Qualifying is off and running and the Americans took control of Group B after the first match day with a 5-0 win over Haiti. The match featured tons of chances for the U.

Another excellent training session for the U.S. team today, which by all accounts are going better than they did in Mexico. The U.S. team has a renewed energy and bite to its game which hopefully will pay dividends on Saturday. After training, U.S. head coach Pia Sundhage and team captain Christie Rampone spoke with some Italian media.

For women's soccer fans, Saturday's game is kind of a big deal. After winning or being in the finals or semi-finals of every FIFA Women's World Cup, the U.S. national team is fighting to even be in the 2011 line-up. The CONCACAF WWCQ semifinal loss against Mexico showed vulnerability in the USWNT and pushed them to a home-home series with Italy to determine who gets to play in Germany next summer.

Even Christie Rampone reads the WNT Blog

The U.S. WNT Blog has finished third in the voting for Best Blog during the year U.S. Soccer Best Of Awards for third consecutive year! Call us crazy, but we think that's quite an achievement.
We must say, we are not only honored, but humbled, and would like to thank all those WNT Blog readers out there for voting us.

World Cup winner Christie Rampone has given birth to her second child on March 6th. The US National named her new daughter Reece Elizabeth Rampone She weighed in at 7 pounds, 2 ounces, and mother and baby are doing well.Rampone started her career playing for her high school team. She gained attention for skills on the pitch consequently was scouted heavily.

By DAN LAULETTA

Sky Blue FC will be forced to open defense of the WPS championship without the services of goalkeeper Jenni Branam after she suffered a broken patella in a collision during a Monday scrimmage. Branam is expected to undergo surgery on her right knee and the timetable for her return has been estimated at four to six weeks.

US soldiers have created a Don't Ask Don't Tell spoof that's pretty much got it right. Here's what will happen when the Army "goes gay."

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Upi2DNRKdyU

And Charlie, Charlie, Charlie .. say it ain't so! Phillies stealing signs? Bill Belichick giving ethical pointers to the Phils?

So said Spinal Tap bassist Derek Smalls, and so to does the U.S. WNT as the squad arrived in a grey, overcast, and during the first training, definitely rainy Cleveland, Ohio. Yes, as one of the players said, "it was sort of nasty out there" but was there a peep of complaint from the U.S. players? No there was not.

I was walking through Jersey Shore University Medical Center when I saw Christie Rampone through the corner of my eye. I had just walked past Rampone and had to do a double take. I quickly turned around and walked back only to notice the life-size standee of the US Women's National Team member.Apparently, the hospital where Rampone recently gave birth is supporting the WPS.

Women's Professional Soccer announced 14 reserves for the 2010 WPS All-Star Game presented by U.S. Coast Guard Reserve, which kicks off at 8pm on June 30 at KSU Soccer Stadium in Kennesaw, Georgia. The reserves were selected by the WPS Commissioner and two WPS All-Star Game Head Coaches, Albertin Montoya (FC Gold Pride) and Paul Riley (Philadelphia Independence), based on wide-ranging criteria including needs at various positions, 2010 performance, return from injury or inaction, and other individual accolades and attributes.

Amy Rodriguez is part of a class of four Philadelphia Independence players who made the WPS All-Star teams.

Rodriguez will come off the bench for Team Marta, which features defender Allison Falk in the starting lineup. Midfielder Lori Lindsey will start for Team Abby.

Independence midfielder Caroline Seger is a member of Team Marta but her injury will keep her off the field.

A few of the players are having a bit of trouble getting into Omaha - three to be exact - all of them from New Jersey. Christie Rampone, Heather O'Reilly and Meghan Schnur seemed to have it the best when the flights were booked as they were the only three to have direct flights to Omaha, but unfortunately looks can be deceiving as their flight was cancelled and they were forced to catch a later flight - well, actaully two.

The U.S. Women conducted their second practice at the University of Nebraska at Omaha field - the home of the Mavericks. The Mavericks have been Top Gun-like in their performances during the past 10 seasons, winning at least 13 games and losing no more than six games while taking home the national championship in 2005.

U.S. WNT head coach Pia Sundhage as named the 18 players that will suit up against China tomorrow at the KSU Soccer Stadium. And here they are:
GOALKEEPERS (2): 18-Nicole Barnhart (FC Gold Pride), 24-Jill Loyden (Chicago Red Stars)
DEFENDERS (6): 26-Rachel Buehler (FC Gold Pride), 14-Stephanie Cox (Boston Breakers), 16-Ali Krieger (FFC Frankfurt), 6-Amy LePeilbet (Boston Breakers), 2-Heather Mitts (Philadelphia Independence), 3-Christie Rampone (Sky Blue FC)

MIDFIELDERS (7): 4-Yael Averbuch (Sky Blue FC), 7-Shannon Boxx (FC Gold Pride), 13-Kristine Lilly (Boston Breakers), 11-Lori Lindsey (Philadelphia Independence), 10-Carli Lloyd (Sky Blue FC), 9-Heather O'Reilly (Sky Blue FC), 15-Megan Rapinoe (Chicago Red Stars)

FORWARDS (3): 12-Lauren Cheney (Boston Breakers), 8-Amy Rodriguez (Philadelphia Independence), 20-Abby Wambach (Washington Freedom)

After the USA's 2-1 victory over China last night in Kennesaw, Ga., on goals from Megan Rapinoe and Heather O'Reilly, the team will travel this morning to Philadelphia to prepare for the second leg of this tw0-game series taking place on Oct. 6 at PPL Park. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN2 at 7 p.

The U.S. Women's National Team has announced their roster ahead of the CONCACAF Women's World Cup Qualifying tournament later this month. Head coach Pia Sundhage cut the squad from 30 to 20 players following a three-week training camp in Atlanta. The squad includes seven players with previous World Cup experience.

Photo by ISIphotos.com

By TRAVIS CLARK

Thursday night marks the beginning of the U.S. Women's National Team's quest for a sixth conescutive appearance at the Women's World Cup.

The USWNT begin play in Group B of the CONCACAF Women's World Cup qualifying tournament in Cancun, Mexico.

The result Friday: Mexico 2 U.S. 1

It was a first-ever victory for Mexico over their northern neighbors in 26 attempts and undoubtedly the biggest loss in the history of the U.S. national team.

And now the U.S. must do the virtually unthinkable: Qualify for next year's World Cup in Germany by beating Italy in a two-leg playoff next month.

Even though the U.S. team is in Italy for less than a week, several of the players have taken it upon themselves to learn some Italian, including Christie Rampone, who married into her Italian heritage. Still, with a name like Rampone, you will be expected to speak some Italian. She's trying...

The US Women wrapped up the Italy playoff series against Italy with a 1-0 win on Saturday Nov. 27 as Amy Rodriguez scored the lone goal in the first half. The team played in front of a good crowd of 9,508 at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois.

The game got off to a bad start for the Americans.

Pia Sundhage will leave no stones unturned, people! Today, the preliminary roster for the USWNT training camp that will determine the (from what I understand) two different sets of eighteen players for two separate friendlies against China in October... was announced today. And, as various WPS teams get kicked out of the playoffs, Pia will then nab a few from those squads as well.