The beginning of a U.S. WNT camp inevitably features the Beep Test, the USA's endurance/fitness test that involves running back and forth between cones -- and beeps -- with the time between beeps getting shorter as the players advance through the test. Suffice it to say, it hurts, but the U.

Now that The USWNT team has qualified for the Summer Olympics after a superb tournament in Canada, Head Coach Pia Sundhage can now turn her focus onto her squads first friendly match of the new year against New Zealand. The match will be played at FC Dallas Stadium in Frisco, Texas, marking the eighth time the USWNT will play in the Lone Star State.

photo by Stephen Brashear/ISIphotos.com

Fresh off a successful Olympic qualifying campaign, U.S. women's national team head coach Pia Sundhage has called up 28 players for its upcoming friendly against New Zealand.

Nineteen of the 20 players on the Olympic qualifying roster were summoned by Sundhage for the Americans' first game on home soil this year, including Alex Morgan, Hope Solo and Abby Wambach.

by Maura Gladys

Five games, nine days and 39 goals. That's what it took for the U.S. women's national team to win the CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying

One of the few negatives....

Tournament and book their ticket to this summer's London Olympic Games. The U.

It was the Alex Morgan show as the US downed Canada in the final of CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying. Morgan scored twice and assisted on two Abby Wambach goals as the US ran out easy winners over the host nation. The game was largely meaningless save for regional pride, with both sides having already qualified for this summer's London games.

The U.S. team once again practiced indoors at BC Place (with the weather so far in Vancouver, trust us when we say outdoors would not be too much fun), this time in preparation for its final Group B match vs. Mexico. The CONCACAF neighbors will meet on Tuesday, Jan. 24 at 7:30 p.m. PT. Fans can watch the game live on Universal Sports Network, Universalsports.

Philadelphia Union

Le Toux spotted with Tim Ream at Bolton's win over Liverpool on Saturday. Photo courtesy of Kyle Scott and crossingbroad.com

A report from The Bolton News on Friday quotes Wanderers' manager Owen Coyle on Sebastien Le Toux, "I've had some decent reports on him. He's very industrious, hard working and looks a very good team player, which is what I'm all about.

Bad news comes for the USWNT as star defender Ali Krieger will be sidelined for 6-8 months with tears in both her ACL and MCL. The injury occurred during the the first half the teams landslide victory against the Dominican Republic. After taking a shot on goal, Krieger was kicked hard in the knee when a DR player was trying to make a tackle.

As the U.S. WNT will of course not be together for the holidays after breaking camp on Tuesday, the team had its Holiday Party tonight and a merry time was had by all.
The focus of the party was the exchanging of Secret Santa gifts, spearheaded by master organizer Heather Mitts, but the festivities also included Christmas music, cookie decorating and of course a good helping of ugly sweaters (see above).

After a two-week training camp that featured 30 players, U.S. WNT head coach Pia Sundhage has named the 18 players that will suit up against Sweden on Sat., Nov. 19 at the University of Phoenix Stadium. Kickoff is 7 p.m. and fans can watch live via a webstream on ussoccer.com and also follow along on ussoccer.

Kelley O'Hara seems to levitate above the jump pad. She's magical.
As the U.S. team often does at the beginning of training camps, there was a battery of fitness tests on the second day of the Arizona camp and while the players, most coming off a six-week break, are not at optimal fitness, they aren't supposed to be.

U.S. defender Heather Mitts has wrapped up her quick four-day tour of Great Britain on behalf of the USOC and in advance of the 2012 Olympics in London.
From the looks of things, Heather had quite the good time. Among other things she did, we have:
Heather on a horse.

Heathrow Heather: Mitts Will be Landing Soon in London
Many of the U.S. players have been all over the USA after the Women's World Cup, not only finishing their club seasons, but also doing appearances or just flat-out relaxing. None however have gone "over the pond." That'll change this weekend when U.

Today US Soccer announced the roster for the women's team when they visit KC to take on Canada on September 17th at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park. The roster contains all 21 players from the USA's run to the World Cup final this year in Germany. It'll be a nice doubleheader for those wanting to go out on that Saturday as following the US game they'll be showing the Sporting KC vs Real Salt Lake game.

Check out the schedule for this weekend's Women's Professional Soccer matches. Be sure to catch your favorite WNT players in action!
Saturday, Aug. 6, 2011
Atlanta Beat vs. Western New York Flash
KSU Soccer Stadium – Kennesaw, Ga. (Ticket Info)
7 p.m. ET
Western New York Flash has clinched a playoff berth and currently sits in second place in WPS standings.

PSP photographer Paul Rudderow was on hand for Philadelphia Independence Sunday's nights 1–0 Win over the Atlanta Beat. Here are some photos from Sunday's match. (Click on the photo for a full-size photo.)

Heather Mitts being recognized for being on the US World Cup National Team.

Check out the schedule for this weekend's Women's Professional Soccer matches. Be sure to catch your favorite WNT players in action!
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Sky Blue FC vs. Western New York Flash
Yurcak Field – Piscataway, N.J. (Ticket Info)
7 p.m. ET
Sky Blue FC claims sole possession of third place and looks to avenge their July 17 loss to Western New York Flash in this Saturday's matchup.

Game time: Sunday, 6 pm

TV: Fox Soccer Channel

The Philadelphia Independence can lock up at least a berth in the WPS Semi Final match with a win on Sunday against the Atlanta Beat. With the news coming out this week that whichever playoff game that Philadelphia hosts would be played at PPL Park, there is added incentive for the Independence.

The thrilling ride that was the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup is over, but as we know you still want to see your favorite WNT players in action, Women's Professional Soccer has you covered with three matches this weekend...
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Sky Blue FC vs. Philadelphia Independence
Yurcak Field – Piscataway, N.

The Atlanta Beat will welcome home several stars of the Women's World Cup this Saturday July 23rd at KSU Soccer Stadium.

WPS Women's World Cup Heroes include:

ATLANTA BEAT: CARLI LLOYD (USA), HEATHER MITTS (USA), KELLY PARKER (Canada)

MAGICJACK: ABBY WAMBACH, HOPE SOLO, MEGAN RAPINOE, SHANNON BOXX, CHRISTIE RAMPONE, BECKY SAUERBRUNN (ALL USA)

The game starts at 7 PM but the pre-game celebration begins at 6:45 PM.

The Atlanta Beat will welcome home several stars of the Women's World Cup this Saturday July 23rd at KSU Soccer Stadium.

WPS Women's World Cup Heroes include:

ATLANTA BEAT: CARLI LLOYD (USA), HEATHER MITTS (USA), KELLY PARKER (Canada)

MAGICJACK: ABBY WAMBACH, HOPE SOLO, MEGAN RAPINOE, SHANNON BOXX, CHRISTIE RAMPONE, BECKY SAUERBRUNN (ALL USA)

The game starts at 7 PM but the pre-game celebration begins at 6:45 PM.

The Women's National Team has returned to the United States and made their first stop in New York City. They received a very welcome homecoming, and fans greeted the team as they arrived in Times Square.
Although the tournament is all wrapped up, the team is busy visiting your favorite news and entertainment shows to talk about their experience at the Women's World Cup in Germany.

Come join Minnesota supporters of the Women's National Team, along with readers of IMSoccer News, duNord Futbol, and memebers of Minneapolis and St. Paul, American Outlaws and the Dark Clouds supporters group for a US National Team World Cup watch party.

The US National Team plays Japan in a 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup Final Championship match, Sunday, July 17, with a 1:30 p.

LINEUP
USA: 1-Hope Solo; 11-Ali Krieger, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 3-Christie Rampone (capt.), 6-Amy LePeilbet; 9-Heather O'Reilly, 7-Shannon Boxx, 10-Carli Lloyd, 12-Lauren Cheney; 8-Amy Rodriguez, 20-Abby Wambach
Subs: 2-Heather Mitts, 5-Kelley O'Hara, 13-Alex Morgan,14-Stephanie Cox, 15-Megan Rapinoe, 16-Lori Lindsey, 17-Tobin Heath, 18-Nicole Barnhart, 21-Jill Loyden
Not Eligible: 19-Rachel Buehler (suspension)
PRE-GAME NOTES:
- Hope Solo wins her 100th cap tonight.

Come join Minnesota supporters of the Women's National Team, along with readers of IMSoccer News, duNord Futbol, and the Dark Clouds supporters group for a US National Team World Cup watch party.

The US National Team plays France in a 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup Semi-Final match, Wednesday, July 12, with a 10:55 a.

By Neil W. Blackmon Let's just get the disclaimer right out of the way, shall we? What follows won't do today justice. I would hope that's obvious. Some moments in life are too sensory, too "I wish I could have been there or seen that" for the written word. In the age of youtube and [...]

LINEUP:
USA: 1-Hope Solo; 11-Ali Krieger, 19-Rachel Buehler, 3-Christie Rampone (capt.), 6-Amy LePeilbet; 9-Heather O'Reilly, 7-Shannon Boxx, 10-Carli Lloyd, 12-Lauren Cheney; 8-Amy Rodriguez, 20-Abby Wambach
Subs: 2-Heather Mitts, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 5-Kelley O'Hara, 13-Alex Morgan, 14-Stephanie Cox, 15-Megan Rapinoe, 16-Lori Lindsey, 17-Tobin Heath, 18-Nicole Barnhart, 21-Jill Loyden
PRE-GAME NOTES:
- Heather O'Reilly is back in the lineup for the USA, meaning they start the game the same way as the opening match against North Korea.

LINEUP:
USA: 1-Hope Solo; 11-Ali Krieger, 19-Rachel Buehler, 3-Christie Rampone (capt.), 6-Amy LePeilbet; 15-Megan Rapinoe, 7-Shannon Boxx, 10-Carli Lloyd, 12-Lauren Cheney; 8-Amy Rodriguez, 20-Abby Wambach
Subs: 2-Heather Mitts, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 5-Kelley O'Hara, 9-Heather O'Reilly, 13-Alex Morgan, 14-Stephanie Cox, 16-Lori Lindsey, 17-Tobin Heath, 18-Nicole Barnhart, 21-Jill Loyden
SCENARIOS:
- If the USA wins or ties it will play Australia on July 10 in Augsburg.

LINEUP
USA: 1-Hope Solo; 11-Ali Krieger, 19-Rachel Buehler, 3-Christie Rampone (capt.), 6-Amy LePeilbet; 9-Heather O'Reilly, 16-Lori Lindsey, 10-Carli Lloyd, 12-Lauren Cheney; 8-Amy Rodriguez, 20-Abby Wambach 

Subs: 2-Heather Mitts, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 5-Kelley O'Hara, 7-Shannon Boxx, 13-Alex Morgan, 14-Stephanie Cox, 15-Megan Rapinoe, 17-Tobin Heath, 18-Nicole Barnhart, 21-Jill Loyden
LINEUP NOTES
- The USA plays its second consecutive game at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup in all white uniforms.

By WAG Watcher

In no particular order, Pies brings you a comprehensive run-down of the ten hottest ball-playing fillies present at the ongoing Women's World Cup in Denmark...

(Warning: contains a little bit of NSFW nudity)

1. Laure Boulleau, France

Ooh la la.

It's true.
You'd imagine someone who co-runs a soccer blog would be a connoisseur of all things football. You couldn't be more wrong. For instance, I absolutely cannot watch anything out of La Liga, MLS, or the entire country of Italy.
After Brandi Chastain's epic shirt removal in 1999, I shelved women's soccer for, as it turns out, 12 years.

LINEUP

USA: 1-Hope Solo; 11-Ali Krieger, 19-Rachel Buehler, 3-Christie Rampone (capt.), 6-Amy LePeilbet; 9-Heather O'Reilly, 7-Shannon Boxx, 10-Carli Lloyd, 12-Lauren Cheney; 8-Amy Rodriguez, 20-Abby Wambach

Subs: 2-Heather Mitts, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 5-Kelley O'Hara, 13-Alex Morgan, 14-Stephanie Cox, 15-Megan Rapinoe, 16-Lori Lindsey, 17-Tobin Heath 18-Nicole Barnhart, 21-Jill Loyden

LINEUP NOTES

• The USA makes its 2011 FIFA Women' World Cup debut in all white uniforms.

Photo by Brad Smith/ISIphotos.com

The United States women's national team kicks off its World Cup campaign on Tuesday in hopes of securing its first World Cup championship since 1999.

The U.S. women have never finished worse than third in any of the five Women's World Cups, but after the standard that was set by the teams of the past, it figures to be win or bust yet again for coach Pia Sundhage and her squad.

Match Preview: Union vs Sporting Kansas City " Unholy Union – The fan blog for Phi. Union
DO NOT START PAUNOVIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is all.

The Philly Soccer Page " Independence v Florida in pictures

The Independence blew out Florida 6-0 on Saturday evening.

The U.S. WNT has several players who have surnames that are perhaps of German origin: Sauerbrunn, Buehler, Krieger...but only one can definitively trace her roots back to Germany, all the way to the mid-18th century in fact! It seems that a relative of Heather Mitts did research for an extensive and impressive family tree, and it was discovered that one Adam Mitts emigrated to the United States from Rhineland-Palatinate area (now a state in the southwest) sometime before 1775, when his name shows up in a list of members of the Virginia colonial militia.

It poured rain during the USA's afternoon training today, which by the way was super sharp and intense as the players played small-side on big and small goals. It wasn't raining during the morning session, so we were able to take some photos, which you see below.
A-Rod cuts hard down the wing
So does Amy LePeilbet
Why is Heather Mitts so happy?

Editors's Note: The US Women are on the ground in Germany, but how will their back four fare on the pitch?

TSG guest columnist Maura Gladys takes a look. Offer her some feedback.

Christie Rampone, has nearly all the "Been there, done that" of the back four.

The U.S. Women's World Cup Team has arrived in Europe, but despite flying from Washington, D.C., to Munich, did not spend much time in Germany, host country for this sixth Women's World Cup. Instead, the U.S. team boarded a bus for a two hour drive southeast to the sight of its pre-tournament training camp about an hour from Salzburg, a wonderfully scenic setting set at the base or towering mountains with sweeping green forests.

After playing the second 45 minutes against Mexico today with no issues, U.S. head coach Pia Sundhage confirmed that defender Heather Mitts has earned a spot on the final 21-player Women's World cup roster. Today's match was just the second of 2011 for Mitts, who played in the opening game of the year against Sweden, but then struggled with hamstring injuries for most of the next few months.

By Neil W. Blackmon One of the most rewarding things about being a soccer fan is the season lasts the entire year. Even when club football is over- there is always something happening in the summer. The year after a Men's World Cup you get multiple regional championships, including the brilliant Copa America.