UCLA Alumnae Holiday, Leroux Named to U.S. Women's World Cup Team
Holiday, formerly known as Lauren Cheney prior to her marriage to UCLA basketball alumnus Jrue Holiday, played at UCLA from 2006-09 and became the first UCLA player ever to earn first-team NSCAA All-America honors all four years of her career. She continues to hold several school scoring records, including career points (173), career goals (71), and single-season points (57 in 2007). This will be Holiday's second World Cup. She started all six games for the U.S. at the 2011 World Cup, scoring two goals and leading the team with three assists to earn a spot on the Women's World Cup All-Star Team.
Leroux played at UCLA from 2008-11 and was teammates with Holiday from 2008-09. A three-time NSCAA All-American, Leroux ranks fourth all-time on UCLA's career points (126) and goals (57) list. In 2009, she tied Holiday's school record for single-season goals with 23. Leroux will be making her World Cup debut this year. At the youth level, she won the Golden Shoe at the 2008 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, leading the tournament in goals scored with five.
Both Holiday and Leroux were on the 2012 U.S. Olympic team that won the gold medal in London, Holiday's second Olympic gold and Leroux's first.
Ellis, who was appointed head coach of the U.S. team in May of 2014, coached both players at UCLA. Ellis recorded a 229-45-14 overall record from 1999-2010 and led UCLA to eight College Cups.
The U.S. team will play three final matches in the U.S. prior to the World Cup. The three-match Send-Off Series will begin on May 10 when the U.S. takes on the Republic of Ireland at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, Calif. at 11:30am PT. The U.S. team comes to Southern California a week later, playing Mexico at StubHub Center on May 17 at 6pm. Both matches will be broadcast on FOX Sports 1. The final game will take place May 30 in Harrison, N.J. against Korea Republic. That game will be broadcast live on ESPN at 1:30pm PT.
At the Women's World Cup, the U.S. was drawn into Group D along with Australia, Sweden and Nigeria. The U.S. will open the tournament against Australia on June 8 in Winnipeg, where the team will also face Sweden on June 12. Vancouver will host the U.S. vs. Nigeria on June 16.
The 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup runs from June 6-July 5 and all 52 games will be shown live on FOX, FOX Sports 1, FOX Sports 2 and on tablets and mobile devices through the FOX Sports GO app and FOXSportsGO.com.
2015 United States FIFA Women’s World Cup Roster By Position
GOALKEEPERS (3): Ashlyn Harris* (Washington Spirit), Alyssa Naeher* (Boston Breakers), Hope Solo*** (Seattle Reign FC)
DEFENDERS (8): Lori Chalupny** (Chicago Red Stars), Whitney Engen* (Western NY Flash), Julie Johnston* (Chicago Red Stars), Meghan Klingenberg* (Houston Dash), Ali Krieger** (Washington Spirit), Kelley O’Hara** (Sky Blue FC), Christie Rampone***** (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn** (FC Kansas City)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Shannon Boxx**** (Chicago Red Stars), Morgan Brian* (Houston Dash), Tobin Heath** (Portland Thorns FC), Lauren Holiday** (FC Kansas City), Carli Lloyd*** (Houston Dash), Heather O’Reilly*** (FC Kansas City), Megan Rapinoe** (Seattle Reign FC)
FORWARDS (5): Sydney Leroux* (Western NY Flash), Alex Morgan** (Portland Thorns FC), Christen Press* (Chicago Red Stars), Amy Rodriguez** (FC Kansas City), Abby Wambach**** (unattached)
* First Women’s World Cup
** Second Women’s World Cup
*** Third Women’s World Cup
**** Fourth Women’s World Cup
***** Fifth Women’s World Cup