Washington Spirit duo Kelley O’Hara, Emily Sonnett on USWNT Olympic roster

Vlatko Andonovski’s USWNT roster for the Tokyo Olympics was announced today, and includes Washington Spirit duo Kelley O’Hara and Emily Sonnett. Andonovski’s squad includes 18 players, and four alternates that will all travel to Japan for next month’s Olympic tournament.

The United States will play two final prep matches against Mexico on July 1 and July 5 (both in Hartford, CT), before departing for Tokyo. The USWNT’s schedule in Group G starts in just under one month, as they play Sweden on July 21. They’ll follow that game by facing New Zealand on July 24, and finish the group against Australia on July 27. The knockout round begins on July 30, and the USWNT — favorites to win gold — will expect to be playing in the final on July 6.

O’Hara has been picked for her third Olympic team, having won gold in the 2012 games and also been on the team for Rio 2016. For Sonnett, who was only an alternate on that 2016 side, the Olympic nod is a career first. Both players will remain with Washington for one more match (this Saturday against Kansas City) before departing to join the USWNT. It is unclear when they will return, particularly if the team wins gold.

They join club teammates Saori Takarada, who was called up by Japan last week, and may be joined by Julia Roddar once Sweden announces their squad.

The roster announcement came with some mixed news for the Spirit, as captain Andi Sullivan was not named to the squad. Some unlucky timing with injuries kept her from multiple USWNT camps over the last year, and though she was called in and named by Andonovski as a potential option to step in for Julie Ertz (whose fitness status remains a major question even after she was named to the 18-woman squad), ended up being given little opportunity to make her case in games. While Washington will be glad to have her for the full season, it is no secret that the Spirit were hoping she would get this opportunity on the world stage.

The full Olympic roster is as follows:

Goalkeepers (2): Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars), AD Franch (Portland Thorns)

Defenders (6): Kelley O’Hara (Washington Spirit), Abby Dahlkemper (Manchester City), Becky Sauerbrunn (Portland Thorns), Crystal Dunn (Portland Thorns), Tierna Davidson (Chicago Red Stars), Emily Sonnett (Washington Spirit)

Midfielders (5): Rose Lavelle (OL Reign), Julie Ertz (Chicago Red Stars), Samantha Mewis (North Carolina Courage), Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC), Kristie Mewis (Houston Dash)

Forwards (5): Christen Press (no club), Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride), Megan Rapinoe (OL Reign), Tobin Heath (no club), Carli Lloyd (NJ/NY Gotham FC)

Alternates (4): Jane Campbell (Houston Dash), Casey Krueger (Chicago Red Stars), Catarina Macario (Olympique Lyonnais), Lynn Williams (North Carolina Courage)