Rose Lavelle can't stop, won't stop. Cincinnati's decorated soccer stalwart is heading to this year's Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.
Vlatko Andonovski, head coach for the U.S. Women’s National Team, announced the Olympics roster Tuesday morning, with midfielder Lavelle named to the team. Breakout stars Megan Rapinoe, Becky Sauerbrunn and Carli Lloyd are among those who will join Lavelle on the U.S. Olympic Women's Soccer Team.
These will be the first Olympic Games for Lavelle.
"It’s been a long process to get to this point, longer than anyone thought it would be, but we collected a lot of information on the players over the past year and half in trainings, in their club matches and in international games and we’re confident that we’ve selected the team with the best chance for success in Japan," Andonovski said in a release.
Actors Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt assumed their Ted Lasso characters to announce the team members on social media. While in character, Sudeikis called Lavelle "magical," while Hunt said she "looks a lot like [the character] Daisy from Downton Abbey." Sudeikis also said Lavelle had a "perfect name for a candle."
The U.S. Olympic Women's Soccer Team will play its first match in Tokyo against Sweden on July 21, followed by battles against New Zealand on July 24 and Australia on July 27.
Though the Tokyo Olympics are happening this year, they're still considered to be the 2020 Olympic Games due to the coronavirus pandemic delay.
Lavelle, a midfielder for the U.S. Women’s National Team and a Cincinnati native, was named MVP during the 2021 SheBelieves Cup’s winning match earlier this year.
She also was vital to the USWNT’s exuberant World Cup victory in 2019. Lavelle started all six games and scored three goals, including one in the finals against the Netherlands. She subsequently was named among top players in The Best FIFA Football Awards 2019, and peers chose her as one of the top three midfielders in the 2019 FIFA FIFPro World XI.
