U.S. women's national team names Olympics roster

Much earlier than many expected, U.S. women's national team head coach Pia Sundhage has made the cuts that have produced the 18-player roster for the upcoming Olympics in London.

Sundhage also named four alternates who can be used as injury replacements. The total of 22 players will travel to Sweden next month for a two-week training camp that will include games against Sweden on June 16 and defending World Cup champion Japan on June 18.

The roster is as follows:

Goalkeepers (2): Nicole Barnhart, Hope Solo

Defenders (6): Rachel Buehler, Amy LePeilbet, Heather Mitts, Kelley O'Hara, Christie Rampone, Becky Sauerbrunn

Midfielders (6): Shannon Boxx, Lauren Cheney, Tobin Heath, Carli Lloyd, Heather O'Reilly, Megan Rapinoe

Forwards (4): Sydney Leroux, Alex Morgan, Amy Rodriguez, Abby Wambach

Alternates: GK Jill Loyden, M Lori Lindsey, M Megan Klingenberg, F Christen Press

The U.S. Soccer Federation also announced Sunday that it has turned the head coaching positions for the under-17 and under-20 girls national teams into full-time jobs.

To go along with these positions, U.S. Soccer is going to hire "another full-time coach whose main focus will be on enhancing the player development environment for young players from coast to coast."

That person's duties will include:

scouting, running U.S. Soccer's National Training Centers, assisting coaching education opportunities, and liaising with U.S. Soccer's partners and constituents as it relates to developing players at the youngest National Teams.

Additionally, this coach will also oversee the U.S. Under-15 Girls' National Team program.

Sundhage and U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati will address the media before tonight's 7 p.m. game against China at PPL Park. I'll update this post with quotes afterward.