USA Women's Soccer: Seattle Sounders Players Will Try To Guide U.S. To Victory

The United States Women's National Soccer Team has long been a force to be reckoned with. Ever since exploding onto the scene with their unforgettable gold medal run in 1996, the team has established itself as the preeminent collection of women soccer players.

Although the women's soccer team came up short in the World Cup against Japan, they will be returning to the London Olympics is search of their third straight gold medal (and fourth overall) at the Summer Games.

This year's squad is well-represented by Northwest players. Fully four different members of the Seattle Sounders Women's squad are also members of the USWNT. Forwards Sydney Leroux and Alex Morgan will be on the team, as will midfielder Megan Rapinoe and goalkeeper Hope Solo, who may be the most well-known member of the team.

Rapinoe and Solo have both captured Olympic gold before, but this will be the first Summer Games for both Morgan and Leroux.

The USWNT will be part of Group G, the third of three blocks in the women's football event. The other countries playing in Group G are France, Colombia and North Korea. They will play France on July 25, Colombia on July 28 and North Korea on July 31. The knockout quarterfinals will begin on August 3.

For complete coverage of the Summer Games in London, please stay tuned to SB Nation's dedicated 2012 Olympics hub.