On Sunday, the US women’s soccer team will take on Japan for the title in the World Cup final.
And the ratings for the tournament, which is being played in Canada, have been climbing steadily while Americans are glued to this kicking group of ladies.
Like local star Carli Lloyd, out of Delran Township, NJ. The 32-year-old midfielder has been having a fantastic tournament, scoring a goal and assisting another in the game against Germany to send the US to the finals.
Off the field, the adventurous Rutgers grad is engaged to her golf-pro fiancé, Brian Hollins, whom she plans to marry after the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
But Lloyd isn’t the only Jersey girl on the roster. Team captain Christie Rampone, née Pearce, who grew up in Point Pleasant, is the only remaining member from the championship 1999 team.
The 40-year-old mother of two doesn’t see tons of playing time anymore, but she is considered the team mom and go-to motivator.
Local doesn’t quite describe 25-year-old Sydney Leroux. The heavily tattooed Leroux — who favors thick eyelashes — grew up in Canada, but is eligible to play for the US because her father is American.
Nicknamed “Syd the Kid,” she is often photographed with her Chihuahua, Boss Leroux. In January, she married her English boyfriend, Dom Dwyer, who plays in the MLS for Sporting Kansas City.
Alex Morgan is married to a soccer star, Servando Carrasco, who also plays for Kansas City.
The California beauty is the reigning face of the team and, in 2012, the 26-year-old forward posed for Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Issue in body paint.
Posing for magazines in the ol’ birthday suit isn’t rare on this squad. Ali Krieger, the 30-year-old defender, made a splash when she appeared nude in this year’s ESPN Body Issue, where the Virginia native said she does a lot of lunges to keep her bottom in top shape.
The better to kick Japan’s butt on Sunday.