The USA Women’s National Team returns to action Friday as it opens up the 2007 Japan Cup by taking on China at 3:30 p.m. local time in Yokohama, Japan. The U.S. takes to the diamond for the first time since a stellar summer season that saw the team take home three gold medals.
The team was selected at the selection camp in September and will be the team that returns to Beijing, China, to defend the United States' three Olympic gold medals.
The United States will face China and Australia in this year's Japan Cup before the medal game on Nov. 18.
Since 2003, the U.S. has claimed a 10-2 record with two gold medals at the Japan Cup. The team finished 2005's tournament with a silver medal following a loss to the host country.
This year's team returns all members of the 2007 World Cup championship team along with the addition of Stacey Nuveman and Lisa Fernandez for head coach Mike Candrea, who will coach his second Olympic team in 2008.This weekend's event marks the final international competition before the team kicks off its Bound 4 Beijing Tour on Feb. 19 against the 2006 and 2007 national champion Arizona Wildcats.