In a press release, United States Women's National Team manager Jill Ellis has announced that 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup heroes Carli Lloyd and Becky Sauerbrunn have been named the new captains of the USWNT. They will replace Abby Wambach and Christie Rampone for the honor of wearing the armband, with Lloyd taking the responsibility when both are on the pitch.

"Christie and Abby have been phenomenal leaders for this team for a long time, and we are forever grateful for their far-reaching contributions. As we move into the next phase of this program, I've selected two captains who I know will represent us extremely well on and off the field and will help facilitate the positive direction of this team. They are two extremely professional players in both game and training environments and they embody the DNA of this program. The USWNT is in camp together preparing for February's CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying tournament," said Ellis.

Lloyd has been capped 211 times by the USWNT, and wrote herself into the history of the national team over the summer when she won the Golden Ball at the Women's World Cup. After struggling initially in the group stage, she scored goals in the last four games of the tournament, including a hat trick against Japan in the Final. 

In a press release, Lloyd spoke about the honor of being named captain. 

"I never thought I would be captaining the national team, but I'm humbled and it's an amazing honor. At this stage in my career, I'm ready to take on this type of leadership role, but I also know that this team features a lot of great leaders and we all lead in our own way," said the midfielder.

Although Lloyd may be a bigger name than Sauerbrunn due to her performance over the summer, the defender has been capped 96 times. She is a stalwart at the back, and was an anchor of the World Cup's best defense last June and July.

She too commented on the honor in a prepared statement.

"It's a true honor to be named a captain of this team. I look at this group and what it's accomplished and the hunger we still have for the things not yet accomplished and I'm constantly amazed. It's a privilege to help keep that motivation strong and moving in the direction we want it to go," said Sauerbrunn.

The USWNT are gathered together in camp at the moment in preparation for February's CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying tournament.