Every USWNT player to have played in the Champions League final
By Ali Rampling
Such has been the strength of domestic women's football in the United States, it's always exciting when a USWNT player switches continents and tries their hand at the European game.
A selection of USWNT players have graced the European stage down the years, and some have plied their trade in European football's most prestigious cup competition: the Champions League.
Here is the definitive list of every US national to have appeared in the Champions League final.
1. Stacey Peterson (2003)
On this day in 2003⏪@UmeaIKFF beat @FortunaHjorring 4-1 in the first leg of the second UEFA Women's Cup final - with 2 goals by Hanna Ljungberg⚽⚽⚽⚽? pic.twitter.com/vKbZQa02kv
— UEFA Women’s Champions League (@UWCL) June 9, 2020
We've chucked in a cheeky freebie for you as although Stacey Peterson never represented the USWNT (and doesn't have her own Wikipedia page), she has the honour of being the first American - male or female - to play in the Champions League final.
The forward played in both legs of the 2002/03 final for Danish side Fortuna Hjorring, starting their 4-1 defeat to Umea in Sweden and coming off the bench in the home leg for the final eight minutes as Fortuna suffered a 7-1 aggregate loss. Peterson departed the club in October 2003 to return home to Indiana.
2. Venus James (2005)
It's another sort of freebie for you, as Venus James also never represented the USWNT at senior level - but did turn out for the Under-21 side.
The forward netted two goals in the group stages of the 2004/05 competition for Djurgardens IF, and started both legs of their 5-1 aggregate defeat to Turbine Potsdam in the final in what was the UCLA Bruins alumnus' only season with the Swedish outfit.
3. Ali Krieger (2008)
Ali Krieger and teammate Gina Lewandowski became the first US nationals to win the Champions League, with Krieger playing the full 180 minutes as Frankfurt overcame Swedish giants Omea 4-3 over two legs in the 2007/08 final.
Having made her senior international debut in January that year, the defender also became the first fully fledged USWNT international to win the Champions League.
4. Gina Lewandowski (2008, 2012)
Krieger's Frankfurt teammate Gina Lewandowski also played every minute of the German side's Champions League final victory over Umea in 2007/08, with the first leg in Sweden ending 1-1 before a thrilling 3-2 at the Waldstadion.
The defender has more Champions League final appearances than she has senior caps for the USA, as she became the first American to play in two Champions League finals in 2012. This time on the losing side as Frankfurt lost 2-0 to Lyon. Her one international cap came three years later against Brazil in October 2015.
5. Megan Rapinoe (2013)
Megan Rapinoe signed for Lyon in January 2013, with the club on the hunt for their third successive Champions League title.
The winger scored in the French outfit's quarter final and semi final victories, but only lasted 46 minutes in the 2012/13 final as Lyon lost 1-0 to Wolfsburg - it would be the last time that Lyon would taste defeat in a Champions League final.
6. Meghan Klingenberg (2014)
2015 World Cup winner Meghan Klingenberg was part of a Tyreso side stacked with stars who reached the final of the 2013/14 Champions League final.
The full-back was one of three USWNT members in the starting XI for the final, playing the first 69 minutes as the Swedish side let a 2-0 lead slip in a 4-3 loss to Wolfsburg.
7. Christen Press (2014)
Christen Press was also part of Tyreso's beaten 2013/14 Champions League finalists, playing the full 90 during their narrow defeat to Wolfsburg.
The forward had been instrumental in her side's run to the final, pitching in with nine goals and six assists in nine appearances - including a hat-trick in Tyreso's first leg quarter final victory over Neulengbach - to finish second in the tournament's scoring charts.
8. Whitney Engen (2014)
The third USWNT member of Tyreso's 2013/14 Champions League runners up squad was Whitney Engen, who also played the full 90 during her side's loss to Wolfsburg.
The 2013/14 campaign was the defender's second stint with the Swedish outfit, but it would only last a season as the Tyreso were declared bankrupt and ceased to exist shortly after their Champions League final loss.
9. Alex Morgan (2017)
Alex Morgan signed for Lyon in January 2017, and made her Champions League bow during the quarter finals of the 2016/17 competition.
She came up against fellow USWNT icon Carli Lloyd during Lyon's semi final victory over Manchester City, and started the final against PSG. However, Morgan was forced off after just 23 minutes, with Lyon emerging victorious via a penalty shootout after the game had finished goalless.
