USWNT begins CONCACAF Olympic qualifying

The US women's national team begins CONCACAF OIympic qualifying tomorrow. Here's everything you need to know going into the tournament.

Groups

Group A: United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico

Group B: Canada, Guatemala, Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana

Venues

Games are being played at Toyota Stadium in Frisco and BBVA Compass Stadium (home field for the Houston Dash in NWSL) in Houston.

Schedule

USA vs. Costa Rica - Wednesday, February 10, 8:30 PM ET

USA vs. Mexico - Saturday, February 13, 4 PM ET

USA vs. Puerto Rico - Monday, February 15, 8:30 PM ET

Semifinals - Friday, February 19, 5:30 PM ET

Finals - Sunday, February 21, 5 PM ET

All games - including those that the United States isn't playing in - will be broadcast on NBC Sports Live Extra. The United States' group games will also be on NBC Sports Network. In Group B, Canada's group stage games will be on CBC Sports and the knockout stage games will be on Sportsnet.

Roster

You can find the rosters for every team in the tournament at CONCACAF's site. The US roster has some interesting names, including 17-year-old Mallory Pugh, while leaving off veteran midfielder Heather O'Reilly. This roster is fairly reflective of who is probably going to the Olympics, with some tweaks to be dealt with through the four-team She Believes tournament in spring.

GOALKEEPERS (3): Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars), Hope Solo (Seattle Reign FC)

DEFENDERS (7): Jaelene Hinkle (Western New York Flash), Julie Johnston (Chicago Red Stars), Meghan Klingenberg (Portland Thorns FC), Ali Krieger (Washington Spirit), Kelley O'Hara (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City), Emily Sonnett (Portland Thorns FC)

MIDFIELDERS (5): Morgan Brian (Houston Dash), Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC), Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC), Carli Lloyd (Houston Dash), Samantha Mewis (Western New York Flash)

FORWARDS (5): Crystal Dunn (Washington Spirit), Stephanie McCaffrey (Boston Breakers), Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride), Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars), Mallory Pugh (Real Colorado)

Tournament predictions

The United States definitely has the harder group with both Mexico and Costa Rica aiming to be regular threats in CONCACAF, but expect the US to advance to semifinals anyway, where they'll play the runner-up from Group B. That's likely to be either Guatemala or Trinidad & Tobago, which should mean relatively smooth sailing to the final. The top two teams from the tournament will go to the Olympics.

What about the USSF vs WNT players association lawsuit?

That won't affect the tournament. Any possible date for a strike should take place after the tournament is over, per the word of the WNTPA's executive director.