Before they became champions, all 23 players on the 2015 United States team that competed at this summer's Women's World Cup in Canada saw their careers go through an NCAA school.
North Carolina has the most representatives on the team with six, while Stanford, Virginia, UCLA and Penn State all have two former players on the squad. Nine USWNT players won national championships.
The United States defeated Japan 5-2 on Sunday to win its first Women's World Cup since 1999.
MORE: NCAA.org Women's World Cup Facts
Shannon Boxx, M: Notre Dame (1995-98)
Boxx played on Notre Dame's 1995 national championship team. She is one of 13 Fighting Irish players to appear in every game in her collegiate career.
Morgan Brian, M: Virginia (2011-14)
The youngest player on the USWNT at the World Cup, Brian led Virginia to the 2014 College Cup championship game. Photo credit: Ben Solomon | NCAA Photos
Lori Chalupny, D: North Carolina (2002-05)
Chalupny was an integral part of the Tar Heels' 27-0-0 run to the national championship in 2003, scoring 11 goals along with 12 assists. Photo credit: NCAA Photos
Whitney Engen, D: North Carolina (2006-09)
Engen won three titles in four years at UNC (2006, '08, '09), where she came in as a forward and made a transition to defense. Photo credit: Jamie Schwaberow | NCAA Photos
Ashlyn Harris, GK: North Carolina (2006-09)
The first in her family to graduate from college, Harris was also won three national titles in her time at North Carolina. Photo credit: Brett Wilhelm | NCAA Photos
Tobin Heath, M: North Carolina (2006-10)
Heath, another member of those three championship teams, finished her time in Chapel Hill with with 19 goals and 32 assists. Photo credit: Brett Wilhelm | NCAA Photos
Lauren Holiday, M: UCLA (2006-09)
Holiday, née Lauren Cheney, broke the Bruins' records for points (173) and game-winning goals (28) and tied the school mark for goals (71). Photo credit: Trevor Brown, Jr. | NCAA Photos
Julie Johnston, D: Santa Clara (2010-13)
Johnston led the Broncos with eight assists and four game-winning goals her senior season, earning first-team All-America honors. Photo credit: Santa Clara Athletics
Meghan Klingenberg, D: North Carolina (2007-10)
Klingenberg was a part of two UNC championship teams, finishing her career with 18 goals and 24 assists. Photo credit: North Carolina Athletics
Ali Krieger, D: Penn State (2003-06)
Krieger dealt with a broken leg and blood clots her junior year at Penn State, but returned to win the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year award as a senior. Photo credit: Penn State Athletics
Sydney Leroux, F: UCLA (2008-11)
Leroux was the Bruins' leading scorer for three years. Her senior season, she had eight game-winning goals to lead the Pac-12. Photo credit: UCLA Athletics
Carli Lloyd, M: Rutgers (2001-04)
Lloyd became the first Rutgers player to earn four All-Big East selections. She finished her Scarlet Knight career with a program-leading 50 goals. Photo credit: Rutgers Athletics
Alex Morgan, F: California (2007-10)
Morgan led the Bears in scoring in both her freshman and senior seasons. She finished tied for third in program history with 45 goals. Photo credit: California Athletics
Alyssa Naeher, GK: Penn State (2006-09)
Naehler was a three-time NSCAA All-American at Penn State. Photo credit: Penn State Athletics
Kelley O'Hara, D: Stanford (2006-09)
O'Hara scored 57 goals with the Cardinal and won the 2009 Hermann Trophy as the top college player in the country. Photo credit: Stanford Athletics
Heather O'Reilly, M: North Carolina (2003-06)
A member of the 2003 and '06 championship teams, O'Reilly scored 59 career goals and had 49 assists. Photo credit: Jamie Schwaberow | NCAA Photos
Christen Press, F: Stanford (2007-10)
Press set school records for career points (183), goals (71), assists (41), and shots (500) en route to a Hermann Trophy as a senior. Photo credit: Jeffrey Camarati | NCAA Photos
Christie Rampone, D: Monmouth (1993-96)
A three-sport star with the Hawks (soccer, basketball, field hockey), Rampone finished her career on the pitch with the all-time scoring record (212) on 79 goals and 54 assists.
Megan Rapinoe, M: Portland (2005-08)
After winning the College Cup as a freshman in 2005, Rapinoe returned from two ACL tears to lead Portland to a 20-2 season her senior year. Photo credit: NCAA Photos
Amy Rodriguez, F: Southern California (2005-08)
Rodriguez led the Trojans to their first national title in 2007. Her 31 goals are fourth in program history. Photo credit: Trevor Brown, Jr. | NCAA Photos
Becky Sauerbrunn, D: Virginia (2003-07)
Sauerbrunn was a four-time All-ACC player and won the conference's Defensive Player of the Year award as a senior. Photo credit: Virginia Athletics
Hope Solo, GK: Washington (1999-2002)
Solo finished her collegiate career as Washington's all-time leader in shutouts (18), saves (325) and goals-against average (1.02). Photo credit: Washington Athletics
Abby Wambach, F: Florida (1998-2001)
Wambach, a four-time All-American, was the SEC Player of the Year in 2000 and '01. Her 96 career goals and 50 assists remain program records. Photo credit: Florida Athletics
