The United States women's national team begin their quest for a fourth successive Olympic gold medal on Wednesday, and New Zealand will be their first obstacle in Rio de Janeiro.

Head coach Jill Ellis announced the 18-woman squad that would be travelling to Brazil three weeks ago, when Carli Lloyd and Becky Sauerbrunn were confirmed as co-captains, per the official USWNT Twitter account:

U.S. Soccer WNT @ussoccer_wnt

Introducing your 2016 U.S. Olympic Women’s Soccer Team: #OneNationOneTeam #RoadToRio

Here's a look at the squad in full:

The Stars and Stripes are hopeful of topping a Group G lineup that includes New Zealand, France and Colombia.

We've taken a look at some of the top headlines heading into the competition, as well as the players who could make Ellis' starting XI, the team's top substitutes and standout jersey picks.

New Leaders Emerging

Perhaps the greatest task for Ellis in crafting this new wave of American stars is discovering who among her team has the capacity to lead with as much efficacy as those in the previous generation.

In that sense, 11 of the 18 players in the squad are between the ages of 27 and 32, their prime playing years and the ideal age to step up to the plate, as Meghan Klingenberg is, as touched upon by ESPN's Paul Carr:

Paul Carr @PaulCarrTM

Meghan Klingenberg has four assists in 15 #USWNT games this year. She had one assist in 50 int'l games entering 2016.

It isn't just those established stars vying for prominence, though, as 24-year-old Crystal Dunn told Grant Wahl of Sports Illustrated she's making up for lost time after missing a place in the 2015 Women's World Cup:

I could have fallen off the face of the earth and sunk into a shell. It’s hard to love this sport when you feel like it’s crushed your soul and broken your heart into a million pieces. But you have to find the positive in every situation. It’s those disappointments that make you realize there are going to be some great moments ahead.

Dunn looks likely to have done enough to earn herself a place in the starting XI, potentially lining up on the right flank of a front three that sees Alex Morgan take the central berth up front.

Morgan and Christen Press, both 27, will also be major players in ensuring this United States team takes inspiration from its previous incarnation, standing as a valuable link between the past, present and future.

Out With the Old, In With the New

Just as there are plenty of assets emerging from the United States ranks in their prime, Ellis also has plenty to look forward to in terms of budding starlets, including 18-year-old Mallory Pugh.

The forward, handed the No. 2 jersey in the squad, has gathered a raft of fans after netting three times in 14 international appearances, although she still has priorities elsewhere, per John D. Halloran of American Soccer Now:

John D. Halloran @JohnDHalloran

Mallory Pugh says even with delaying UCLA start, her plan is still school at this point and not going pro. #USWNT

Pugh is the youngest on the roster by a significant gap of four years, with Lindsey Horan, 22, also bearing a huge expectations, while Goal's Thomas Floyd thinks Morgan Brian, 23, could even make the starting XI:

Thomas Floyd @thomasfloyd10

My @GoalUSA column looks at a #USWNT squad built by Jill Ellis to do more than win Rio gold

Midfielder Horan has been given the iconic No. 9 jersey, which could indicate she has hefty expectations upon her shoulders, too, although 54-times capped Brian is already on her way to United States greatness.

Between the three of those starlets, as well as 24-year-old defender Julie Johnston, Ellis looks to be setting the building blocks in place for future endeavours as well as the 2016 Olympics.