When forward Christen Press trotted onto the field for her first training session with the U.S. women's national soccer team three years ago, introductions weren't necessary.
Many of her teammates were people she had known for years.
Growing up in the South Bay, she began playing alongside future U.S. defender Whitney Engen when she was 8. As a teenager, Press competed against current U.S. forwards Alex Morgan and Amy Rodriguez, and national team midfielder Shannon Boxx, 11 years her senior, once coached Press.
"We were all there, all around each other, competing, fighting, pushing each other," Press said.