CHICAGO — Natasha Kai and Abby Wambach and Hope Solo highlight the 20-woman U.S. roster chosen yesterday by coach Pia Sundhage for the Olympic qualifying tournament.

Kai is a former Kahuku High and University of Hawai'i star athlete.

Two spots in the Beijing Games from the North and Central America and Caribbean region will be at stake during the tournament, to be played from April 4 to 12 in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.

The United States is in Group A and plays Jamaica on Friday and Mexico on Sunday. The top two advance and along with the top two nations in Group B, which includes Canada, Costa Rica, and Trinidad and Tobago. The winners of the semifinals on April 9 go to the Olympics.

The United States has qualified for all three Olympic women's soccer competitions, winning gold in Athens in 2004 and Atlanta in 1996. The 2000 Sydney team got silver.

The roster:

Goalkeepers: Nicole Barnhart, Hope Solo.

Defenders: Rachel Buehler, Lori Chalupny, Stephanie Cox, Kate Markgraf, Christie Rampone, Cat Whitehill.

Midfielders: Shannon Boxx, Tobin Heath, Angela Hucles, Carli Lloyd, Leslie Osborne, Lindsay Tarpley, Kacey White.

Forwards: Lauren Cheney, Natasha Kai, Heather O'Reilly, Amy Rodriguez, Abby Wambach