Ellis addresses report on Solo, says team remains focused on Australia

The USA were rattled on the eve of their opening Women's World Cup match against Australia by an unflattering media report published Sunday morning that again drew attention to troubled goalkeeper Hope Solo.

A report published on by ESPN's "Outside the Lines" called into question some of the details about a domestic violence incident that took place last June and involved members of Solo's family. The report quoted extensively from police reports and included new details from Solo's half-sister, Teresa Obert. The report strongly implied that earlier reports about the 33-year-old goalkeeper's behavior and the court case were either incomplete or inaccurate.

The story roiled the American sports world and American manager Jill Ellis faced some tough questions from the world media Sunday evening in a press conference that was simulcast on American television in primetime.

Ellis looked to deflect the questions, saying that, "Hope's been fantastic and we've moved on. So none of [the report] has resonated with us. I'm sure many of the other players aren't aware of it....I know our team and we have each other's backs. I think it was something a long time ago and we've put it to bed. Our focus is tomorrow evening."

Ellis went on to say that she had not read the report or seen the accompanying television piece, and that the team's press officer had made her aware of the controversy. Carli Lloyd, who is Solo's roommate with the travelling team, said, "Honestly, I didn't discuss [the report] with her for one second."

Solo is no stranger to controversy. Most recently she was suspended in January by the U.S. national team for 30 days after an unrelated incident that involved an arrest of her husband, Jerramy Stevens for DUI while in a team-used vehicle.

Solo's lawyer, in response to a question from ESPN about the reports, responded with a statement saying: ''Police reports and other court documents clearly demonstrate that the alleged victims radically changed their stories on multiple occasions and twice refused to answer questions under oath, despite court orders.

"Had the case proceeded to trial and the witnesses been cross-examined under oath subject to the penalty of perjury, the defense would have proven that Teresa's son, not Hope, was the true aggressor, and that Hope suffered a concussion as a result of her nephew's unlawful conduct.''

Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.