U.S. women begin home World Cup celebrations with L.A. fan rally

Carli Lloyd looked out over the cheering mob of U.S. women’s national soccer team fans and raised an arm in triumph. “It feels great to wake up as a world champion, and that feeling won’t ever get old,” Lloyd said. The home celebrations are underway for the World Cup-winning U.S. women’s national team. The victorious Americans were welcomed to downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday by a crowd of several thousand cheering fans at a rally. Fans began camping out before dawn for the rally, which was scheduled on less than 24 hours’ notice. The U.S. women claimed their record third World Cup trophy Sunday in Vancouver, B.C., routing Japan 5-2. Most of the women were headed home before reconvening in New York later in the week to continue their victory tour. – AP