Category: USWNT

Naeher: Lack of gold medals brought USWNT together at Olympics

The U.S. somehow entered the 2024 Olympics with zero collective gold medals

Alyssa Naeher has said the U.S. women’s national team came together at the Olympics over the group’s collective lack of even a single gold medal.

The USWNT entered the 2024 Olympics on the back of two straight tournaments without a gold medal. In 2016, the U.S. was stunned in the quarterfinal by Sweden and exited with no medal, while in 2021 the team beat Australia in the bronze medal game after losing to Canada in the semifinal.

Two players from the 2012 gold medal-winning Olympic team, Alex Morgan and Becky Sauerbrunn, were in the mix for the 2024 roster, but both were left at home by head coach Emma Hayes.

That meant all 22 players on the 2024 roster entered the Olympics with a collective total of zero gold medals — a rarity for a program as historically successful as the USWNT.

According to Naeher, who turned in an outstanding tournament at goalkeeper, the team bonded over their opportunity to do something special as a collective.

“For us specifically going into this one, something that we talked about as a group before was unlike any tournament team that I can remember for sure, nobody on this team had an Olympic gold medal,” Naeher said on SiriusXM FC.

“That’s really rare going into this kind of a tournament — you always have that one person that’s still around from 2012 or something. But I think that was something very unique to this group, and once we figured that out, it helped jell the group even more because we were kind of like, ‘Hey, this is something special and unique that we can do together as the 22 players in this room.'”

The USWNT now has a roster full of players with a gold medal, of course, as the team beat Brazil 1-0 in the Olympic final earlier this month.

It was the program’s fifth gold medal, having also won in 1996, 2004, 2008 and 2012.

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Injured USWNT pair Fishel and Macario included in Chelsea USA tour squad

The two forwards are recovering from the effects of torn ACLs

Two U.S. women’s national team forwards got some positive health news this weekend, as Mia Fishel and Catarina Macario were included in Chelsea’s traveling roster for its preseason tour of the United States.

Both players missed the Olympics as they recovered from knee injuries, but the duo was healthy enough for inclusion on Sonia Bompastor’s 28-player roster.

After recovering from a torn ACL that kept her out nearly two years, Macario was forced out of the Olympics with “minor knee irritation.”

Fishel, meanwhile, tore her ACL in training with the USWNT back in February. The forward’s inclusion on Chelsea’s traveling squad is a positive indication that her recovery is progressing well.

Chelsea will play NJ/NY Gotham FC at Red Bull Arena in New Jersey on Monday, before heading south for a match against London rival Arsenal at Audi Field in Washington D.C. on August 25.

The Blues are starting their first campaign under Bompastor, who took over as head coach after Emma Hayes departed to take over the USWNT.

Hayes enjoyed instant success in her first foray into the international game, leading the USWNT to an Olympic gold medal last weekend in just her 10th match in charge.

Chelsea Women 2024 USA tour squad

Goalkeepers: Hannah Hampton, Katie Cox, Zecira Musovic

Defenders: Ashley Lawrence, Alejandra Bernabe, Charlotte Wardlaw, Eve Perisset, Lucy Bronze, Kadeisha Buchanan, Millie Bright, Nathalie Bjorn, Niamh Charles

Midfielders: Erin Cuthbert, Lexi Potter, Maika Hamano, Oriane Jean-Francois, Sjoeke Nusken, Sophie Ingle, Wieke Kaptein

Forwards: Aggie Beever-Jones, Catarina Macario, Guro Reiten
Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, Lauren James, Lucy Watson, Mayra Ramirez, Mia Fishel, Sandy Baltimore

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‘What an insane week for us!’ – Horan shouts out fiancee Heaps for San Diego FC job

The USWNT captain saluted her fiancee, who is now the youngest sporting director in MLS

Lindsey Horan and Tyler Heaps have had quite the week.

On Saturday, Horan captained the U.S. women’s national team as it won an Olympic gold medal by defeating Brazil 1-0 in Paris.

Just a few days later, Horan’s fiancée Tyler Heaps was named the first-ever sporting director and general manager for MLS expansion side San Diego FC.

At 33, Heaps is now the youngest sporting director in MLS.

Heaps has worked in various roles in the sport, serving as U.S. Soccer’s director of sporting analytics (a job where he met Horan), the hRight to Dream Academy — whose network includes San Diego FC.

“Tyler has demonstrated during his time with Right to Dream that he is one of the brightest people working in world soccer today,” San Diego FC owner Sir Mohamed Mansour said in a club release.

“He understands intimately the values of Right to Dream, which we will implement in San Diego, based around investing in youth while building a winning team that plays an attractive brand of football.”

San Diego FC will begin play in MLS in 2025.

In a post on her Instagram account, Horan congratulated Heaps while noting the whirlwind of events the couple has experienced in just the past six days.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C-tK8YPS6qI/?hl=en&img_index=1

“The newest Sporting Director of San Diego FC. I am so so proud of you Ty and am incredibly lucky to have been able to witness all the work that’s gotten you to this point. To be one of the youngest sporting directors in the league says enough… You deserve every bit of recognition you’re about to get. I hope you can take it all in. What an insane week for us,” Horan said.

Horan and Heaps announced their engagement in June 2023.

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Rapinoe: Current USWNT ‘by far’ most talented group in program history

The USWNT legend said the group’s legacy will ultimately be defined by trophies

Megan Rapinoe has said that the U.S. women’s national team currently features the most talented group of players in program history.

The USWNT legend was in the stands on Saturday as the U.S. defeated Brazil 1-0 in the Olympic gold medal game, securing the team’s first major title since the 2019 World Cup.

Even with some recent stumbles, the USWNT is easily the most successful women’s program in history. The gold medal was the USWNT’s fifth, to go along with four World Cups. As Opta pointed out after the gold medal game, that total of nine major titles is more than every other country combined.

Even with such a storied history, Rapinoe believes that the current group is easily the most talented the USWNT has ever seen.

“I think this is by far the most talented group of players that we’ve ever had,” Rapinoe said on her podcast “A Touch More.”

The 39-year-old, who retired last year after a storied career that saw her win one gold medal and two World Cups, added that talent alone won’t see the current group go down as the greatest the USWNT has ever seen.

“I think they’re the most talented group, but their legacy will be defined by them and how many championships they win,” Rapinoe added. “That’s how you define your legacy. But this is an amazing first step and they all did it basically under 25, that core group.”

Of the 11 players who started against Brazil, six were age 25 or younger, with another two — Emily Fox and Mallory Swanson — age 26.

That group didn’t include four other under-25 players on the Olympic squad who look set to feature regularly in the coming years: Jenna Nighswonger, Croix Bethune, Hal Hershfelt and Jaedyn Shaw.

Rapinoe was also quick to highlight the contributions of some of the veteran players on the Olympic roster as well.

“Throw in veterans, obviously Lindsey Horan captaining the team to a win, Rose [Lavelle] has been there, [Emily] Sonnett has been there, Tierna [Davidson] even through she’s young, she’s been there a bunch of times.

“Crystal Dunn, also. Can we talk about Crystal Dunn? … She’s such an unsung hero. And obviously as a left back, you’re not always going to get the shine, but does she [ever] deserve it.”

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Lloyd: USWNT has embraced Albert after anti-LGBTQ+ controversy

Alexi Lalas said Albert’s Olympic performance said “a lot about her mentality, as a person and as a player”

Carli Lloyd believes that the U.S. women’s national team has embraced Korbin Albert after the controversial midfielder was a vital part of the team’s Olympic gold medal victory.

Albert has been under fire for months after fans discovered homophobic and transphobic social media posts on TikTok, with the 20-year-old called out by USWNT players past and present.

Amid the controversy, the midfielder continued to be an important midfield cog for the USWNT, with head coach Emma Hayes offering her backing after naming Albert to the Olympic roster.

Albert repaid Hayes’ faith at the tournament in France, playing in five of the team’s six games and starting two of its three knockout-round matches — including Saturday’s gold medal game.

Playing at her club Paris Saint-Germain’s home stadium Parc des Princes, Albert delivered the game-winning assist to Mallory Swanson as the USWNT defeated Brazil 1-0 to take home its first gold medal since 2012.

In an appearance on the State of the Union podcast with Alexi Lalas, USWNT legend Lloyd said that from the outside, it appeared that the team had moved on from the controversy.

“She was one of the best players on the field that day (against Brazil) and she played a huge role,” Lloyd said of Albert.

“The midfield looked a little bit more cohesive, and then she played that perfectly weighted pass on for Mallory Swanson to score.

“Ultimately, you silence haters by doing something well on the field and performing. I can’t comment on what’s been going on within the team, but it certainly looks like the team has embraced her.

“When she scored her goal (against Australia), everybody was hugging her and seemed really excited. So hopefully everybody can just move on. And I would imagine that the group has talked about the issue and talked about what happened, and I’m sure they’re wanting to move past it as well.”

Lalas added: “Let’s hope so. Ultimately, she did the job on the field, and she did the job on the field even with all the other stuff that was going on, and the crap that she has been getting off the field. And so it says a lot about her mentality, as a person and as a player.”

In addition to her assist against Brazil, Albert also scored her first USWNT goal in a 2-1 win over Australia to close out the group stage.

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Leroux hails significance of USWNT’s nine Black gold medalists

Nine of the 22 players on the USWNT Olympic roster were Black, triple the number from 2012

Angel City forward Sydney Leroux has hailed the “importance” of the U.S. women’s national team having nine Black players on its gold medal-winning roster, saying that their presence will inspire the next generation.

Leroux was one of just three Black players on the 22-player roster (including alternates) when the USWNT last won an Olympic gold medal in 2012.

This time around, the number of Black USWNT players tripled to include nine of the team’s full 22-player squad for the Paris Olympics.

That included the all-Black front line that came to be known as “Triple Espresso” — Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith and Mallory Swanson. The other six players were Crystal Dunn, Jaedyn Shaw, Casey Krueger, Croix Bethune, Lynn Williams and Naomi Girma.

Those nine players posed for a photo after Saturday’s gold medal game, which the USWNT won 1-0 over Brazil thanks to a goal from Swanson.

Leroux noted the significance of the moment with a post on X, saying: “The importance of this photo. This makes every little girl who looks like them get to say, ‘I can be her because I am her.’”

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Swanson fulfills sixth-grade yearbook prophecy with Olympic gold medal

The USWNT star’s prediction from her middle school yearbook has come true

Like many kids, Mallory Swanson dreamed of winning an Olympic gold medal. On Saturday, the U.S. women’s national team star became one of the rare athletes to actually make that childhood dream come true.

Swanson scored the only goal in the gold medal game, as the USWNT battled to a 1-0 victory over Brazil in Paris.

The strike capped off an excellent tournament for the 26-year-old, who led the team with four goals in France as she delivered a comeback performance for the ages after missing the 2023 World Cup with a knee injury.

The goal also made a dream come true that she articulated in her sixth-grade yearbook. Swanson, née Pugh, posted her yearbook photo on Instagram several years ago, with the caption: “Just a girl with a dream.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz6CYccF3DH/?hl=en&img_index=1

In addition to declaring her favorite sixth-grade memory to be outdoor ed, the youngster also said: “I want to be on the USA soccer team and win a gold medal.”

Roughly 14 years later, Swanson accomplished her lofty goal.

Swanson will add the gold medal to her World Cup title from 2019, as she continues putting together a resume that even her sixth-grade self would have scarcely imagined.

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Coaching legend Anson Dorrance retires after 21 NCAA titles, one World Cup

One of the all-time legends of American soccer is calling it quits

It is truly the end of an era, as University of North Carolina women’s soccer head coach Anson Dorrance has announced his retirement.

Dorrance has coached the UNC women’s soccer team since 1979, and also served as U.S. women’s national team head coach from 1986 to 1994.

The 73-year-old has built an incomparable resume during his time in the game. He leaves UNC as the all-time Division I leader for NCAA championships by a coach in any sport with 21.

In addition, he led the USWNT to the championship at the first ever Women’s World Cup in 1991.

“It is no exaggeration to say Anson Dorrance is one of the greatest collegiate coaches of all time, in any sport,” said UNC Chancellor Lee Roberts in a university release.

“He has trained many of the best players in the history of U.S. women’s soccer and has led our program through decades of unparalleled success. Coach Dorrance has shaped the sport for generations to come and leaves an unequaled legacy at Carolina.”

Dorrance, who was elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame 2008, has coached a total of 59 Tar Heels who went on to play for the USWNT, including some of the program’s all-time greats like Mia Hamm, April Heinrichs, Carla Overbeck, Kristine Lilly, Heather O’Reilly and Tobin Heath.

There were two UNC alums on the 2024 USWNT Olympic gold medal roster, Emily Fox and Crystal Dunn.

The program has continued to produce star athletes, as UNC duo Ally Sentnor and Savy King went first and second overall in the most recent NWSL draft.

“As many of you know I modeled our program after Dean Smith’s basketball program, and retiring at this time is a credit to his thinking, as well,” said Dorrance. “He would re-evaluate his tenure, not after the season, but after he had time to recharge his batteries prior to the next season. When he didn’t, he retired.

“After last season I initially was excited about the chance to bolster our roster, which we most certainly have done, but as preseason training camp went on, I realized I didn’t have the same energy it takes to give 100% to this year’s team. The players and staff, the university, Carolina athletics and our great fans deserve more, and the respect I have for the amazing legacy the current and former players have built led me to make this decision at this time.”

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USWNT coach Hayes brings Horan to tears after gold medal win

The coach was full of praise for her captain after Saturday’s gold medal game

Emma Hayes clearly has an effect on her players.

If that couldn’t be seen by the coach leading the U.S. women’s national team to a gold medal in just her 10th game in charge, it was clearly demonstrated after the game.

Hayes and her captain Lindsey Horan faced the media following Saturday’s 1-0 win over Brazil in the gold medal game. Mallory Swanson’s goal in the second half settled a tense game, giving the USWNT its fifth gold medal and first since 2012.

Horan started every game of the Olympics, playing nearly every minute, but faced some criticism over her performances in France. Perhaps sensing this, Hayes interrupted her post-game press conference to deliver some words of praise for the midfielder.

“I should actually say something that I think is really important,” Hayes began. “This leader beside me, you don’t see all the work she does off the pitch. You don’t see all the conversations she has, whether it’s helping nurture a young player, or whether it’s to settle nerves or to remind people of their confidence or to push back on the things that matter most. She has put performance first, she has put winning first.

“And yes, we are at an Olympics but not at any point on our days off did we do unnecessary things, or do things that put the team’s performance in jeopardy. She took hard decisions with the players. And I really admire that in her.

“I can see not only why she’s the leader of this team, but she made my job so much easier because she was firm with everyone, but also very fair. I’m delighted for Lindsey because she deserves that, and doesn’t always get the credit she deserves and it’s been an honor for me to work with her.”

Sitting next to her coach, Horan was moved to tears.

“Don’t ask me any more questions!” the midfielder said with a laugh.

Watch Hayes move Horan to tears

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Fox apparently thinks Sophia Smith and Dansby Swanson are an item

This one probably should have been caught before it got on air!

Fox came under fire for much of its soccer coverage this summer, and it couldn’t avoid another blunder on Saturday — even though it was broadcasting a baseball game.

During Saturday’s game between the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox, Fox took a moment to recognize Mallory Swanson’s heroics earlier in the day.

Swanson scored the only goal in the Olympic gold medal game, giving the U.S. women’s national team a 1-0 win over Brazil. She also happens to be married to Cubs star Dansby Swanson, so her inclusion in the broadcast made plenty of sense.

Except the person Fox included in its graphic very much was not Mallory Swanson, but instead her forward line partner Sophia Smith.

Yikes.

Both Smith and Swanson are paired up with fellow pro athletes, as Smith and Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson got engaged earlier this summer. But that, needless to say, isn’t much of an excuse!

Later in the game, the inevitable apology arrived, along with a corrected graphic that humorously acknowledged the mistake.

It hasn’t been the greatest summer for Fox, which took plenty of heat for its coverage of Euro 2024 and Copa América. It appears that the network’s soccer blunders now transcend all sports in its coverage portfolio.

Watch Fox apology for Swanson graphic error

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