Tag: SheBelieves Cup

Former Notre Dame midfielder makes U.S. Olympic women’s soccer team

Congrats, Korbin!

[autotag]Korbin Albert[/autotag] was too good for Notre Dame. Like, she literally was too good. She left after her sophomore season in 2022 after signing a professional contract with Paris Saint-Germain. Now, she’s going to be representing her country in the Olympics.

Albert was one of 18 players named to coach Emma Hayes’ U.S. Olympic roster and one of five midfielders. Having only joined the national team earlier this year, she already has won championships in the CONCACAF Gold Cup and SheBelieves Cup. Now, she’ll have a chance to add an Olympic gold medal to her trophy case.

Albert’s short time with the Irish was memorable. She was named the ACC Midfielder of the Year, a First Team All-American twice, an all-conference selection twice and a Hermann Trophy finalist. Talk about a fantastic addition to the legacy Notre Dame’s women’s soccer program has created.

Best of luck to Albert and her Olympic teammates in Paris.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

USWNT vs. Canada: How to watch SheBelieves Cup, TV channel, live stream

Better conditions are expected this time around after a waterlogged pitch marred the teams’ last meeting.

The U.S. women’s national team is set for another big match against Canada and this time, it won’t be played in a swimming pool.

The two sides met just one month ago in the W Gold Cup semifinal, a game that was marred by unplayable conditions after a downpour in San Diego.

The USWNT defeated Canada in a penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw through 120 minutes, going on to win the Gold Cup with a 1-0 victory over Brazil in the final.

This time around, we should get a better idea of where these teams stand against one another as they meet for the second time in 35 days.

[afflinkbutton text=”Watch the SheBelieves Cup on Peacock” link=”https://imp.i305175.net/4PMNQM”]

The USWNT reached the final by defeating Japan 2-1 in the semifinal on Saturday, as Jaedyn Shaw and Lindsey Horan found the net. Canada, meanwhile, advanced past Brazil in a shootout after a 1-1 draw over 90 minutes.

USWNT defender Naomi Girma is a doubt for this match after picking up a thigh injury against Japan, but midfielder Sam Coffey is recovered following her removal from the game with a possible head injury.

This will be the 66th all-time meeting between the USWNT and Canada, with the U.S. holding a 53W-8D-4L record against its rival to the north.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the match.

USWNT vs. Canada (SheBelieves Cup)

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Kilgore on USWNT record-breaker Shaw: Be patient, there’s more to come

This would be ominous news for any opposition defense in the future

Jaedyn Shaw has made an explosive start to life with the U.S. women’s national team, but interim head coach Twila Kilgore has said the 19-year-old is still only scratching the surface of her potential.

Shaw found the net against Japan in the SheBelieves Cup on Saturday, becoming the first USWNT player to ever score in her first five career starts.

The San Diego Wave star has stood out even amid a deep pool of attacking talent on the USWNT, and is growing closer to becoming a lock for a highly competitive 18-player Olympic roster.

Ahead of the SheBelieves Cup final on Tuesday against Canada, Kilgore offered a warning to any future defenses who will have to deal with Shaw.

“I think Jaedyn has always been a really good goalscorer,” Kilgore said at a press conference. “I think finding your niche in this team and being able to score consistently is quite a feat, especially as you’re being integrated. And I would actually say even though she’s here, she’s doing a great job, we’re seeing great things from her and we’re really pleased, I’d say she’s still in the onboarding process. She is still working on all phases of her game.”

Kigore added: “She’s open to challenges, she’s very humble, she’s hardworking, she wants to be better. And while the world is saying, ‘Yeah, she’s here and she’s arrived,’ and I agree she’s doing a great job, be patient because there’s more lot more for her.”

Kilgore also spoke about how Shaw has become such a potent goalscorer at an early stage of her national team career.

“It’s her focus, it’s her calmness, and I believe that she’s looking at beating the goalkeeper and not necessarily the person that’s right in front of her,” Kilgore said. “I think that’s almost a given at this point. And it’s more about beating the goalkeeper.

“She’s willing to take the risk and hit a first-time ball or even take a risk and make a well-timed run and assume the ball is going to get there as opposed to waiting for the ball. And that sets her apart from a lot of people.”

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USWNT coach Kilgore offers positive Girma injury update

It appears Girma has avoided the worst-case scenarios when it comes to her thigh injury

It appears U.S. women’s national team defender Naomi Girma has avoided the worst-case scenarios when it comes to her thigh injury.

Girma was removed from Saturday’s SheBelieves Cup win over Japan in the first half, as she pulled up while running and was unable to continue after receiving treatment on the pitch.

Speaking to the media ahead of the SheBelieves Cup final against Canada on Tuesday, interim head coach Twila Kilgore indicated that the 23-year-old hadn’t suffered a serious injury.

“Naomi had a thigh strain and is day to day right now,” Kilgore said, without offering an indication whether Girma would be available for the Canada game.

Even if she is unavailable for the match against the Reds in Columbus, it appears that Girma won’t miss an extended period — a major relief for club and country.

The San Diego Wave star has become one of the first names on the team sheet for the USWNT, winning the 2023 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year after a standout year for the national team.

Girma has also been named the NWSL Defender of the Year in both of her pro seasons thus far, helping the Wave win the NWSL Shield last season.

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USWNT breaks attendance record at SheBelieves Cup match in Atlanta

The USWNT’s match vs. Japan drew a bigger crowd than any friendly the team has ever held

Atlanta probably won’t have to wait another eight years to see the U.S. women’s national team play a match.

The USWNT broke its attendance record for a standalone friendly on Saturday, as Mercedez-Benz Stadium welcomed 50,644 to watch a SheBelieves Cup semifinal against Japan.

That crowd exceeded a crowd of 49,504 that turned up for a 4-0 win over Portugal at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field in August 2019.

The USWNT’s last visit to Atlanta had been in 2016, when it claimed a 3-1 win at the Georgia Dome before a crowd of 15,652.

However, since then Atlanta has established itself as one of the country’s major soccer cities. Atlanta United is one of MLS’s most well-supported sides, and U.S. Soccer has begun work on a headquarters and training center in the city’s suburbs.

“The energy in the stadium was unbelievable,” said USWNT coach Twila Kilgore after the match. “I think the fans had a huge part in the game today. You can feel them the entire time… I think the players deserve this sort of energy around them.”

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USWNT star Girma taken off with injury in SheBelieves Cup game vs. Japan

The USWNT and San Diego Wave could have a real concern on their hands

The U.S. women’s national team and San Diego Wave could have a serious injury concern on their hands.

Naomi Girma was forced off in the first half of the USWNT’s SheBelieves Cup match against Japan on Saturday, as the team’s standout defender suffered a reported thigh injury.

In the 16th minute, Girma was chasing a long ball in behind and pulled up with what appeared to be a muscle injury. The center back immediately signaled to the bench that she required treatment.

Girma was treated on the pitch, but was unable to continue and was replaced in the 18th minute by Abby Dahlkemper, her teammate for club and country.

On the TNT broadcast, sideline reporter Melissa Ortiz said Girma was being evaluated for a right thigh injury.

Following the match, U.S. coach Twila Kilgore confirmed that, telling reporters that Girma was “being evaluated for a right thigh injury, and we’ll know more shortly.”

Should Girma be forced to miss a significant amount of time, it would be a major blow for club and country. The 23-year-old was named the 2023 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year after establishing herself as the USWNT’s most important defender. At the club level, Girma was named NWSL Defender of the Year for the second straight season.

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USWNT boss Kilgore won’t discuss if Albert roster removal was an option

The USWNT midfielder has been in a firestorm over anti-LGBTQ+ social media activity

U.S. women’s national team interim head coach Twila Kilgore reiterated the team’s disappointment over Korbin Albert’s social media activity, but would not answer whether her removal from the SheBelieves Cup roster was ever an option.

Albert has found herself in a firestorm over her anti-LGBTQ+ activity on social media, with several USWNT players past and present calling the 20-year-old out for her actions.

The PSG midfielder apologized after fans uncovered a series of offensive posts, which transpired just days after the USWNT had named her to its roster for the SheBelieves Cup.

Kilgore spoke to the press on Friday, a day ahead of the tournament opener against Japan. She began her remarks with a prepared statement that echoed the words of Alex Morgan and Lindsey Horan two days prior.

“I just wanted to quickly address Korbin’s social media interactions,” Kilgore began. “It is disappointing when somebody falls short of the very high standards that we set within this team. This team has always been a beacon of respect, inclusion, and demonstrated great allyship through actions for underrepresented and marginalized groups including the LGBTQ+ community. And we will continue to do so.

“As Lindsey and Alex mentioned, this team has never shied away from hard conversations. And today we’re here continuing to work on getting better, continuing to work on preparing ourselves to make ourselves proud, make our fans proud and put ourselves in the best position to continue to look towards success as we start this tournament.”

Kilgore would later be asked if removing Albert from the SheBelieves Cup was ever an option, or if her playing time could be affected due to the controversy.

“There’s been several internal conversations about this that will remain internal,” she responded to the first question.

“In terms of talking about lineup and playing time and things like that, I think as you’ve probably gathered watching from my interim time here, I don’t typically talk at all about who will be playing and who won’t be playing. And Korbin is available for this tournament.”

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USWNT vs. Japan: How to watch SheBelieves Cup, TV channel, live stream

The U.S. will get a major test in front of a huge crowd in Atlanta

The U.S. women’s national team will face two big tests in its final two matches before the Emma Hayes era begins.

Twila Kilgore will coach her final two games as an interim in the SheBelieves Cup, before returning to her previous assistant coach role under Hayes.

The USWNT will first face off against Japan in front of a huge crowd in Atlanta on Saturday, and will then face either Brazil or Canada on Tuesday in Columbus.

[afflinkbutton text=”Watch the SheBelieves Cup on Peacock” link=”https://imp.i305175.net/4PMNQM”]

Coming off a W Gold Cup title run that didn’t always see them at their best, the USWNT will look for an improved performance against seventh-ranked Japan on Saturday.

The USWNT will be able to welcome back two vital attackers, with Mallory Swanson and Catarina Macario set to make their first national team appearances in one year and two years, respectively, following knee injuries.

Like the USWNT, Japan has qualified for the 2024 Olympics. The Nadeshiko have been drawn into a tough Group C alongside Spain, Brazil and Nigeria or South Africa.

The USWNT and Japan have met 39 times before, with the U.S. holding a 30W-1L-8D record. Most recently, the U.S. defeated Japan 1-0 in the 2023 SheBelieves Cup.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the match.

USWNT vs. Japan (SheBelieves Cup)

  • When: Saturday, April 6
  • Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, GA)
  • Time: 12:30 p.m. ET
  • Channel/streaming: TNT, truTV, Max, Telemundo, Universo and Peacock (WATCH NOW)

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Shaq battles USWNT stars Rodman, Shaw in studio penalty shootout

This was a battle for the ages

It was a battle for the ages in the TNT studio, as U.S. women’s national team duo Trinity Rodman and Jaedyn Shaw took on Shaquille O’Neal in a penalty shootout.

The basketball legend went in goal during the network’s NBA post-game show, as he looked to compensate for his lack of goalkeeper ability with his obvious size advantages.

Rodman stepped up first against “Uncle Shaq” — a figure she knows through her father, former Chicago Bulls star Dennis Rodman. The USWNT winger attempted to go down the middle, a strategy that is perhaps more advantageous when the goalkeeper is likely to dive.

Point, Shaq.

Shaw took a more traditional approach, and her low penalty to the side of the massive figure in net was too tough to save.

The USWNT pair’s appearance was part of some good old-fashioned cross-promotion, as TNT is set to broadcast the USA’s SheBelieves Cup opener against Japan on Saturday. The USWNT’s second and final SheBelieves game on Tuesday, against either Brazil or Canada, will be on TBS.

Watch Rodman, Shaw face Shaq

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Injured Lavelle misses USWNT roster for SheBelieves Cup

The playmaker returned from the W Gold Cup carrying a leg injury

Rose Lavelle was omitted from the U.S. women’s national team SheBelieves Cup roster due to injury, interim head coach Twila Kilgore said.

Lavelle appeared in all six of the USWNT’s games at the W Gold Cup, starting three times. The playmaker returned from the competition with an injury, however, and has missed out on the Challenge Cup and the first regular season game with NJ/NY Gotham FC.

The NWSL’s availability report lists Lavelle as suffering from a lower leg injury.

In a call with the media after the roster was released on Tuesday, Kilgore indicated that the injury was minor and Lavelle’s absence is precautionary.

“Rose was left off the roster due to injury, she’s not available,” Kilgore said. “Rose is somebody that has played a major role with the team in the past and is capable of continuing to play a major role for us in the future.

“Her minutes were limited at Gold Cup due to health and safety concerns for her and the team — most players being in preseason and things like that. We just hope that she has a speedy recovery, which I’m sure she will. This is mostly a preventative measure in terms of taking care of her health, which is exciting because we do anticipate that she would be available later for selections.”

Lavelle struggled with injury for most of 2023, as she played just four regular season games with OL Reign and eight times for the USWNT. She did recover in time to be fit for the 2023 World Cup as well as the 2023 NWSL playoffs, where she helped OL Reign reach the final.

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