Tag: USWNT

England vs. USWNT odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s England vs. USWNT odds and lines, with expert women’s soccer picks, predictions and best bets.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”4141″ ]

England welcomes the USWNT to Wembley Stadium in London Saturday for an international friendly. Kickoff is set for Saturday at 12:20 p.m. ET (TNT / Telemundo / Max / Peacock). Below, we preview BetMGM Sportsbook’s soccer odds around the England vs. USWNT odds, and make our best soccer bets, picks and predictions.

England is 3-1 in friendlies this year, recently winning 2-1 at home vs. South Africa Oct. 29. England also had an ultra-strong 2023 campaign, reaching the Women’s World Cup final and losing 1-0 to Spain.

England ranks second in the world while the USWNT sits No. 1, having won the Olympics in 2024. The USWNT beat Brazil 1-0 in the final Aug.10 and Germany 1-0 in extra time in the semifinals Aug. 6.

The U.S. is coming off a 3-0 win over Argentina in Louisville Oct. 30. The Americans went 3-0 in their October friendlies, winning by a combined score of 9-2.

World class soccer coverage all in one place: Get ESPN+

England vs. USWNT odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:48 a.m. ET.

  • Moneyline: England +125 (bet $100 to win $125) | USWNT +180 (bet $100 to win $180) | Draw +210 (bet $100 to win $210)
  • Over/Under: 2.5 (O: -130 | U: -110)

[gambcom-standard rankid=”4132″ ]

England vs. USWNT picks and predictions

Prediction

England 1, USWNT 1

Moneyline (ML)

BET DRAW (+210).

The USWNT played numerous top-10 teams in the Olympics, facing No. 8 Brazil and No. 4 Germany. The Americans won both 1-0 with the latter going to extra time. The USWNT struggled to really pull away in either.

Unlike in Paris during the Olympics where both sides were on the road, England will be at home for this one. In their 3 home wins this year, the Lionesses won by a combined 14-4 score. They also beat Netherlands, Scotland and Belgium at home in the late-fall UEFA Women’s Nations League in 2023. However, England will be facing the best team in the world and may not have that level of success.

Considering the trends for both sides, DRAW (+210) is the way to go.

Over/Under (O/U)

BET UNDER 2.5 (-110).

The Olympics paint the best picture of how this game might go. The USWNT won all 3 of its knockout stage games 1-0. With highly competitive teams, offensive onslaughts are rare.

The USWNT has allowed 5 goals in 7 friendlies since June. England went Under this total in 4 of 7 matches in the 2023 FIFA World Cup, which helps here as this should have a similar level of competitiveness.

BACK UNDER 2.5 (-116).

Check out Pro Soccer Wire: For the American soccer fan, USA TODAY Sports Media Group’s website provides a fresh look at the beautiful game.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”6305″ ]

For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

Follow @nathanbeighle_ on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook.

More USA TODAY Summer Olympics coverage:
News | Medal count | Meet Team USA

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=42461]

USWNT vs. Argentina odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Wednesday’s USWNT vs. Argentina odds and lines, with expert women’s soccer picks, predictions and best bets.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”4141″ ]

The USWNT battles Argentina from Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville, Ky. Kickoff is set for Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET (TNT / truTV). Below, we preview FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the USWNT vs. Argentina odds, and make our expert Summer Olympic picks and predictions.

The USWNT will be playing the third match of a trio of October friendlies Wednesday, beating Iceland as a heavy favorite in the first 2 matches. Having won the gold medal in the Olympics last summer, the USWNT have regained global dominance, and they have shown that in their recent friendly as well. They beat Iceland 3-1 on Thursday and then again 3-1 on Saturday. Six players scored a goal in the 2 games showing this USWNT is among the most lethal top-to-bottom rosters they’ve had in a while.

Argentina didn’t make the Olympics and they have struggled to compete at a high level. They drew Uruguay 1-1 in their most recent match on July 13, and prior to that lost 2-0 to Uruguay on July 10. Argentina did play in the Gold Cup earlier this year and made it to the quarterfinal, where they lost 5-1 to Brazil, the team the USWNT beat for the Olympics Gold Medal game in Paris.

World class soccer coverage all in one place: Get ESPN+

USWNT vs. Argentina odds

Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:53 a.m. ET.

  • Moneyline: USWNT -20000 (bet $20,000 to win $100) | Argentina +6000 (bet $100 to win $6,000) | Draw +5500 (bet $100 to win $5,500)
  • Over/Under: 4.5 (O: -132 | U: -108)

[gambcom-standard rankid=”4132″ ]

USWNT vs. Argentina picks and predictions

Prediction

USWNT 3, Argentina 0

Moneyline (ML)

PASS.

There’s no value backing the USWNT here, especially as they are playing like one of the best teams in the world. The USWNT have been rattling off wins this season and have a 16-1-3 record on the year.

Argentina isn’t the caliber of team to put another blemish on this otherwise virtually spotless season. Avoid this as the USWNT are just too expensive to take.

Over/Under (O/U)

BET UNDER 4.5 (-108).

Argentina doesn’t play at a fast pace and doesn’t score goals frequently. This is going to be a game similar to their Gold Cup group stage and less like their recent friendlies, which they have had offensive success. Argentina was held scoreless in 2 of 3 games in the group stage, and against quality sides like Mexico, USWNT and Brazil, they scored just 1 goal combined.

Argentina has gone Under this total in 4 straight games. The USWNT has gone Under in 3 of their last 5, and while they have tallied at least 3 goals in 2 straight games, the Argentina offense likely won’t get on the board unlike Iceland was able to.

Considering Argentina’s offense weakness and the USWNT inability to top this total alone, back UNDER 3.5 (-120).

Check out Pro Soccer Wire: For the American soccer fan, USA TODAY Sports Media Group’s website provides a fresh look at the beautiful game.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”6305″ ]

For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

Follow @nathanbeighle_ on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook.

More USA TODAY Summer Olympics coverage:
News | Medal count | Meet Team USA

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=42461]

Alex Morgan’s tearful retirement video included a pregnancy announcement

USWNT star Alex Morgan is hanging up her cleats — but not before one last game.

Soccer star Alex Morgan is officially hanging up her cleats and calling it a career — and a stellar one at that — but not before playing one more game when her San Diego Wave FC takes on the North Carolina Courage on Sunday.

In an emotional video posted on her social channels, the two-time World Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist said she had a feeling “in my heart and soul” at the beginning of the year that this would be her last season. And she seems at peace with it.

“I have so much clarity about this decision, and I am so happy to be able to finally tell you,” Morgan says in the video. “It has been a long time coming, and this decision wasn’t easy.”

But she also noted that this was not the retirement video and announcement she expected to make, sharing that her daughter, Charlie, is going to be a big sister because Morgan is pregnant.

“As unexpected as this came, we are so overjoyed,” Morgan said. “To me, family means everything.”

https://twitter.com/alexmorgan13/status/1831709310436700386

After making her debut with the U.S. Women’s National Team in 2010, Morgan is now No. 5 in USWNT history with 123 goals in 224 games. The 35-year-old player, however, was not part of the team’s 2024 Paris Olympics roster.

More from Morgan’s tearful retirement video:

“Soccer has been a part of me for 30 years and it was one of the first things that I ever loved. And I gave everything to this sport. And what I got in return was more than I could have ever dreamed of. Success for me is defined by never giving up and giving your all.

“And I did just that: I’m giving my all every single day on the field. And I did that — giving my all in the relentless push for global investment in women’s sports because we deserve that; giving my all in my various businesses beyond the soccer fields; and giving my all as a mom to my daughter, Charlie.

“Charlie came up to me the other day and said that when she grows up, she wants to be a soccer player. And it just made me immensely proud, not because I wish for her to become a soccer player when she grows up, but because a pathway exists that even a 4-year-old can see now. We’re changing lives, and the impact we have on the next generation is irreversible. And I’m proud in the hand I had in making that happen, in pushing the game forward and leaving it in a place that I’m so happy and proud of.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 tag=1693]

Lynn Williams revealed how she broke the gold medal she won with the USWNT during the Olympics

“They should have made them more sturdy, and honestly, I can’t be faulted for that.”

Olympian Lynn Williams actually broke the gold medal she won with the USWNT during the Paris Olympics, and the story of how it happened is hysterical.

Imagine going out to celebrate you being a total boss at the Olympics, and you break the thing that shows you were a total boss during the Olympics. I’d be so upset. I’m talking, “Nobody speak to me. I need a moment to dramatically cry,” upset. But not Lynn Williams.

She turned what would surely be a traumatic event for most people into an epic story. The soccer star recently turned to TikTok to share how she now has “the world’s most expensive” coaster, and the details did not disappoint. Here’s what Lynn said about her gold medal:

“Obviously, you guys all saw me swinging the thing around…ironically that’s not how it broke…we were dancing…I had it on my shoulder like a little purse, and I was just jumping — dancing, jumping — and I jumped down, and it just fell off.”

“So, everybody was dancing, and I was roaming around, trying to get my medal off the ground. It has a dent now. So, it’s definitely one-of-a-kind, and the little bar [inside the medal] is gone.”

“So, I don’t know what happened. The bar got loose, and it fell out. Probably, swinging it around didn’t help, but I just think they should have made these better. They should have made them more sturdy, and honestly, I can’t be faulted for that.”

@lynnwilliams9

Story time… 🥇

♬ original sound – Lynn Raenie Williams

@espnw

Lynn Williams #storytime 😂 (via @Lynn Raenie Williams) #gold #medal #funny #Olympics

♬ original sound – espnW

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 tag=421393228]

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.

[lawrence-related id=79976,79978,79614]

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

[lawrence-related id=75194,78128,77913]

‘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.

[lawrence-related id=80033,79755,79976]

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.”

[lawrence-related id=79521,79809,79614]

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.

[lawrence-related id=79184,78594,78489]

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.’”

[lawrence-related id=79775,79614,79745]