USWNT Bounce Back with 3-0 Win Over Colombia 🇺🇸🇨🇴

It’s Monday, March 4th. Give us four minutes, we give you everything The Women’s Game.

It's Monday, it's Sam Mewis, and it's the TWG Newsletter!

Another weekend of women's football in the books and boy, was it a good one. Keep reading for updates about the W Gold Cup knockout rounds, the tight WSL table, and the return of Cat Macario.

But first — the USWNT beat Colombia 3-0 last night in the W Gold Cup quarterfinal. I was so pumped to see the US come out swinging with energy and execution. Check out my youtube reaction video recorded right at the final whistle – specifically, I loved the way Alex Morgan and Lindsey Horan led this team with their aggressive play. It resulted in goals from Horan, Jenna Nighswonger, and Jeadyn Shaw and the US move on to the semifinal on Wednesday against our neighbors and rivals to the North, Canada (10.15 PM ET, Paramount+.)  

ii. Last week, our interview with the USWNT's Sophia Smith went live. Soph is such a professional — she is humble despite all of her notoriety and remains solely focused on being the best player she can be and helping her team win. We had the best chat and she gave me the nicest compliment. 😭

Watch: Entire Sophia Smith interview here on our YouTube.

iii. Coming up this Thursday on the podcast is the Seattle Reign's Bethany Balcer — we talk about her unique path to the NWSL, her passion for mental health advocacy, and why everyone calls her Boats. Bethany is such an inspiring character and has such a refreshing take on the NWSL and I had a blast talking to her. I can’t wait for you guys to hear this one!

iv. ALSO: Rog and I are taping a massive NWSL preview pod this week. CALL ME! And leave a voicemail (855) 611 4050 and let me know the one thing you are most excited about ahead of this NWSL season. 

v. Keep your eyes peeled here this week because we have a big announcement coming on Friday. Not to be dramatic but all of our lives are about to change. 👀

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Enjoy the newsletter!

Love,

Sam

Big News of the Week: EMMA HAYES ON CATARINA MACARIO’S RETURN: “I can tell the Chelsea fans, I'm leaving you a super player… long-term, Chelsea have got an absolutely world-class forward, and so do the USA." 💙🇺🇸

I. CATARINA MACARIO RETURNS from injury after 20 months away, scores within minutes of Chelsea debut ❣️🇺🇸

This weekend, one of the biggest USWNT developments of 2024: Catarina Macario is back playing soccer. After 641 days without playing due to an ACL injury which knocked her out of World Cup action, United States and Chelsea forward Catarina Macario is back. After 20 months of rehab, it took the 24-year-old just 5 minutes to re-summon her scoring touch with a composed finish for a debut goal. Post game-Macario said: “Honestly, I can’t believe it. It kind of feels like a dream.”

More: Macario’s return is just what Chelsea need says soon-to-be US manager Emma Hayes

II. US bounce back from Mexico match with 3-0 resounding win over Colombia 🇺🇸🇨🇴

The US Women’s National Team recovered from last week’s historic loss to Mexico with a hard-fought victory over World Cup quarter-finalists Colombia. The team showed resolve and resilience, as long-time leaders Alex Morgan, Lindsey Horan and Alyssa Naeher showed up big when they were needed most. They were joined by the continued emergence of exceptional new additions like Jenna Nighswonger and Jaedyn Shaw, as well as already-experienced young leaders like Naomi Girma. A key moment: Alex Morgan says, “You don’t know where I’m from Dawg.”

MORE: “Alex Morgan sets tone as USWNT cruise into Gold Cup semis”

With Sunday’s 3-0 victory secured in Los Angeles, the team moves to San Diego next, where they’ll meet longtime Concacaf rivals Canada in the W Gold Cup semi-final. The Canadians secured a testy win over Costa Rica needing a stoppage time goal (yet another header from a set piece) from Roma forward Evelyne Viens to seal a semi-final place despite registering 39 shots and 10 on target, the reigning gold medalists needed a massive late save from San Diego Wave’s Kailen Sheridan to stay alive. 

US vs Canada,Wednesday, March 6, 1015 PM ET, Paramount+, ESPN Deportes, ESPN+ 🇺🇸🇨🇦

In the other game: Brazil vs Mexico, Wednesday, March 6, 7 PM ET, Paramount+, ESPN Deportes, ESPN+ 🇧🇷🇲🇽

The first semifinal match features Conmebol giants Brazil facing-off with an ascendant El Tri Femenil. The Brazilians beat Argentina 5-1 in a lopsided rivalry match to progress to the final four nations. Mexico outslugged Paraguay in a thrilling 3-2 victory before a resounding home crowd atmosphere of 13,229 fans in Los Angeles. With players like Karen Luna and Lizbeth Ovalle having remarkable tournaments, and a mounting momentum in the stands behind them, La Tri could make some more history in a big test against As Canarinhas this Wednesday.    

III. Arsenal sell-out the Emirates for the second time this year for the North London Derby 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏟️

Arsenal secured a 1-0 victory over Tottenham thanks to a goal from Alessia Russo before yet another sellout at the Emirates this weekend. While crowds of this size are becoming the expectation, this marked Arsenal’s first back-to-back sellout, and the first to feature a 13-woman all female grounds crew. 

A moment of beauty: The sold out crowd also made a longtime dream come true for Arsenal center back Leah Williamson, who missed previous iterations due to injury. Williamson: “North London is red tonight, that’s all that matters”. 

ii. Elsewhere in WSL, West Ham United continue to mount a valiant relegation fight as they took a point from a 1-1 draw with Manchester United. The Rog and Sam Derby (Everton vs Manchester City) resulted in a City victory, who still sit neck and neck with Chelsea at the top of the table. And Madison Haley of Dallas, TX scored the 5th goal for Brighton in their 7-3 victory over Bristol this weekend. 

IV. News and Notes 📰

i. Spain won the inaugural UEFA Women’s Nations League 2-0 over France last week, lifting yet another trophy following goals from 2023 Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmatí and Mariona Caldentey. Spain would be the first to win the World Cup and Olympic gold back-to-back. But at this rate, can anybody stop them? 🇪🇸

ii. Goal of the week honors go to Kika Nazareth in Portugal, who scored an incredible goal on her return to the pitch for Benfica. Benfica are currently seven points clear in first place in Portugal's Liga BPI. 

iii. NWSL 2024 kits are here, and Nike has nixed white shorts following feedback from players. 🇵🇹

iv. 13-year-old McKenna Whitham scores for Gotham in a pre-season friendly as reigning NWSL Champions lift the Women’s Cup in Colombia, where they defeated a number of teams before overcoming Racing Louisville in the final. 

iv. ‘A Bar of Their Own’: Women’s sports are on the rise, and so are the ways to watch them. Over the weekend, Minneapolis opened the first bar dedicated solely to women’s sports in the American Midwest. 

V. Parting Shots

Yes, yes, we saw the thundersnow extravaganza in Utah. But have you seen the snow match in Uzbekistan for the U20 Asian Cup? The pitch looked like the set of M. Night Shymalan film “Signs” but with mazes of snow instead of corn. 

VI. Good Reads

i. Alex Ibaceta, for The Guardian, sits down with 2023 Ballon D’or winner and World Cup champion Aitana Bonmatí: ‘No one has given me anything to be where I am’

ii. From Rachel Bachman in The Wall Street Journal, a profile of El Tri Femenil phenom and Houston Dash forward, Maria Sanchez: “She never played club soccer. Now she’s the US’ League Top Paid Player”

iii. From Katie Whyatt at The Athletic: Exploring how and why male football fans follow women’s football