Good morning, TWG readers! Another USWNT win yesterday has me thinking… we might really win this Olympics. I feel SO confident in this US team. We are just on such a roll, players are in great form, and the team seems to be enjoying themselves. One more win on Saturday against Japan and we’re guaranteed the opportunity to compete for a medal.

What made yesterday even more special was that I got to have my sister on the live reaction show after the game. Kristie and her fiance, Sam Kerr, watched the USA vs. Australia game together and we heard all about what that was like for them. Kristie and I also raved about Lynn and her leg sleeve (Lynn, laugh, leg sleeve). You had to be there, but luckily you can still watch it on TWG’s YouTube channel. 

Becky Sauerbrunn and I are recording a pregame podcast ahead of the quarterfinal game on Saturday. We’ll preview what to expect from Japan and talk about some of their key players- like captain Saki Kumagai and goal scoring threat Mina Tanaka. I can’t wait for you all to hear it.

Believe it or not, we are also starting to think about our post-Olympics content again and getting some Olympics stars on our weekly podcast, Friendlies. Who do you want to hear from? Send me an email with the players you are most excited about and I’ll try to get them on the show. [email protected].

Thank you all so much for being here with us as we continue our Olympics coverage and cheer for the USWNT. 

Love,

Sam

I. USA defeat Australia 2-1 to clinch first undefeated group stage since London 2012 🇺🇲🇦🇺

Last night in Marseille, the US Women’s National Team overcame a well-organized Matildas side to collect their third straight win of the 2024 Olympic group stage. The USA’s sweep of victories marks their first undefeated Olympic group stage since 2012, when the team won gold.

a. The Australians held off the USA’s formidable attack for much of the first half, though the US had firm control of the game. Knowing they’d need at least a draw to remain alive in Paris ‘24, the Matildas (who conceded a remarkable eight goals in their first two games) tidied their defending with compact lines that challenged the US to break through. 

In the 43rd minute, Trinity Rodman (who put the world on notice with her pink braids and wing eyeliner) broke the game open with a tap in goal from a corner. The goal marks Rodman’s second this tournament, with seven of the team’s nine group stage goals now coming from that formidable front three of Rodman, Smith and Swanson. After leaving out Alex Morgan, it is clear, Emma Hayes knew, the next generation of USWNT attackers is here. 

b. Australia adjusted in the second half as they made substitutions and went on the hunt for a much-needed goal. The US who were also worn down by the relentless Olympic schedule, began to rotate, with Jenna Nighswonger on at the half, and five players subbed in by the end. PSG midfielder Korbin Albert fired off a wonder-strike in the 77th minute that proved pivotal to the team’s victory. Australia clawed their way back to a 2-1 deficit with a stoppage time goal from Manchester City defender Alanna Kennedy, and looked capable of getting another at the end.       

With the 2-1 result, Australia’s Olympics ends in Marseille (with Matildas manager Tony Gustavsson fired), as they fell short of the third-place berths on goal differential. The USWNT heads to Paris next with phenomenal momentum but a big test ahead of them: a fearsome Nadeshiko Japan awaits for a quarter-final at the Parc des Princes. (Saturday, August 3, 9 AM EST, Peacock, Universo)

More: ‘USWNT dominates Olympic group with focus on building momentum, not rotating players’

Also: ‘USWNT midfielder Sam Coffey suspended for Olympic quarter-final’

II. Canada progresses to the Olympic quarter-final despite six-point deduction for Drone-spying 🇨🇦

a. Canada began their day this Wednesday with news that their appeal to remove a six point deduction had been denied by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. After drones were discovered flying over New Zealand’s training sessions at the start of the Olympics, authorities moved quickly to hold Canada accountable for cheating. That includes dismissing multiple coaches and barring coach Bev Priestman and two assistants from football for a year. While Canada Soccer did not appeal sanctions on those coaches, they argued that FIFA’s decision to deduct six points from their women’s team unfairly punished players for behavior they’d not been aware of. After the appeal was denied, Canada Soccer maintained that they: “believe that our players should not have been unnecessarily punished for actions that were not their own."

More: ‘Tribunal denies Canada’s appeal as Priestman email reveals a whole operation of spying’

b. With a clear sense of “us against the world”, the Canadian Women’s Soccer Team played Colombia in Nice knowing they’d need a near-perfect group stage to continue. After winning their first two games against the Football Ferns and hosts France, they met Las Cafeteras on zero points. In a closely contested match, Lyon center back Vanessa Gilles (who’d made an emotional appeal to the public after scoring the match winner against Les Bleues), made the difference for the second match in a row. Gilles headed home the game-winning goal from the air as Canada capitalized on a set piece. 

More: ‘Gilles plays hero again as Canada beat Colombia, earning improbable quarterfinal berth’

c. Canada (alongside the United States) are one of just two teams to sweep the group stage of multiple Olympic tournaments, though they finished in second place of Group A after their six point deduction. Canada plays Germany in Marseille next for the quarter-final, with Colombia also through with a third-place berth to play Spain outside Lyon. 

III. THE OLYMPIC QUARTERFINALS ARE SET 🥇

USWNT vs Japan: Saturday, August 3, 9 AM EST, Peacock, Universo

Spain vs Colombia: Saturday, August 3, 11 AM EST, Peacock, Universo

Canada vs Germany: Saturday, August 3, 1 PM EST, Peacock, Universo

France vs Brazil: Saturday, August 3, 3 PM EST, Peacock, Universo

After three rounds of games in three groups of death, the 2024 Olympic quarter-final is set. The US was unbeaten in Group B and Canada overcame their six-point deduction in a final matchday full of riveting drama. 

a. France finished first in Group A (with some help from Canada’s deduction) after beating the Football Ferns in Lyon. Marie-Antoinette Katoto continues to shine for Les Bleues, as she scored her second brace of the tournament in the 2-1 victory. Katoto’s five group stage goals include a goal in each of France’s games, and compose five of six of their total goals thus far. What a delight it must be for the PSG striker, who missed last summer’s World Cup with an ACL tear, and is now playing with incredible form on home soil. France will face Brazil next for a quarter-final clash in Nantes. 

b. In the USA’s Group B, Germany finished in second-place with a 4-1 win over Zambia. Die Nationalelf’s Lea Schüller notched a brace in the victory to mark three group stage goals for the Bayern forward, as they prepare to meet Canada in the quarter-final. NWSL’s goal scoring phenomenon Barbra Banda scored the evening’s lone goal for the Copper Queens, who will end their Olympics in the group stage, marking her fourth goal of the tournament. 

c. Reigning World Cup Champions Spain joined the US and Canada as undefeated teams in the group stage, after beating Brazil 2-0 in Bordeaux to secure first-place in Group A. Athenea del Castillo opened things up for La Roja, but opponents will surely note that two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alèxia Putellas is back in top tournament form, as she scored yet another late-game golazo to seal it. They’ll play Colombia next. Tragedy struck for the Brazilians in first half stoppage time, as international footballing legend Marta was sent off the match in a red card. With this Olympics marking Marta’s final international tournament for As Canarinhas, the emotional scenes as she was sent off gripped the heart. Fortunately for Brazil, despite the loss they are through to the quarter-final with a third-place berth, and will play France next in the quarter-final. 

d. Nadeshiko Japan defeated Nigeria’s Super Falcons 3-1 to book their spot in the quarter-final facing the United States in Paris. With three goals from three different players last evening in Nantes, Japan has scored six goals in the group stage, each notched by a different player: Fujino, Kumagai, Tanikawa, Tanaka, Hamaka, and Kitagawa. That versatile attack will meet the USA’s dynamic front three in two days at the Parc des Prince. 

The GIST’s Women’s Summer Soccer Bracket Challenge ⚽️🏆

The ultimate women's soccer tournament is about to kick off, and our friends at The GIST — a women-founded, inclusive sports media brand — are hosting a free-to-enter bracket challenge with major prizes on the line.

Predict the winners for the quarter-finals, semifinals, and the gold medal match. The winning bracket will take home an iPhone 15, second place wins an iPad, and third place snags an Apple Watch SE. In case of a tie, the closest prediction of stoppage time in the gold medal match wins.

What are you waiting for? Join us and lock in your picks before the bracket closes on Saturday, August 3 at 2:59 pm ET. See you on the leaderboard!

IV. News and Notes 📰🗞️

a. A wonderful sight: USWNT’s two-time World Cup winning forward Christen Press is finally off NWSL’s season ending injury list. After tearing her ACL in June 2022, Press has persevered through multiple surgeries and a long journey to return to football. This evening, Press will be available to play for Angel City in their Summer Cup match with San Diego Wave. 💪

b. As Summer Cup continues stateside (a brand new event pitting all 14 NWSL teams and 6 Liga MX Femenil teams in a rapid fire tournament), Utah Royals’ rookie Ally Sentnor notched a long-range golazo against Tijuana in a 5-1 statement victory for their last match of the group stage. The NWSL expansion team has struggled in the regular season, but wrapped up the Summer Cup’s Group A in first place, ahead of Portland Thorns, Seattle Reign, and Club Tijuana. 👑

c. Multiclub women’s football owner Michele Kang is making moves. That includes a new venture, Kynisca Sports International Ltd., which is a multi-team global organization dedicated to investing in women’s sports. Days after the announcement, and just moments after USA Women’s Rugby won the Rugby Sevens bronze medal in Paris, Kang announced a four million dollar gift to USA Women’s Rugby. 💸

V. Parting Shots 🥃

EMMA’S GOING HOME (for a visit): the USWNT announced a friendly at Wembley with England’s Lionesses, taking place November 30th. The last time the two teams met at Wembley, England beat the US 2-1 before a sold out crowd. This one promises to be just as riveting a display of football and fun. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇺🇲

VI. Good Reads 📚

a. From Laura Howard in The Guardian, ‘We were all crying: how the US deaf women’s national team made history’

b. From Rachel Axon in Sports Business Journal, ‘Michele Kang investing in growth of women’s sports’

c. From Tom Garry in The Guardian, ‘The Emma Hayes effect: reborn USWNT look like Olympic contenders again’