USWNT Win First Olympic Tune-up 1-0 🇺🇸

It’s July 15, 2024. Give us four minutes, we give you everything The Women’s Game.

Happy Monday, TWG readers!

I’m still re-hydrating after attending that USWNT game on Saturday. It was so hot- but so worth it to see the team win and to get to meet a lot of you before the game. I loved chatting with you all and getting such great feedback about the podcasts. My favorite part of the game was seeing Lynn afterwards and getting to wish her luck for the Olympics. I’m just so proud of her and can’t wait to watch her shine in France!

It was also so fun to see the 99ers at the game. I got to say a quick hello to some of them before the game started and congratulate them on the celebration of their iconic 1999 World Cup win. I remember watching that game in my living room with my family and screaming when Brandi Chastain scored the winning PK. The 99ers were my first role models and were so influential in the development of my own passion for soccer.

Before the USWNT takes off for France for their first Olympic game against Zambia on 7/25, they have one more send-off game tomorrow night against Costa Rica in D.C. Rog and I are going to be ON YOUR TV while we all watch the game together. Becky is even joining us! This is called an alt-cast, so you’ll be able to watch the game and see Rog and me on the same screen. The alt-cast will be on TruTV and Max and I can’t wait to be with you all tomorrow!

We dropped a fantastic interview with Jenna Nighswonger last week where I convinced her to finally save Emma Hayes’ number into her phone. Jenna was so sweet and it really is remarkable that her soccer journey over the past year has led her to this Olympic roster, potentially as a starter. I’ve been so impressed with her play for this USWNT so she is certainly a player to watch this summer.

We also have some tournament preview podcasts coming your way at the end of this week, where Rog and I will break down each group in the Olympics. Make sure you are following along with us on social media so you don’t miss anything. Also — subscribe to our YouTube channel and while you’re there, turn on your notifications. That way, when all this new Olympics content gets posted, you’ll know.

Thank you all so much for being part of this with us. There is so much exciting soccer coming up and I can’t wait to watch with you all. Don’t forget — tomorrow night tune into TruTV or Max at 7:30pm ET!

Love,

Sam

I. The USWNT beat Mexico 1-0 in front of 26,376 fans in Olympic tune-up 🇺🇲

Saturday in New Jersey, the US Women’s National Team avenged a loss against Mexico as they prepare for an Olympic run in France. The match marked the first of two sendoff friendlies for the four-time gold medalists, as well as their first meeting with Concacaf rivals El Tri Femenil since that historic upset in February. Saturday, the signs of evolution were there, and not only because Emma Hayes was on the sideline (for her third official match in charge). But old ills surfaced too: namely, a lack of clinicality that haunted their last World Cup. From 17 shots, just six were on target, and they walked away with one goal in a 1-0 win. Sophia Smith clinched the goal with a sweet strike to complete the play from Swanson and Rodman. Caveats aside, that’s a front three to be excited about. Savor this trademark Trinity nutmeg for a sense of the skill and flair in store with that forward line. 

Check this Out: Sam’s thoughts from the final whistle at Red Bull Arena.  

More: ‘Sophia Smith lifts USA over Mexico ahead of Summer Olympics’

Also: Veteran goalkeeper, Hall-of-Famer in waiting and Bridgeport, Conn. native Alyssa Naeher was honored before the match for 100 caps, a feat she achieved this spring in a 3-0 shutout against Colombia. 

And: The USA’s 24-year-old elite creative force with nine Champions League goals to her name, Catarina Macario, has withdrawn from the US Olympic roster following minor knee irritation. This is a massive heartbreak for Catarina and all the many fans of her game; the immense young talent has been haunted by injuries in recent years. We wish her a speedy return. ❣️🇺🇲 Gotham forward, NWSL goal-scoring phenom, friend and co-host of The Women’s Game Lynn Williams has been added to the full team roster for this summer’s Olympics. We couldn’t be more proud. 🇺🇲

🥤 Our friends at Olipop power everything we do here at The Women’s Game. You can use code TWG20 for 20% off your first order at drinkolipop.com/TWG20.

II. Impact 99 Legacy Match honors a legendary generation and the footballers they’ve inspired 🇺🇲 

Saturday’s match, formally known as the ‘Impact ‘99 Legacy Match’, honored the legendary generation of footballers that won the World Cup on home soil in 1999. The reunited team that beat China PR on penalties at the Rose Bowl was cherished throughout the week and before the match to mark the 25th anniversary of that epic win. Worth a watch: the incredible moment the ‘99ers were introduced to the crowd at Red Bull Arena. The impact this generation had on young girls around the world has been monumental for the game, and was felt across the stands and field. SOUND UP for the Mia Hamm ovation. 🏆

More: ‘On this day 25 years ago, the USWNT won the World Cup and changed soccer forever’

III. United States’ Olympics Opponents also warming up 🇦🇺🇿🇲🇩🇪🥇🥈🥉

In just ten days, the USWNT launch their Olympics campaign against Zambia in Nice. While the US tuned up against Mexico this weekend, their opponents tested themselves too. Zambia played New Zealand’s Football Ferns (who compete in Group A this summer) to a 1-1 draw. NWSL star forward talents Barbra Banda (who leads the golden boot race) and Racheal Kundananji both came off the bench, with the lone goal from Rhoda Chileshe (who plays for the Zambian club Indeni Roses). Team USA’s second group match is against Germany, who lost 3-0 to Iceland in Euro Qualifying over the weekend. And the USA’s final match is against Australia, who fell 2-1 to reigning gold medalists Canada in Spain. 22-year-old Sharn Freier of Brisbane Roar provided the only goal.    

More: ‘Injury concerns mount as Matildas fall to late Canada strike in final Olympics tune-up’

IV. Euro Qualifying group stage surprises with one match left to play 🌍

a. Friday across Europe, the penultimate match of the League A group stage featured a few surprise victories and more teams confirmed for Euro 2025. Iceland beat Germany 3-0 to stay second in their group and officially qualify for the Euros. The Czech Republic defeated reigning World Cup champions Spain 2-1, though they remain in last place in Group A2. While both Germany and Spain had already qualified before Friday’s games, other teams fought valiantly to book their spot. Denmark, France and Iceland will now officially join them. 🇩🇰🇫🇷🇮🇸

b. With one match left to go, three automatic qualification spots remain. Group A1 is wide open: the Netherlands and Norway sit first and second, but Italy and Finland are hot at their heels. England moved into second in their group after defeating the Republic of Ireland 2-1, but face Sweden Tuesday night in a battle to book their spot. 🇳🇱🇳🇴🇮🇹🇫🇮🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇸🇪

More: Is this the goal of the group stage? This rocket from French fullback Sakina Karchaoui in Les Bleues’ 2-1 win over Sweden is worth a gander. 🇫🇷

Also: NWSL legend and Welsh National Team veteran Jess Fishlock (Seattle Reign) collected her 44th international goal with this strike off the crossbar. 

V. News and Notes 🗞️📰

a. With the Olympics rapidly approaching, other contenders that tuned up over the weekend include Japan, who beat Ghana 4-0 (read more here on Nadeshiko Japan’s tournament chances). Colombia also played and fell to Ecuador 2-1. Las Cafeteras are coming off a historic World Cup quarter final finish, and play in a group with hosts France, reigning gold medalists Canada and New Zealand’s Football Ferns. 🥇

b. This past week, 23-year-old Washington Spirit midfielder Croix Bethune was named NWSL Rookie of the Month for a third straight month. That’s a remarkable feat, and sets a record in NWSL, as no player has collected three consecutive ROTM accolades before. Bethune, who enters the summer break with five goals and eight assists for Spirit, will head to France as an Olympic team alternate, and made her team debut against Mexico Saturday afternoon. 🇺🇲

c. Nottingham Forest Women are set to become a full-time professional club by 2025/26, with all of their home games to be played at The City Ground. 🌳

d. In light of recent struggles for women’s teams like Reading FC (who will drop to the fifth tier of English competition following lack of funding and support), Wales National Team coach and former Portland Thorns manager Rhian Wilkinson told the BBC that women’s football “is still precarious”. ⚽

VI. Parting Shots 🥃

This May, UEFA, the English FA and PFA announced the first all-female cohort of former footballers set to seek UEFA A License coaching. The 12-month program features 17 former players, including former England Lioness Steph Houghton. Listen to Houghton talk about what it means as the course begins. 

VII. Good Reads 📚

a. From Jeff Kassouf in ESPN, ‘25th anniversary of USWNT’s ‘99 World Cup win shows progress’

b. From Samantha Lewis, ‘Does Makenzie Arnold’s NWSL return signal a turning tide in women’s club football?’

c. From Courtney Hill for Olympics.com, ‘From playing in secret to the most expensive star in women’s football— the rise of Zambia’s Rachel Kundananji’