USWNT Wrap Up 2023 With a Win 🇺🇸

It’s Monday, December 11th. Give us four minutes, we give you everything The Women’s Game.

A LETTER FROM CANADA. This video looks back on the legacy of the world’s most prolific goalscorer in the women’s game, Christine Sinclair, who officially retired from the international game this month 

I. Coffey and Shaw close out 2023 with glimpse of the future for Team USA 🇺🇲

Last Tuesday in Frisco, 19-year-old Jaedyn Shaw marked her first start (and second appearance) for the USA with the match-winning goal in her Texan hometown, making her the youngest to score in her debut start since Heather O’Reilly in 2003. How's that for ending a long year on a high-note of hope?

The goal arrived after Sam Coffey (returned to the roster after a World Cup smiting) made things level against the Steel Roses with her first international goal — a delight to see for a deserving player’s reintroduction. 

With that, the USWNT are done playing soccer for the year. 

They did so with a 2-1 victory over China that was imperfect. Though it was certainly uplifting, as it offered yet more visions of the future in the Emma-Hayes-era to come. 

In addition to continued minutes for the recently introduced Shaw and Mia Fishel, interim boss Twila Kilgore debuted three more exciting talents in this camp: 18-year-old Olivia Moultrie of the Portland Thorns, NWSL Rookie of the Year Jenna Nighswonger, and PSG’s midfield dynamo Korbin Albert. 

We’ll remember this year as one of tumbling down a ladder that was looming for quite some time. As the game grew globally, the US faltered, then fell out of the World Cup at the earliest point in their history. 

But the talent remains robust. And with Emma Hayes newly appointed as manager (officially in charge come summer after closing out the season with club side Chelsea), assembling a winning machine feels somewhat likely again. 

To the future. 

MORE: The much-anticipated Netflix documentary on the USWNT’s ‘three-peat’ journey drops tomorrow on Netflix

II. Team GB is out of the Olympics 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧

With the newly created Nations League acting as UEFA’s Olympic qualifier, heartbreak is hounding some of Europe’s top teams. Just two nations will earn berths for Paris, joining France as the hosts to represent Europe with three. 

As we wrote in last week’s newsletter, the USA’s old foe Sweden has already been knocked out of contention. This will be the first Olympics they’ll miss in program history. 

And as of last Tuesday, Team Great Britain will miss out on the Olympics as well. England’s Lionesses — who qualify on behalf of Team GB — entered their final test (against Scotland, as it happened) with margins slim but possibilities before them. Whatever result the Dutch pulled off against Belgium, essentially, England needed a win by three more goals. 

Until the waning seconds of stoppage time in the Netherlands, England was in. Following a 6-0 victory in Glasgow, they waited in a tense circle for the results to come in. You could see hope extinguish in real time as together, they caught the news. 

Damaris Egurrola scored not just once, but twice in stoppage time, leaping beyond England’s reach in a remarkable finish as the Dutch defeated Belgium 4-0. 

With goal differential the difference maker, those six goals in Glasgow were just short of enough. 

Sweden is out. Team GB is out. But the race is not done. In February, the Nations League will play its semi–final and final matches. The Netherlands has drawn Spain, and France will play the Germans in a set of matches to determine the final spots. 

III. Arsenal stomps Chelsea; Girma travels abroad 🧳

Another day, another record broken by a women’s soccer crowd. What a year it’s been for showing up. 

This time in England’s WSL, Arsenal hosted Chelsea in a top of the table rivalry bout that brought 59,042 fans to the Emirates. That number officially sets a new record for a Women’s Super League crowd. And somewhere among them? That’s right, Team USA and San Diego Wave center back Naomi Girma watched from the stands as Jonas Eidevall’s side beat Emma Hayes’ squad by a resounding 4-1. 

Girma’s a big football fan. You may recall her conversation with Rog about traveling to London after college to catch a bunch of games. (In fact, Girma was in London watching the footy when she was drafted number one in the 2022 NWSL draft). One could reasonably imagine Girma was simply on vacation again— or perhaps seeing old Stanford teammate Cat Macario, present US teammate Mia Fishel, or future US manager Emma Hayes.

Though one may also recall a World Cup podcast with Arsenal boss Eidevall, who admitted to Rog that Girma may have caught their recruiting eye. 

MORE: Arsenal implemented four Eidevall principles against Chelsea. It paid off.

AND MORE: Alessia Russo talks about country music, opening up and more

IV. NWSL Expansion Draft 🧨 🇺🇸

The NWSL had quite a year, and it’s about to get even more interesting in 2024. 

Two more teams are joining the league for its 12th season: Utah Royals FC make a mighty return, and Bay FC will join them. With their imminent introduction, what does that mean? It’s expansion draft time!

Set to take place this Friday, December 15th (aired live on CBS at 7 p.m. EST), the pair of expansion teams will assemble their inaugural roster from eligible players at existing teams. NWSL has released this year’s rules and teams have until tomorrow, December 12, to submit their lists of eligible players for selection. 

A few things to note: each club can formally protect a maximum of nine players from getting drafted, and identify one more to protect after the first expansion side selects one of their unprotected players. Expansion clubs cannot select unsigned, unrestricted or restricted free agents in the draft. 

With infinite unknowns before us, one thing is certain: it will be interesting. Let the madness begin. 

V. News and Notes 📰

1. As expected, World Cup 2027 bids are officially in, and the US and Mexico have submitted a joint bid titled NEW HEIGHTS. They’ll face opposing bids from Brazil, as well as a joint bid from Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.

2. With a deep roster and team performance that could battle the best, Florida State University won the College Cup this year, defeating Stanford in their first appearance since 2019

3. With Christine Sinclair’s retirement, Canada needs a new captain. Is Jesse Fleming the right fit?

4. The Women’s International Champions Cup has started to unfurl their 2023 Best XI honors

5. ‘The Soccer Tournament’ women’s edition is coming with a 7x7 tournament set for June. Heather O’Reilly will be there, and a million dollars is on the line.

6. Mary Earps released an update to her long awaited replica kit ahead of Christmas and in less than five minutes, the shirt completely sold out. Nike had come under fire this summer by not having her kit available. In October, they immediately sold out a limited release. 

VI. Parting Shots

“EVOLVE OR DIE” Emma Hayes responds to a series of inflammatory remarks from former English player, Joey Barton, regarding women in the men’s game.