Ballers are gonna ball, no matter the game.
|
|
|
USWNT looks to extend streak in final Olympic send-off
|
|
The USWNT last took on Costa Rica at the 2022 Concacaf Championship semifinal. (Erich Schlegel/USA TODAY Sports)
|
|
The USWNT’s last tune-up match before the Olympics has arrived, with the FIFA world No. 5 US looking for an 18th-straight all-time win over No. 44 Costa Rica tonight at Washington, DC's Audi Field.
- Just three days after a redemptive 1-0 victory over No. 29 Mexico, head coach Emma Hayes’s Paris-bound roster appears to be finding its stride.
- Calling Saturday’s win "a step in the right direction," Hayes went on to say, "I think we’re only scratching the surface. I think there’s a lot of layers to go from everyone."
Big picture: With their first Olympic group stage game against No. 64 Zambia slated for July 25th, the new-look USWNT — which features the youngest roster in 16 years — is working to define its style of play.
- While the USWNT’s signature ability to score in transition remains a strong point, the team also acknowledged their shaky first half on Saturday, with midfielder Rose Lavelle commenting that they're "working on being a little more tactically flexible... We’re trying to, as a group, learn how to adjust on the fly and be a little smarter with our adjustments during the games."
- This patience required to choose their moments, along with the team’s ability to read and anticipate each other's movements, is clutch to increasing effectiveness in the areas where the USWNT appeared most disjointed against Mexico.
- At stake is an Olympic podium finish, where the US hopes to improve on their bronze medal performance in Tokyo — but the team also aims to make a splash amidst their increasingly sophisticated opponents.
If improving offensive unity and production is tonight’s goal, Las Ticas could provide the ideal matchup: In their 17 previous meetings, the USWNT has outscored Costa Rica 90-2 overall.
- That said, Costa Rica has switched things up since the sides last met in July 2022, with the US defeating the Central American squad 3-0 in the Concacaf Championship semifinal.
- Las Ticas competed in the 2023 World Cup and reached the Gold Cup quarterfinals earlier this year, where they narrowly fell to No. 8 Canada in extra time.
- Costa Rica is captained by 30-year-old Angel City midfielder Rocky Rodriguez, the lone NWSL player on their roster and in 2015, the first Costa Rica national to ever score in a Women's World Cup.
- In addition to maintaining a perfect record against Costa Rica, the USWNT will look to extend their current unbeaten streak to nine, which includes three shutouts in Hayes’s first three matches at the helm.
Tune in: Expect some hydration breaks due to DC's scorching temperatures during tonight’s 7:30 PM ET match, broadcast live on TNT and Peacock.
- TruTV and Max will simultaneously air the first-ever USWNT altcast, hosted by retired USWNT star Sam Mewis, former USWNT captain Becky Sauerbrunn, and Men in Blazers founder Roger Bennett.
|
|
Sizing up the Olympic competition
|
|
Germany's Jule Brand hangs her head after losing to Iceland 3-0 on Friday. (Hulda Margret/Getty Images)
|
|
With Olympic soccer kicking off in just over a week, the USWNT isn't the only national squad prepping for the podium with a series of pre-Paris matchups.
- Both international friendlies and important qualifiers are on the docket, with several European teams competing for a spot in the UEFA Women's EURO 2025.
- Regardless of the stakes, these performances might provide some insight into what the USWNT can expect once the Summer Games begin.
Surprise results: Of the 12 Olympic teams, recent outings from FIFA world No. 1 Spain and No. 4 Germany featured the most shocking outcomes.
- Despite dominating possession behind an opening goal from 2023 Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmatí, the 2023 World Cup winners fell 2-1 to No. 30 Czechia in Friday's Euros qualifier — their first loss of 2024.
- Spain heads into the Games aiming to become the first women’s team to win a World Cup and Olympic gold back-to-back, though they’ll need to significantly up their scoring to claim that record against an Olympic group that includes Japan, Nigeria, and Brazil.
But it was Germany who stumbled the hardest, losing out 3-0 to No. 14 Iceland in their own Friday qualifier.
- After the match, Germany's head coach Horst Hrubesch didn’t mince words, saying, "We deserved to lose. We handed them all three goals on a plate."
- The game was especially foreboding for this German squad: They lost 3-2 to Zambia just weeks before the 2023 World Cup, where the two-time world champions failed to advance past the group stage for the first time in the tournament’s history.
- Germany also faces some tough Olympic group stage competition, battling Australia and the USWNT before crossing paths with Zambia once again.
Background: These games carry extra weight for European squads hoping to make it to Switzerland for Euro 2025.
- Coming in first in both their groups, Spain and Germany had already made the cut prior to Friday’s losses.
- They’ll be joined by France, Iceland, and Denmark, with the rest of the field to be determined via today’s final group stage matches or October's playoffs.
- 2023 World Cup runners-up England must avoid a loss to Sweden this afternoon to sidestep the playoffs and ensure the chance to defend their 2022 Euros title.
Other noteworthy results:
- Defending Olympic champs No. 8 Canada defeated No. 12 Australia 2-1 on Saturday, with KC Current forward Nichelle Prince and ex-Gotham striker Evelyne Viens both scoring in the friendly. Canada will play world No. 36 Nigeria in a closed-door friendly on Wednesday.
- No. 2 France took down No. 6 Sweden 2-1 in Friday's Euro qualifier, marking the perennial contenders' latest blow since failing to make this year's Olympic cut.
- On Saturday, No. 28 New Zealand drew 1-1 in a friendly with No. 64 Zambia, while non-Olympic-bound Ecuador handed No. 22 Colombia a 2-1 send-off loss.
|
|
Unrivaled's roster grows: Yesterday, two-time WNBA champion Kelsey Plum became the sixth athlete to join Unrivaled, the 30-player 3x3 league founded by New York's Breanna Stewart and Minnesota's Napheesa Collier. The offseason venture is set to tip off in Miami in January 2025. Laney-Hamilton out for Liberty: New York's Betnijah Laney-Hamilton successfully underwent a minor knee procedure on Tuesday, extending her time on the injury list to four to six additional weeks according to a team release. New Balance backs the WNBA: Athletic brand New Balance announced a multiyear deal with the WNBA on Tuesday, becoming an official partner of the league and signing LA Sparks rookie Cameron Brink to a new contract that includes "broadcast, digital, and retail content." Valkyries build front office: On Monday, the Golden State Valkyries appointed Vanja Černivec to serve as the WNBA expansion team's vice president of basketball operations. Černivec's 11-year career spans previous administrative stints with the London Lions, Chicago Bulls, and the NBA Academy Women’s Program. |
|
Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up here.
FOLLOW US
ADVERTISE WITH US
MORE
Copyright © 2023, All rights reserved.
8605 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069
|
|
|
|
|
