USWNT

Megan Rapinoe has been here before. Twice she tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee while playing her college ball with the University of Portland, injuries which resulted in her missing out on both the 2007 FIFA World Cup and the 2008 Beijing Olympics. 

Now, aged 30 and with more than 100 caps with the United States national team, Rapinoe is once again facing the arduous trials and tribulations of returning from an ACL injury, this one having been sustained in her left knee.

You're a defender, and you're playing against the United States Women's National Team. This in and of itself would be nerve-wracking. The USWNT are the defending World Cup champions and they have a habit of beating up on opponents by scores of like, 7-0. 

You're a defender and you're facing the USWNT and you're already a little worried and then it happens: the Americans trot out the most terrifying, intimidating female player in the world.

Abby Wambach has been in the news for the wrong reasons lately. On Sunday, she was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of intoxicants, and at her initial court appearance, court documents revealed that the retired USWNT player had tried cocaine and marijuana ten years ago, per the BBC. Her lawyer has entered in a plea of not guilty on her behalf. 

"Forget me," says Abby Wambach in her retirement-celebration commercial, brought to you by Gatorade. "Forget my number. Forget my name. Forget I ever existed."

At the time, I argued that that particular action on the part of the fans was impossible, and Wambach made it even more impossible this weekend when she got arrested for duii (driving under the influence of intoxicants) in Portland. 

Death. Taxes. These words are usually followed by a third thing used to illustrate certainty. Death. Taxes. Gigi Buffon.

Death. Taxes. The patriarchy.

This one is interesting because the latter subject is responsible in varying degrees for the other two, and because it may not be such a certainty anymore. One arena where the patriarchy has always been unquestioned in its dominance is the literal arena. Sports. 

Today, Alex Morgan stands as one of the most established players on the USWNT, but not too long ago she was just another talent trying to get into the national team. She’s come a long way since then, and we’ve been with her most of the way. Below, you’ll see our video, “18 Seconds of Alex Morgan,” as well as a small anthology of articles concerning our favorite lefty from Diamond Bar.

Not that Meghan Klingenberg would have had any trouble stealing our hearts normally, but today she especially stole our hearts with this video of the USWNT star accepting an award (sadly, not an Oscar).

Meghan Klingenberg's Klingenbloopers

Abby Wambach is the all-time leading scorer in international soccer. She has a stunning 184 goals; 23 more than her nearest female competitor, Christine Sinclair, and 75 more than her nearest male competitor, Ali Daei.  No man alive today has a legitimate chance at breaking Wambach’s record. She originally claimed the record during a friendly against South Korea on June 20th, 2013. She scored four times as she did so. A feat that will remind some of Lionel Messi, who has a habit of scoring a hat trick when he breaks a record, and perhaps does so fittingly.

Alex Morgan is good at sports. In the USWNT's Olympic qualifier against Costa Rica Wednesday, Morgan scored a goal just 12 seconds into the match, the fastest goal in US Soccer history and one of the fastest goals of all time.