The young American has had quite the week in her return to USWNT camp.
Following a more than controversial end of March for the USWNT's Korbin Albert, the 20-year-old midfielder was relegated to the bench and booed by fans as she came onto the pitch as a substitute.
Korbin Albert booed by fans in USWNT-Japan
The United States women’s national team mounted a 2-1 comeback victory vs. Japan in the SheBelieves Cup semifinal on Saturday in front of a record crowd in Atlanta, Georgia.
The 50,644 fans (the most ever for a non-World Cup or Olympic game on U.S. soil) in Mercedes-Benz Stadium sat stunned when Japan figuratively punched the USWNT in the mouth with a goal just 30 seconds into the game.
30 seconds is all it takes for Japan’s Kiko Seike to take the lead vs. USWNT.
Woah
United States women’s national team head coach Twila Kilgore turned heads with her starting XI for the SheBelieves Cup semifinal vs. Japan on Saturday. Korbin Albert will start the game on the bench and Mallory Swanson returns for the first time in a year.
Swanson last started a game with the USWNT on April 8, 2023, when she suffered a severe knee injury. She’s back in the starting XI for the first time since.
USWNT starting XI vs Japan
The XI to get us started in Atlanta
All eyes will be on the United States women’s national team starting XI on Saturday ahead of the SheBelieves Cup semifinal vs. Japan. The elephant in the room is obvious. Will Korbin Albert start the game?
Under normal circumstances Albert starting in the midfield for the USWNT would be a no brainer. She was terrific for the team alongside Sam Coffey during the Concacaf W Gold Cup and broke her way into the starting XI.
United States women’s national team legend Ali Krieger is returning to the field and will play for the U.S. Women’s team in TST (The Soccer Tournament) this summer.
Krieger, who retired after winning the NWSL Championship with Gotham FC last season, is dusting off her boots for one last dance.
TST had its inaugural 7-on-7 competition last year and was a smashing success drawing in tons of fans for the $1 million tournament.
The United States women’s national team held a press conference on Wednesday which saw leaders Alex Morgan and Lindsey Horan address the controversial situation involving midfielder Korbin Albert.
The 20-year-old received waves of backlash after fans discovered she’d reposted anti-LGBTQ+ videos on TikTok and was caught liking a post making fun of Megan Rapinoe’s career ending injury.
A very out-of-character moment from the soon-to-be USWNT manager.
Emma Hayes made headlines on Sunday following an altercation with Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall after Chelsea’s Women’s League Cup 1-0 final loss against Arsenal.
Watch: Emma Hayes pushes Arsenal manager after Women's Cup final loss
Shortly after the final whistle, Hayes approached Eidevall for the routine post-game manager handshake and pushed the Arsenal manager in clear upset, complaining over something that was unclear at the moment of the contretemps.
The American midfielder had nothing short of a bittersweet start to her weekend.
Korbin Albert topped off her more-than-busy Thursday scoring an insane long-range goal in Paris Saint-Germain’s quarterfinal UEFA Women’s Champions League knockout tie.
The USWNT midfielder received the ball on the outskirts of the 18-yard box and hit an absolute bullet with her weak foot against BK Häcken to seal PSG’s qualification to the semi finals of the European tournament.
Korbin Albert goal for PSG in Women's Champions League vs. Häcken
Megan Rapinoe has stepped into the Korbin Albert controversy with a clear shot at the 20-year-old United States women’s national team midfielder.
Albert has been facing a tidal wave of backlash after fans discovered reposts on her TikTok that featured anti-LGBTQ+ posts.
Albert also was caught liking a post that was celebrating and making fun of Rapinoe’s Achilles injury that ended her career in last year’s NWSL Championship game.
The Portland Thorns signed forward Sophia Smith to a two-year contract extension Tuesday, making her the highest paid player in the NWSL, ESPN reported.
While Smith's deal runs through the 2025 season, the contract will include an option for 2026.
No. 9
We’ve agreed to a contract extension with forward Sophia Smith.More here: https://t.co/5lmwcbQau3 pic.twitter.com/suBqSm86qy