The game of soccer is always full of rivalries and head-to-heads. The biggest one you’re probably thinking of is the Messi vs. Ronaldo feud, which is never ending. My recent favorite is the comparison of their 2020 hairstyles.
But I’m sick of talking about them. Plus, I have another interesting head-to-head matchup that should be talked about more: Lynn Williams vs. Alex Morgan.
Lynn Williams vs. Alex Morgan
Alex Morgan has been out of the game for a while, what with becoming a mother and everything. But, rumor has it that the star posted an Instagram story showcasing her return to practicing. Maybe she’ll be back sooner rather than later.
SHE'S BACK!!!!
— Best Of Alex Morgan (@BestAlexMorgan) July 15, 2020
There’s no doubt Morgan is a speed demon and a deadly finisher, with a recorded 107 goals and 43 assists for the USWNT.
@alexmorgan13 |New Americanahttps://t.co/bKOHmmjC0C
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. #women #football #USA #usafootball pic.twitter.com/CGj5qwJAGc— Football Republic (@FootballRepubli) July 12, 2020
The forward's trademarks are her speed and aggression on the ball. Also notably so, former star Abby Wambach groomed Morgan into becoming a powerhouse both on the field and off.
With Morgan’s absence from the 2019-20 season, many fans were concerned about how exciting the NWSL would be and how her teams would perform in her absence. Club team Orlando Pride has not felt her absence, ostly because they withdrew from the NWSL Challenge Cup.
And with the 2020 Olympics being pushed back to 2021 because of the Covid-19 pandemic, Morgan will be back so they might not feel her empty spot either.
But let’s just imagine the world hadn’t fallen apart, meaning that Morgan would have had a little over three months to prepare. It’s not unheard of, but it would have been hard.
We wouldn’t have to worry about missing Alex Morgan because Lynn Williams is a perfect solution.
Williams was called up to the USWNT back in October 2016. On October 19, she earned her first cap and scored 49 seconds after entering the game — what a statement.
From 2017 to late 2019, her career went quiet for a while and she fell off the national team’s radar. New head coach Vlatko Andonovski took interest in her and called her up to the national team again, where she played in the team’s November friendlies. She recorded five goals and five assists in her first few matches back with the team.
Now, Williams is coming in hot. She has proven herself a force to be reckoned with in the NWSL Challenge Cup. Williams is the top scorer, coming in with three goals over the four games her North Carolina Courage squad has played. She also has recorded 19 shots, by far the most in the tournament. She keeps on going and never gives up.
#NWSLChallengeCup Golden Boot Race Update
The top 4 hasn't changed and Debinha has slotted in due to having no cards. Lynn Williams could push ahead and bridge a gap if she isn't rested or reduced significant minutes tonight.(FBref) pic.twitter.com/S9QStkFyO1
— NWSL Field of Vision (@NWSLFieldVision) July 13, 2020
#NWSLChallengeCup Top 5 Leading Assisters
Lynn Williams has been the biggest attacking threat so far in this cup. Her 3 goals and 1 assist push her to 2nd in the Assister ranking.(FBref) pic.twitter.com/OYLnryhtns
— NWSL Field of Vision (@NWSLFieldVision) July 14, 2020
Williams is an exciting player to watch; she plays with utter tenacity and heart. She might even be more polished in her footwork and skill than Alex Morgan.
Overall, Williams is severely underrated. She’s slowly getting more attention for her amazing performances in the tournament, but there should still be more spotlight on her.
"It's not IF Lynn Williams will punish you, but WHEN."@lynnraenie with a solo masterpiece
0-1 | #WASvNCTune in now on @CBSAllAccess and @Twitch.#NWSLChallengeCup pic.twitter.com/rcCmik93p9
— NWSL (@NWSL) July 2, 2020
Both of these athletes are world class, and they both have their own strengths and weaknesses. All I’m saying is that maybe we don’t have to worry about Alex Morgan being gone, because we have Lynn Williams.
