After three months of bold predictions, shifting power rankings and in-depth sleuthing on who could possibly make the final 18-player USWNT Olympic roster, it’s safe to say that was all a waste of time.
Brazil’s 18-woman roster for the Olympics was announced on Friday and included Orlando Pride ace and one of the greatest players of all-time, Marta. The 35-year-old’s reaction to hearing her name called to represent her country in Tokyo is what this sport is all about.
The moment Marta found out she made Brazil's Olympic roster for the fifth time
Jessica McDonald led North Carolina to a 2-1 win over OL Reign, but Jessica Fishlock provided the moment of the week with a magical goal for a late consolation on Saturday. The Jess Fishlock lob was in my opinion the best goal of the day, even with Euro 2020 going on.
Megan Rapinoe has made headlines for two very different reasons. The famous clothing brand Victoria’s Secret announced on Wednesday the company plans to have the USWNT star, transgender model Valentina Sampaio, actress Priyanka Chopra Jones and other women fill the role of the “angels” typically seen from the brand.
Victoria’s Secret said in a statement that it will “build new, deeper relationships with all women.”
The USWNT brought in 20,500 fans for the grand opening of Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas, and defeated Nigeria 2-0 in the final game of the Summer Series. Christen Press will go down in history as the first player to score a goal in Q2 Stadium history.
In stoppage time of the first half Carli Lloyd found Press with a quick-thinking pass which the American winger curled in for her 61st international goal.
On the mark
Carli Lloyd entered the USWNT’s June training camp knowing she couldn’t risk taking it easy with just 18 roster spots available for the Tokyo Olympics in July. She didn’t help her case when over-celebrating for a goal where she was clearly offside against Portugal on Thursday.
Carli Lloyd is a woman on a mission to prove she deserves to be on the USWNT’s flight to Japan for the Olympics. When she thought she had doubled her team’s lead against Portugal on Thursday night, she sent head coach Vlatko Andonovski a message. There was only one tiny problem with that Carli Lloyd celebration: the goal didn’t count.
If Thursday's USWNT vs. Portugal friendly was just an adventure in playing without Julie Ertz, it wasn’t the most pleasant trip. Defensively, Lindsey Horan did a great job of protecting the back four with Alyssa Naeher recording only one save.
But it was all sluggish going forward in Houston with the temp reading 86° and 69% humidity. The front three of Alex Morgan, Christen Press and Megan Rapinoe failed to largely trouble Inês Pereira, while Rose Lavelle wasn’t able to make her mark over 90 minutes.
The National Women’s Soccer League announced plans on Tuesday for San Diego to become home to the league’s 12th expansion team. The new SoCal club is set to begin play in Spring of 2022.
A Big West Coast Welcome @SanDiegoNWSL makes it official
— National Women's Soccer League (@NWSL) June 8, 2021
Olympique Lyonnais, one of the best sports dynasties ever, has been dethroned.
After 14 straight D1 Féminine titles — which coincided with seven Champions League crowns — Lyon will end the 2020-21 season without either trophy, a remarkable end to one of the most dominant teams we’ve ever seen.