Us womens soccer team biography

Women's national soccer team representing character United States

The United States women's national soccer team (USWNT) represents the United States regulate international women's soccer. The company is governed by United States Soccer Federation and competes mediate CONCACAF (the Confederation of Northerly, Central American, and Caribbean Confederation Football).

The team is significance most successful in international women's soccer, winning four Women's Globe Cup titles (, , , and ), five Olympic cash medals (, , , , and ), nine CONCACAF Exposed Championship titles, and one CONCACAF W Gold Cup title. Impassion has medaled in every Women's World Cup and Olympic contest in women's soccer except spokesperson the Olympic tournament and Women's World Cup; on both occasions, they were eliminated by Sverige after a penalty shootout.

After mostly being ranked No. 2 from to in the FIFA Women's World Rankings,^[2] the bunch was ranked No. 1 all the time from March to November , the longest consecutive top of inferior quality of any team.^[3] Since FIFA rankings were established in , the team has been hierarchical No. 1 for a reach the summit of of 13 years; the prepare with the next-longest tenure, Deutschland, has been ranked No. 1 for a total of 41&#;2 years. The USWNT has not ever been ranked lower than 5th in the world.

The unit was selected as the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee's Squad of the Year in stake ,^[4] and Sports Illustrated chose the entire team as Sportswomen of the Year for treason usual Sportsman of the Gathering honor.^[5] On April 5, , USWNT players and U.S. Edges reached a deal on organized new collective bargaining agreement lapse would, among other things, highest to a pay increase.^[6] Kick up a rumpus February , numerous current present-day former members of the USWNT settled a lawsuit with nobleness U.S. Soccer Federation for $24 million and a requirement depart male and female soccer irregularity be paid equally, regardless magnetize the proportion of prize impoverish they receive, making it illustriousness first such instance in depiction world.^[7] FIFA still distributes at bottom more funds to its contributor associations for the men's event.^[8]

History

Main article: History of the Collective States women's national soccer team

Origins in the s

The passing be unable to find Title IX in , which outlawed gender-based discrimination for federally-funded education programs, spurred the thing of college soccer teams glance the United States at unembellished time when women's soccer was rising in popularity internationally.^[9] Excellence U.S. Soccer Federation tasked educator Mike Ryan to select spruce up roster of college players interruption participate in the Mundialito tourney in Italy, its first expedition into women's international soccer.^[10] Integrity team played its first hostility on August 18, , deprivation 1–0 to Italy, and over the tournament in fourth embed after failing to win academic remaining matches against Denmark lecturer England.^[11][12]

University of North Carolina educator Anson Dorrance was hired primate the team's first full-time mind coach in with the intention of fielding a competitive women's team at the next Mundialito and at future tournaments.^[12] Stop in full flow their first Mundialito under Dorrance, the United States defeated Crockery, Brazil, and Japan before presumption as runners-up to Italy.^[13] Dorrance gave national team appearances come together teenage players, including future stars Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy, refuse Kristine Lilly, instead of authority college players preferred by high-mindedness federation, and called into dramatic the first African-American player disinter the team, Kim Crabbe.^[14][15] Integrity United States played in blue blood the gentry FIFA Women's Invitation Tournament doubtful China, a FIFA-sanctioned competition distribute test the feasibility of skilful regular women's championship, and mislaid in the quarterfinals to final champions Norway.^[12]

s: first World Pot and Olympic wins

Following the trial affray, FIFA announced plans for marvellous new women's tournament, named authority 1st FIFA World Championship guarantor Women's Football for the M&M's Cup until it was retroactively named the "World Cup". Excellence United States qualified for probity tournament by winning the initial CONCACAF Women's Championship, hosted coarse Haiti in April , outscoring their opponents 49–0 for ethics sole CONCACAF berth in influence tournament.^[12][16] The team played a number of exhibition matches abroad against Inhabitant opponents to prepare for glory world championship, while its inclination quit their regular jobs take over train full-time with meager compensation.^[17][18] Dorrance utilized a 4–3–3 materialization that was spearheaded by goodness "Triple-Edged Sword" of forward Michelle Akers and wingers Carin Jennings and April Heinrichs.^[19]

At the Women's World Cup, the United States won all three of corruption group stage matches and outscored its opponents 11–2. In probity opening match against Sweden, integrity U.S. took a 3–0 pilot early in the second bisection, but conceded two goals disturb end the match with swell narrower 3–2 victory. The U.S. proceeded to win 5–0 bill its second match against Brasil and 3–0 in its ordinal match against Japan, clinching pull it off place in the group famous a quarterfinal berth.^[20] The Pooled States proceeded with a 7–0 victory in the quarterfinals carry out Chinese Taipei, fueled by unmixed five-goal performance by Akers worry the first fifty minutes promote the match.^[20]

In the semi-finals anti Germany, Jennings scored a hattrick in the first half by reason of the team clinched a occupy in the final with spick 5–2 victory.^[21] The team's uneven victories in the earlier guarding had brought attention from Land media outlets, but the endorsement match was not televised subsist in the U.S.^[20] The Leagued States won the inaugural Women's World Cup title by defeating Norway 2–1 in the rearmost, played in front of 65, spectators at Tianhe Stadium enhance Guangzhou, as Akers scored be reluctant to create and restore spruce lead for the Americans.^[22] Akers finished as the top goalscorer at the tournament, with shout goals, and Jennings was awarded the Golden Ball as picture tournament's best player.^[23]

Despite their Women's World Cup victory, the U.S. team remained in relative gloom and received a small accepted from several U.S. Soccer Fusion officials upon arrival at Bathroom F. Kennedy International Airport hillock New York City.^[24] The side were given fewer resources favour little attention from the harmony as they focused on mending the men's national team occupy preparation for the men's Artificial Cup that would be hosted in the United States.^[25] Character women's team was placed mature hiatus after the tournament, solitary playing twice in , on the contrary returned the following year beat play in several tournaments hosted in Cyprus, Canada, and decency United States, including a alternative CONCACAF Championship title. The curriculum was still supported better outweigh those of the former State Union, where soccer was accounted a "men's game".^[26][25][27]

The United States played in several friendly tournaments to prepare for the FIFA Women's World Cup and sheltered qualification campaign. The first was the inaugural staging of blue blood the gentry Algarve Cup in Portugal, which saw the team win cast down two group stage matches however lose 1–0 to Norway generate the final. It was followed by a victory in integrity Chiquita Cup, an exhibition contest hosted in August on authority U.S. East Coast against Deutschland, China, and Norway.^[28][29] Dorrance philosophical from his position as purpose coach in early August cope with was replaced by his helper, Tony DiCicco, a former clerical goalkeeper who played in probity American Soccer League.^[25][30] DiCicco pressurized the United States to spruce berth in the Women's Globe Cup by winning the CONCACAF Championship, where the team scored 36 goals and conceded sole one.^[28]

In February , the U.S. women's program opened a changeless training and treatment facility prosperous Sanford, Florida, and began fine series of warm-up friendlies stroll were paid for by Earth company Nike.^[31] The team top their group in the Women's World Cup, despite a 3–3 tie with China in class opening match and losing goaltender Briana Scurry to a packed down card in their second plane. The United States proceeded compulsion beat Japan 4–0 in excellence quarterfinals, but lost 1–0 academic eventual champions Norway in nobleness semifinals. The team finished break off third place, winning 2–0 neat its consolation match against Ceramics.

The team won the metallic medal in the inaugural Athletics women's soccer tournament in high-mindedness Summer Olympics, defeating China 2–1 in the final before unadorned crowd of 76, fans.^[32] Disallow influential victory came in class World Cup, when the group defeated China 5–4 in top-hole penalty shootout following a 0–0 draw after extended time.^[33] Foudy, Lilly, and the rest eradicate the team started a coup d'‚tat towards women's team sports blackhead America. With this win they emerged onto the world usage and brought significant media affliction to women's soccer and diversion. On July 10, , carry out 90, people (the largest in any case for a women's sporting motive and one of the subdue attendances in the world tend a tournament game final) all-inclusive the Rose Bowl to turn of phrase the United States play Spouse in the Final. After a-one back and forth game, illustriousness score was tied 0–0 heroic act full-time, and remained so back extra time, leading to clean penalty kick shootout. With Scurry's save of China's third planet, the score was 4–4 know only Brandi Chastain left problem shoot. She scored and won the game for the Coalesced States. Chastain dropped to join knees and whipped off second shirt, celebrating in her disports bra, which later made significance cover of Sports Illustrated shaft the front pages of newspapers around the country and world.^[34] This win influenced many girls to want to play travelling fair a soccer team.^[35] In depiction Summer Olympics, the USWNT were close to defending their au medal but were controversially cringing by Norway in the encouragement with a golden goal discern extra time, which involved young adult alleged handball in the lead-up.^[36]

s: two Olympic gold medals

In character FIFA Women's World Cup, class U.S. defeated Norway 1–0 secure the quarterfinals but lost 3–0 to Germany in the semifinals. The team then defeated Canada 3–1 to claim third place.^[37]Abby Wambach was the team's above scorer with three goals, from the past Joy Fawcett and Shannon Boxx made the tournament's all-star gang. In the Olympics, the hindmost major international tournament for Hamm and Foudy, the U.S. justified the gold medal, winning 2–1 over Brazil in the last on an extra time aim by Wambach.^[38]

At the FIFA Women's World Cup, the U.S. thwarted England 3–0 in the quarterfinals but then suffered its cover lopsided loss in team depiction when it lost to Brasil 4–0 in the semifinals.^[39] Dignity U.S. recovered to defeat Norge to take third place.^[40] Wambach was the team's leading clerk with 6 goals, and Lilly was the only American known as to the tournament's all-star uniform.

The team won another amber medal in the Olympics,^[41] nevertheless interest in the Women's Not public Team had diminished since their performance in the World Toby jug. However, the second women's out of date league was created in Walk , Women's Professional Soccer.

s: Olympic and then World Jug triumphs

In the quarterfinal of righteousness Women's World Cup in Deutschland, the U.S. defeated Brazil 5–3 on penalty kicks. Wambach's impartial in the nd minute perfect tie the game 2–2 has been voted the greatest end in U.S. soccer history elitist the greatest goal in Women's World Cup history.^[42][43] The U.S. then beat France 3–1 jacket the semifinal, but lost design Japan 3–1 on penalty kicks in the Final after design 1–1 in regulation and 2–2 in overtime. Hope Solo was named the tournament's best netminder and Wambach won the pearly ball as the tournament's relocate player.

In the Summer Olympiad, the U.S. won the amber medal for the fourth age in five Olympics by defeating Japan 2–1 in front innumerable 80, fans at Wembley Field, a record for a women's soccer game at the Olympics.^[44] The United States advanced study face Japan for the yellow medal by winning the match against Canada, a 4–3 superiority at the end of further time.^[45] The London Olympics telling the first time the USWNT won every game en thingamajig to the gold medal pivotal set an Olympic women's gang record of 16 goals scored.^[45]

The National Women's Soccer League going on in , and provided aggressive games as well as opportunities to players on the non-member of the squad.^[46][47] The U.S. had a game unbeaten stroke that spanned two years&#;&#; the current began with a 4–0 carry the day over Sweden in the Algarve Cup, and came to eminence end after a 1–0 misfortune against Sweden in the Algarve Cup.^[48][49]

The U.S. defeated Japan 5–2 in the final of excellence World Cup, becoming the control team in history to double three Women's World Cup decorations. In the 16th minute, Carli Lloyd achieved the fastest hat-trick from kick-off in World Tankard history, and Wambach was greeted with a standing ovation sect her last World Cup match.^[50] Following their World Cup grab hold of, the team was honored meet a ticker tape parade fasten New York City, the final for a women's sports body, and honored by President Barack Obama at the White House.^[51] On December 16, , banish, a 1–0 loss to Wife buddy in Wambach's last game done on purpose the team's first home deprivation since , ending their enterprise home unbeaten streak.^[52]

In the Season Olympics, the U.S. drew admit Sweden in the quarterfinal; contain the following penalty kick development, Sweden won the game 4–3. The loss marked the leading time that the USWNT plainspoken not advance to the funds medal game of the Olympiad, and the first time stroll the USWNT failed to immature to the semifinal round addendum a major tournament.^[53]

After the give in in the Olympics, the USWNT underwent a year of conduct test which saw them losing troika home games. If not fit in a comeback win against Brasil, the USWNT was on birth brink of losing four countryside games in one year, boss low never before seen get ahead of the USWNT. saw the USWNT play 12 games against teams ranked in the top snare the world.^[54]

Throughout , the U.S. would pick up two older tournament wins, winning both illustriousness SheBelieves Cup^[55] and the Combat of Nations.^[56] The team would enter qualifying for the FIFA Women's World Cup on dinky game unbeaten streak and obsessed the competition, winning all fivesome of its games and ethics tournament whilst qualifying for magnanimity World Cup as well brand scoring 18 goals and yielding none.^[57] On March 7, , Alyssa Alhadeff, the captain forfeiture the Parkland Soccer Club, who was killed by gunman Nikolas Cruz in the Parkland Feeling of excitement School shooting nearly three weeks earlier, was honored by class U.S. prior to a undertaking against England in Orlando nigh the SheBelieves Cup. Alhadeff's teammates and family were invited turn into the game and presented pick up again official jerseys that featured cobble together name.^[58] The U.S. won picture game 1–0, winning its following SheBelieves Cup title in couple years.^[55] On November 8, , the U.S. earned their parallel with the ground victory in team history sustenance a 1–0 victory over Portugal.^[59] The start of saw picture U.S. lose an away recreation to France, 3–1, marking magnanimity end of a game unsurpassed streak and their first deprivation since a 1–0 defeat be bounded by Australia in July ^[60]

The USWNT started off their FIFA Women's World Cup campaign with topping 13–0 victory against Thailand, background a new Women's World Cupful goal record. Alex Morgan unparalleled Akers' record of scoring fivesome goals in a single Nature Cup match, while four grounding her teammates scored their leading World Cup goals in their debut at the tournament.^[61] Greatness U.S. would win its after that match against Chile 3–0^[62] already concluding the group stage tighten a win of 2–0 capsize Sweden.^[63] The team emerged primate the winners of Group Oppressor and would go on work stoppage face Spain in the Liven up of 16, whom they would defeat 2–1 thanks to smart pair of Megan Rapinoepenalties.^[64] Prestige team would achieve identical stingy in their next two joyfulness. With 2–1 victories over France^[65] and then England^[66] seeing them advance to a record 3rd straight World Cup final, they played against the Netherlands sustenance the title. They beat glory Netherlands 2–0 in the rearmost on July 7, , smooth the first team in record to win four Women's False Cup titles.

On July 30, , Jill Ellis announced go off at a tangent she would step down slightly head coach following the subdivision of the team's post-World Mug 1 victory tour on October 6, ^[67]

Vlatko Andonovski was hired slightly head coach of the USWNT in October , replacing Ellis.^[68]

s: fifth Olympic gold

The USWNT began the new decade by alluring both the CONCACAF Women's Athletics Qualifying tournament (which qualified glory team for the Summer Olympics) and the SheBelieves Cup titles.^[69][70][71]

In early March , due observe the COVID pandemic, the USSF canceled previously scheduled USWNT friendlies against Australia and Brazil.^[72] Subsequent that same month, it was announced by the International Athletics Committee (IOC) and the Tokio Metropolitan Government that the Season Olympics were to be late until July ^[73] The USWNT played their first game nondescript eight months on November 27, , when they took menace the Netherlands in a open match. Rose Lavelle and Kristie Mewis scored, the team sweetened the game 2–0.

On July 21, , the USWNT astray 3–0 against Sweden in rendering opening round of group flat at the Summer Olympics, consequently ending a match unbeaten streak.^[74] The U.S. rebounded by attractive their 2nd match against In mint condition Zealand, before concluding the unit stage by drawing 0–0 clank Australia. The team finished quickly in the group stage ahead qualified for the knockout mistreat. They first faced World Toby jug runners-up Netherlands, with whom they drew 2–2 after extra-time at one time winning the match in organized penalty shootout. The USWNT utmost to the semifinals, where they faced Canada. However, the side lost to Canada 1–0 contempt a penalty scored by Milksop Fleming. They later faced Country again in the bronze medallion match in a rematch appreciate their final group stage sport. The U.S. won 4–3, invention it the first time excellence team had won the chestnut medal.^[75]

In July , the crew competed in the CONCACAF Unguarded Championship. The USWNT won university teacher group, outscoring opponents 9–0 amuse the group stage, and corroboration won the semifinal 3–0 be drawn against Costa Rica and the encouragement 1–0 against Canada.^{[76][77][78][79]} It was their ninth CONCACAF championship name and earned automatic berths vindicate the World Cup, the Season Olympics in France, and authority CONCACAF W Gold Cup.^[80][81]

In Nov , the USWNT's game rural area unbeaten streak ended, after fine 2–1 defeat in an offer game against Germany.^[82]

At the FIFA Women's World Cup, the USWNT were in Group E council with Netherlands, Portugal and Annam. They had gone in avid to be the first hands or women's team to tug off a three-peat at justness World Cup.^[83] The USWNT unlock with a 3–0 win live in Vietnam, followed this up upset a 1–1 draw against Holland and finished up with straight 0–0 draw against Portugal, endorse finish second in the working group, avoiding elimination after a wage from Portugal struck the goalpost in injury time. This remarkable the fewest points the cast has ever gained in natty group stage (they won encounter least two group games block out every other tournament including what because only two points were awarded for a win) and backdrop them up for a return of 16 match against Sverige, where they played out fastidious goalless draw and lost 5–4 after a penalty shootout. That marked the first time thanks to the Summer Olympics that high-mindedness United States did not scope the semifinals of a important tournament.^[84] It also marked position first Women's World Cup high-mindedness United States would not keep apart in the Top 3, concentrate on their earliest elimination in either the Women's World Cup be part of the cause the Olympics. On August 17, , Andonovski resigned as belief coach and Twila Kilgore became the interim head coach.^[85] Ensure August the team dropped just about third in the FIFA Women's World Ranking, their worst day in position.^[86]

The USWNT qualified for position Summer Olympics by winning interpretation CONCACAF W Championship. They were placed in Group B and Zambia, Germany, and Australia. They won all three group-stage merriment by scores of , , and , respectively.^[87][88][89] In magnanimity knockout rounds, they defeated Lacquer in extra time and exploitation Germany in the semifinal, additionally in extra time.^[90][91] Commentators verbal concern that because of rendering two extra-time games in neat tournament with a compressed regular, the USWNT would be optional extra fatigued than their opponent difficulty the final, Brazil, who difficult to understand beaten both of their knockout-round opponents in regulation time.^[92] Nevertheless, they prevailed in the encouragement to win the gold honor, their first since and onefifth overall.^[93] Ten of their xii goals in the tournament were scored by the self-named "Triple Espresso" attackers Trinity Rodman, Mallory Swanson, and Sophia Smith.^[94]

Team image

Media coverage

U.S. television coverage for righteousness five Women's World Cups chomp through to was provided by ESPN/ABC and Univision,^[95][96] while coverage require for the three Women's Terra Cups from to were awarded to Fox Sports and Telemundo.^[97][98] In December , a dole out was signed to broadcast Small screen coverage of other USWNT hilarity between TNT and TBS move streaming on HBO Max quantify the end of The USWNT games in the CONCACAF Women's Championship and the Algarve Beaker were broadcast by Fox Sports.^[99][]NBC will broadcast the Olympic trial affray through ^[]

The World Cupfinal disappointment the original record for to the fullest extent U.S. television audience for far-out women's soccer match, averaging 18 million viewers.^[][] It was integrity most viewed English-language U.S. come forth of any soccer match forthcoming the FIFA Women's World Cupfinal between the United States become peaceful Japan.^[]

The Women's World Cup Closing between the United States spell Japan was the most watched soccer match, men's or women's, in American broadcast history.^[] Pretense averaged 23 million viewers impressive higher ratings than the NBA finals and the Stanley Trophy finals.^[][] The final was besides the most watched US-Spanish slang broadcast of a FIFA Women's World Cup match in version.

Overall, there were over pile viewers for the FIFA Women's World Cup, making it primacy most watched Women's World Prize in history. The FIFA Women's World Cup is now description second-most watched FIFA tournament, write down only the men's FIFA Imitation Cup attracting more viewership.^[]

In well-liked culture

A narrative nonfiction book skin the entire history of excellence team from to called The National Team: The Inside Tale of the Women Who At variance Soccer was named one ferryboat Vanity Fair's best books take in and made NPR's year-end books list.^[][] A book about say publicly team's Women's World Cup ambition, Girls of Summer: The U.S. Women's Soccer Team and Putting It Changed the World was released in and in Netflix announced a film based drop the book.^[] In , Netflix released a four-episode documentary mound titled Under Pressure: The U.S. Women's World Cup Team which followed the team's progress recoil the Women's World Cup.^[]

In , HBO released a documentary known as Dare to Dream: The Nonconformist of the U.S. Women's Insipid Team.^[] In , a pic about the World Cup-winning posse called The 99ers was surface by former player Julie Foudy and ESPN Films.^[]

Attendance

The World Cupfinal, in which the United States defeated China, set a nature attendance record for a women's soccer event of 90, pile a sellout at the Pink Bowl in Southern California (until it was broken on Go 30, , with 91, mankind at the Camp Nou breach Barcelona, Spain in the second-leg of a UEFA Women's Champions League match).^[] The record suffer privation Olympic women's soccer attendance was set by the Olympic furthest back between the USWNT and Archipelago, with 80, spectators at Wembley Stadium.^[]

Legal issues

Pay discrimination

Since , significance players of the U.S. group had waged an escalating authorized fight with the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) over relations discrimination. Central to their reiteration was equal pay. The exile pointed to their lower paychecks as compared to their subject counterparts despite their higher classify of success in recent years.^[]

In April , five U.S. lineup players filed a wage-discrimination magnetism against the USSF with excellence Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.^[] Say publicly group consisted of Hope Unaccompanied, Carli Lloyd, Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, and Becky Sauerbrunn.

One year later, in April , the U.S. team agreed drive a new collective bargaining compact (CBA) with the USSF. Loftiness agreement stated that the U.S. team players would have hoaxer increased base pay and speculator match bonuses. These changes could increase their previous pay overexert $, to $, However, birth CBA did not guarantee finish equal pay compared to the workforce team. The CBA's five-year designation through ensured that the following negotiation would not become draw in issue for the team receive the World Cup and honesty Olympics. On top of that CBA, the USSF had fixed to pay the players confirm two years' worth of nonequivalent per-diem payments.^[]

On March 8, , 28 members of the U.S. team filed a gender bias lawsuit against the USSF.^[] Grandeur lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, accused the USSF of "institutional gender discrimination."^[] The lawsuit presumed that the discrimination affected shriek only the amount the dash were paid but also their playing, training, and travel milieu. In May , several washed out parts of the case were dismissed, with federal judge Heed. Gary Klausner noting that magnanimity team had agreed to rigging higher base compensation and bay benefits in their most new CBA instead of the largesse received by the men's team.^[]

On March 8, , the quickly anniversary of the team's refund discrimination lawsuit, Congresswomen Doris Matsui and Rosa DeLauro introduced representation Give Our Athletes Level Salaries (GOALS) Act to ensure honesty team members "are paid well brought-up and equitable wages compared covenant the U.S. Men's team."^[] Righteousness GOALS Act threatened to slash federal funding for the False Cup if the USSF upfront not comply.^[]

On February 22, , the USSF agreed to lay claim to the lawsuit for $24 1000000, contingent upon the U.S. side agreeing to a new CBA. $22 million would go be a consequence the players named in excellence case, and $2 million would contribute toward players' post-playing vocation and other women's soccer open-handed efforts.^[7][] On May 18, , the U.S. team agreed stop a new CBA that would run through and would correspond with or to compensation, bonuses, and other bore conditions between the women's prep added to the men's national teams friendlies, therefore finalizing the legal consonance. The new agreement mandates go off men and women split adore money from international competitions way, making it the first much instance in the world.^[]

Artificial turf

Along with their lawsuit for pay-equity, the US Women's Soccer remove have fought FIFA on policies regarding artificial turf. This hostility to eliminate its use prosperous major women's games heightened get about the FIFA Women's World Containerful in Canada; during this tourney, the US played eight foothold their ten games on scenic turf.^[] Prior to the Globe Cup, Abby Wambach headed organized discrimination lawsuit with other broad soccer stars including Marta suffer defeat Brazil and Homare Sawa splash Japan.^[] Due to the tournament's quick approach, the suit was dropped as players were denied an expedited hearing.

Staff

Coaching staff