United States (Women's Football)

The United States women's national team will try to get a better result out of its second game in the SheBelieves Cup than its 2022 debut.

The USWNT opened the calendar year schedule with a scoreless draw against the Czech Republic. New Zealand is next on the schedule for the four-team, three-game competition. 

USWNT boss Vlatko Andonovski called on a handful of younger players to participate in the tournament, and it may take some time for that group to mesh with each other on the field. 

The introduction of Trinity Rodman and others is part of the plan to build up to qualifying for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup this summer. 

New Zealand comes into Sunday's match off a 1-0 loss to Iceland. The Kiwis last played the Americans at the 2020 Summer Olympics and fell 6-1 in a group-stage contest. 

      

USWNT vs. New Zealand Info

Date: Sunday, February 20

Start Time: 3 p.m. ET

TV: ABC

Live Stream: ESPN.com and ESPN app

Odds: Available odds can be found on DraftKings Sportsbook.

   

Preview

The USWNT will try to rebound from the scoreless draw on Thursday with a win against a team it beat by five goals last summer at the Olympics. 

The major difference between that contest and Sunday's clash at Dignity Health Sports Park is the absence of some experienced American players. 

Lindsey Horan, Christen Press and Alex Morgan were three of the goal scorers in that contest. None of them are on the roster for the SheBelieves Cup. 

The veteran players are very much still part of the USWNT picture, but manager Vlatko Andonovski is using the competition as a chance to see what some of his younger players can do. 

Four of the six forwards on the roster and three of the seven midfielders have fewer than 15 international appearances. 

Andonovski admitted after Thursday's draw that the chemistry between those players get better with more games on this stage, per The Athletic.

"I wouldn't say chemistry is lacking. You look at the players that were on the field, how many times they've been on the field together, that's something that will come with the minutes and games together," Andonovski said. "It doesn't matter how good they are or how much potential they have; it's not easy to throw them on the field and expect them to click immediately."

Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith and Catarina Macario are among the younger players we should see more of Sunday. Rodman made her USWNT debut Thursday.

All three of those players could eventually be the top attacking star on the USWNT roster, but they all need to feel more comfortable on the international stage. 

New Zealand brought a good amount of experience to the SheBelieves Cup. The Kiwis have five players with over 100 caps on their roster. 

Defenders Ali Riley and Abby Erceg, both of whom play in the NWSL, will be critical to getting some type of result against the Americans.

Forward Hannah Wilkinson, who has 26 goals in 101 international appearances, is the player to watch for the American defense.  

    

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The United States women's national team kicks off the seventh edition of the SheBelieves Cup on Thursday against the Czech Republic.

The USWNT has won the past two iterations of the annual tournament and four of the last six competitions, all held in the United States.

Vlatko Andonovski's side comes into the three-game, four-team event with a new set of goals as it charges toward the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Andonovski called up a handful of younger players, including Sophia Smith and Trinity Rodman, to see what they can bring to the team ahead of the CONCACAF W Championship in July, which will serve as the qualification tournament for the World Cup.

We should expect to see a mix of youth and experience throughout the tournament. Becky Sauerbrunn, Kelley O'Hara and Alyssa Naeher are among the more experienced players in the squad.

               

USWNT vs. Czech Republic Info

Date: Thursday, February 17

Start Time: 11 p.m. ET 

TV: ESPN

Live Stream: ESPN.com and ESPN app

Odds: Available on DraftKings Sportsbook.

            

Preview

The excitement around the USWNT going into the SheBelieves Cup surrounds the younger players in the talent pool. Smith, Rodman and Jaelin Howell are among the NWSL stars rewarded for their strong seasons with international call-ups.

Rodman, the daughter of former NBA star Dennis Rodman, is the most intriguing of the new players on the USWNT roster. She won the NWSL Rookie of the Year and made it into the NWSL Best XI in her first season with the Washington Spirit.

She isn't likely to catapult into the starting lineup, but it will be fascinating to see how she carries her form into her first international minutes whenever they come.

NWSL Golden Boot winner Ashley Hatch, Margaret Purce and Smith all have a maximum of 10 international appearances, and they could all make an impact up top for the Americans throughout the SheBelieves Cup.

There is more experience throughout the spine of the USWNT squad. Four defenders have 45 or more caps, while four of the seven midfielders called up for the event have over 20 appearances.

The USWNT should start the SheBelieves Cup with a win no matter who ends up on the pitch. Czech Republic is the lowest ranked of the four participants in the FIFA world rankings at No. 24.

The Czechs are coming off a decent 2021, in which they earned one win and two draws over four games in World Cup qualification. A majority of the players are teammates at Sparta Prague. Lucie Martinkova is the most dangerous forward in the Czech squad. She has 25 goals in 113 international appearances.

The USWNT should be able to contain the Czechs at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. The tougher matches will come against Iceland and New Zealand in the final two games of the competition.

              

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A number of USWNT players, including Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan and Crystal Dunn, wrote a letter to the U.S. Soccer Federation on Wednesday accusing the organizing body of failing to protect its female players, per Molly Hensley-Clancy of the Washington Post.

"U.S. Soccer had the obligation to protect its players—yet it stood by as abuse continued to occur unchecked," the players wrote in the letter to federation president Cindy Parlow Cone and former president Carlos Cordeiro.

They added that the federation "failed to do the bare minimum—to keep us and the young girls who play in the youth leagues safe."

"Over the years, while we played on the USWNT and in the National Women's Soccer League, many of us reported to USSF instances where, as adults, we experienced abusive conduct by our coaches," the letter continued. "Now we have learned that this abusive treatment also was repeatedly reported by minors and that USSF failed to respond to protect these young players. That is utterly disheartening."

The letter comes in the wake of Hensley-Clancy reporting Tuesday that former players of coach Rory Dames—who resigned in November right before allegations of emotional abuse surfaced against him, one of a number of NSWL coaches to resign or be fired amid similar accusations—had raised concerns about him with police as far back as 1998.

Per that report, one woman said Dames "cultivated an inappropriate relationship with her from age 14—conduct she now sees as 'grooming.' Once she turned 18, the woman said, he used his power over her soccer career, and the control he had long exerted in her life, to have sex with her as she was still playing for him at Eclipse in the early 2000s."

In a 1998 police report, one girl said he "touched her inappropriately on her upper thigh," another girl said he pinched her when she refused to massage him and a boy said Dames punched him in the stomach.

And Megan Cnota told the Washington Post that she told police Dames made "degrading sexual jokes" about her. Other players reportedly made similar complaints to police.

The authorities, however, dropped the investigation after Dames' accusers didn't file formal complaints and prosecutors didn't further pursue the case.

Dames kept his job, and per Hensley-Clancy, 14 of his former youth players said he was "verbally and emotionally abusive toward them as teenagers, for many in ways that they say left lasting psychological damage."

USWNT forward Christen Press told the Washington Post last year that she raised concerns about Dames to U.S. Soccer on two separate occasions. The federation reportedly investigated Dames but didn't take any action against him.

He also didn't have his coaching license suspended by U.S. Soccer when the allegations of emotional and verbal abuse were first levied against him in November. Instead, the federation only took that action after the Washington Post questioned it about the accusations.

"USSF should have immediately removed coaching licenses from abusers," the players wrote. "Instead, USSF allowed those individuals to coach while saying it would investigate."

Washington Spirit star forward Trinity Rodman has been added to the USWNT roster ahead of the 2022 SheBelieves Cup.

She'll be replacing San Diego Wave FC defender Abby Dahlkemper, who had to withdraw because of a back injury.

It's the first tournament roster Rodman has made for the USWNT, and it will give her the chance to make her first national team appearance. Goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury is the only other uncapped player on a roster that includes household names like Mallory Pugh, Lindsey Horan, Rose Lavelle, Kristie Mewis, Kelley O'Hara and Becky Sauerbrunn, among others.

Rodman was initially slated to join the team ahead of the tournament as a training player only, but Dahlkemper's injury bumped her up to the active roster. The plan seems to be to ease her into USWNT duties slowly:

https://twitter.com/itsmeglinehan/status/1489291100540055559

The United States will play three games in the tournament, facing the Czech Republic on Feb. 17 (11 p.m. ET on ESPN), New Zealand on Feb. 20 (3 p.m. ET on ABC) and Iceland on Feb. 23 (9 p.m. ET on ESPN). 

Rodman, 19, is one of the most exciting young stars in the sport. She was the NWSL's 2021 Rookie of the Year and is the defending Chipotle U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year award winner.

"To see my name alongside the list of amazing players who have won this award in the past is unbelievable," she said in December after winning the latter award. "It’s an honor to receive this award from U.S. Soccer and our amazing fanbase. This year was a journey for me both mentally and physically as I settled into my new life as a professional."

Trinity Rodman is the highest-paid player in NWSL history.

The 19-year-old signed a four-year, $1.1M guaranteed contract with the Washington Spirit 👏 pic.twitter.com/cx8sPXl1cy

— B/R Football (@brfootball) February 2, 2022

Rodman scored six goals and added six assists for the Spirit this past season across 25 appearances, helping the club win the NWSL title. She was rewarded for her efforts with a four-year. $1.1 million deal with the Spirit, the league's biggest-ever contract, on Feb. 2.

OL Reign and United States women's national team star Megan Rapinoe was not selected in the 2021 National Women's Soccer League expansion draft. She will remain in Seattle. 

Here are the picks Angel City FC and San Diego Wave FC made Thursday night:

1. Angel City: Dani Weatherholt, OL Reign midfielder
2. San Diego Wave: Kristie Mewis, Houston Dash midfielder
3. Angel City: Claire Emslie, Orlando Pride forward
4. San Diego Wave: Kristen McNabb, OL Reign defender
5. Angel City: Jasmyne Spencer, Houston Dash forward
6. San Diego Wave passed
7. Angel City: Paige Nielsen, Washington Spirit defender
8. San Diego Wave passed
9. San Diego Wave: Kaleigh Riehl, Racing Louisville defender 

The Reign protected Rose Lavelle, Bethany Balcer, Alana Cook, Angelina, Jessica Fishlock, Sofia Huerta, Quinn, Phallon Tullis-Joyce and Ally Watt for this year's expansion draft. 

Rapinoe was also left unprotected in last year's expansion draft, when she went unselected by Racing Louisville FC. Teams were allowed to protect nine players for the upcoming draft, including a maximum of one United States Federation player. Lavelle, who also stars for the USWNT, was the U.S. federation player the Reign opted to protect over Rapinoe. 

Rapinoe has spent her entire eight-year NWSL career with the Reign, who were formerly known as the Seattle Reign. She began playing in the NWSL in 2013 and has appeared in 86 matches (72 starts). The 36-year-old has notched 40 goals and 17 assists in that span.

During the 2021 campaign, she tallied six goals and two assists in 11 games (eight starts). 

Rapinoe has also made 187 appearances for the USWNT, tallying 62 goals and 71 assists. In addition to being named the 2019 Ballon d'Or Feminin winner, she has also won two Women's World Cups, won the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup Golden Ball and was also named the best FIFA women's player in 2019.

USWNT stars Kelley O'Hara (Washington Spirit), Becky Sauerbrunn (Portland Thorns), Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit) and Emily Sonnett (Washington Spirit) were also left unprotected by their respective clubs. None were selected. 

San Diego and Angel City are set to begin play in 2022, increasing the number of teams in the NWSL to 12 from 10.  

U.S. Soccer and the players association for the women's national team announced an agreement to dissolve the allocation system for the NWSL.

Starting in 2022, members of the USWNT will be free to sign directly with NWSL clubs, and their salaries will be paid by the clubs themselves rather than the federation:

USWNTPA statement regarding MOU with USSF to extend current CBA and dissolve NWSL Allocation System. pic.twitter.com/31eGIumL6W

— USWNT Players (@USWNTPlayers) December 13, 2021

The step comes as U.S. Soccer and the USWNTPA continue negotiations over a new collective bargaining agreement.

The federation issued a statement on Monday's development, which also saw the two sides agree to avoid a strike or lockout through at least March 31:

We now continue negotiations with both of our Women's and Men's National Teams for new CBAs. We're scheduled to meet with the USWNT today to continue economic discussions around the identical offers that we presented to both the USWNT and USMNT on September 14. We continue to wait on the USMNT Players Association to do the same and hope to soon work directly with USMNT players to get a deal done. We have much work ahead of us but are nevertheless hopeful that we'll soon reach agreement.

When the NWSL launched in 2013, 55 national team players were allocated to the various clubs around the league. The structure carried on through 2021, with 32 players falling under the designation.

Beyond restricting player movement, the system came under criticism in 2019 when new rules about allocation money capped the earnings for members of the U.S. and Canadian national teams.

The Equalizer's Jeff Kassouf reported in January that U.S.-based players could begin declining their federation status, which would see them paid by the NWSL club instead.

Kassouf explained how that allowed players to potentially earn more money and also benefited the clubs themselves: "By putting U.S. players on standard NWSL contracts, teams would at least be compensated for transfers or loans and have a say in those matters, should they arise while the player is still under contract."

The NWSL wrapped up its 2021 season in November, with the Washington Spirit defeating the Chicago Red Stars 2-1 to claim their first league title.

United States women's national team star Megan Rapinoe has been left unprotected by the OL Reign for the upcoming National Women's Soccer League expansion draft, per ESPN's Caitlin Murray. 

The decision to leave Rapinoe unprotected makes her available to be taken by expansion clubs Angel City FC and the San Diego Wave during the Dec. 16 draft. 

The Reign have opted to protect Rose Lavelle, Bethany Balcer, Alana Cook, Angelina, Jessica Fishlock, Sofia Huerta, Quinn, Phallon Tullis-Joyce and Ally Watt.

Rapinoe was also left unprotected in last year's expansion draft and ended up not being selected by Racing Louisville FC. The 36-year-old has spent her entire eight-year NWSL career with the Reign, formerly known as the Seattle Reign. 

Rapinoe began her NWSL career in 2013 and has appeared in 86 total matches (72 starts). She's tallied 40 goals and 17 assists in that span. In 11 games (eight starts) during the 2021 campaign, she tallied six goals and two assists. 

The 2019 Ballon d'Or Feminin winner has also made 187 appearances for the USWNT, tallying 62 goals and 71 assists. She is a two-time Women's World Cup champion, won the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup Golden Ball and was named the best FIFA women's player in 2019. 

In addition to Rapinoe, USWNT stars Kelley O'Hara (Washington Spirit), Becky Sauerbrunn (Portland Thorns), Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit) and Emily Sonnett (Washington Spirit) were left unprotected by their respective clubs. Canada's Christine Sinclair, the all-time women's leading scorer, was also left unprotected by the Portland Thorns. 

Teams were allowed to protect nine players for the upcoming draft, including a maximum of one United States Federation player. Both Angel City FC and the San Diego Wave are allowed to select one player from each team. 

There are currently 10 teams in the NWSL. That number will increase to 12 in 2022.  

Two champions are getting married.

On Thursday, USWNT player Mallory Pugh and Atlanta Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson announced they are now engaged:

He got a ring last month.

She got a ring this month. 💍

Congrats, @MalPugh & @LieutenantDans7!!! ❤️💙🤍 pic.twitter.com/7W708q8ufH

— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) December 3, 2021

Pugh wrote "Forever with you" on her Instagram account, while Swanson wrote "Mr. and Mrs. Swanson coming soon" on his account.

The couple have dated since 2017 and were introduced to each other by Swanson's former Braves teammate Jace Peterson, who is married to Pugh's sister.

Pugh was a member of the 2019 USWNT that won the World Cup, while Swanson helped Atlanta capture the World Series this year.         

The United States Women's National Soccer Team played Australia to a 1-1 draw Tuesday in a friendly at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle, Australia.

The match was the USWNT's final one of 2021, and it saw Australia bounce back from a 3-0 loss suffered at the hands of the Americans on Friday.

Team USA seemed poised for another convincing victory Tuesday, as Ashley Hatch scored in the fourth minute to give the USWNT a 1-0 lead:

Who else but @ash_hatch33? pic.twitter.com/2rw6AeyhYQ

— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) November 30, 2021

The United States kept knocking on the door throughout and largely carried the play with 16 shots toward the net and seven shots on goal compared to just eight overall shots and two shots on frame for Australia.

The Matildas managed to hang in there long enough to net an equalizer, however, as a shot by Kyah Simon in the 88th minute deflected off Team USA's Becky Sauerbrunn and past goalkeeper Casey Murphy, much to the delight of the crowd:

.@KyahSimon at the DEATH! NEVER. SAY. DIE.

🎥: @10FootballAU #AUSvUSA #WeAreMatildas pic.twitter.com/e4450VIiYI

— CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) November 30, 2021

Despite how late Simon's game-tying goal was scored, the USWNT nearly managed to steal the match in stoppage time when Lindsey Horan put the ball in the back of the net. However, she was ruled to be offside:

juuuusssstt offside 😞 pic.twitter.com/ERkaQ25owC

— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) November 30, 2021

While the United States had no shortage of talent in the lineup Tuesday, the Americans were still without many of their biggest stars.

Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, Julie Ertz and Christen Press were just a few of the players who weren't available against Australia.

With the draw, the USWNT extended its unbeaten streak to seven matches. Its most recent loss came in the semifinals of the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo against Canada by a 1-0 score.

The United States went on to beat Australia 4-3 to win the bronze medal, though, and the Americans now own a 2-0-2 record over the Aussies this year.

Overall, the USWNT went 18-2-4 in 2021, earning an Olympic bronze medal and winning the SheBelieves Cup for the second year in a row and fourth time in six years.

Team USA has no matches scheduled for 2022 as of yet, but preparations for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand will begin to ramp up during the new year.

The United States women's national team closes out its 2021 calendar on Tuesday morning with the second of two matches against Australia. 

The USWNT ushered in a new crop of players in the first victory of its trip Down Under, when it won 3-0 on Friday in Sydney. 

Vlatko Andonovski's side can finish the year with a 3-0-1 mark against the Matildas if it wins at the McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle, Australia. 

The Americans tied with the Aussies in the group stage of the Tokyo Olympics and then beat them in the bronze-medal match. 

        

USWNT vs. Australia Info

Date: Tuesday, November 30 

Start Time: 4 a.m. ET 

TV: ESPN

Live Stream: ESPN.com and ESPN app

Odds: Available odds for the match can be found on DraftKings Sportsbook.

    

Preview

The two-game swing in Australia is serving as an introduction for some of the younger players in the USWNT talent pool. 

Goalkeeper Casey Murphy earned her first clean sheet and Ashley Hatch netted her first international goal in the first game versus the Matildas. Hatch's goal came 24 seconds into the game and was the third-fastest strike in team history.

In total, four USWNT players made their international debuts on Friday. Morgan Weaver, Bethany Balcer and Ashley Sanchez all entered in the second half as substitutes. 

Look for more the younger players from the National Women's Soccer League to receive playing time on Tuesday as Andonovski gets an idea of who can contribute to the buildup to the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, which will be played in Australia and New Zealand. 

Hatch and Balcer were the top two scorers in the NWSL season that just recently finished. They should be utilized again by Andonovski in attack. 

Margaret Purce, who finished fourth in the NWSL Golden Boot race, and Sophia Smith, who led the league in shots, are also options in the final third. 

The USWNT has scored seven goals against Australia in its last two meetings, so there should be a good amount of chances for whoever lands in the starting forward roles. 

The spine of the American lineup will have more experience to it. The five players with 60 or more international appearances in the squad are defenders and midfielders. 

Tuesday's goal for the defensive-minded players will be to again contain Sam Kerr, who has 49 goals in 103 international appearances for the Australian side.

The 28-year-old has scored once in the three meetings with the Americans, when she hit a 17th-minute equalizer in the bronze-medal match at the Olympics, but that was cancelled out by a Megan Rapinoe strike just four minutes later. 

The Americans should win the match even with a younger squad in tow. The new players inserted into the squad displayed plenty of confidence in the first match Down Under. And if the same quality is on display on Tuesday, the USWNT should finish 2021 with a victory. 

          

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