Rose Lavelle

By the time the USWNT and Ireland wrap-up their two-match friendly series next Tuesday at CityPark, there'll be less than 100 days before the start of the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. 

So although the U.S. holds a 13-0-0 advantage all-time against the Girls in Green (outscoring them 48 to one in the process), there'll be plenty of internal battles to focus on at Q2 Stadium in Austin on Saturday before the second game in St. Louis three days later. 

After Nike set the bar about as low as it gets for the USMNT in Qatar, we're happy to report that the USWNT jersey options for the 2023 World Cup are much more desirable.

The sales people said we'd learn to love the USMNT kits eventually, but it's been five months and I still don't like them. As for the latest USWNT efforts, I do believe these will look better and better as the team moves toward the World Cup final in Sydney.

NEW KIT DROP pic.twitter.com/gNlxB7BF1e

Casual U.S. soccer fans watching the USWNT in the SheBelieves Cup will likely have one big question. Why is Rose Lavelle not playing vs. Canada?

Lavelle will have to watch the USA’s first game of the tournament from the sideline. Head coach Vlatko Andonovski said on Wednesday that the star midfielder picked up a knock in training and will sit the first game out.

She could still play in the games against Japan and Brazil.

Alex Morgan was pulled from the starting XI prior to the USWNT’s friendly vs. New Zealand on Friday after experiencing tightness in her lower leg. Her injury meant that the captain’s armband was transferred to Rose Lavelle. 

The 27-year-old put in quite the captain’s performance during the USWNT’s 5-0 victory vs. New Zealand scoring two goals, providing one assist and bossing the midfield.

Let’s skip straight to the good part and look at the sensational volley Lavelle scored in the 39th minute.

After an eight-year deal worth around $200 million was struck between U.S. Soccer and WarnerMedia last March, Tuesday's friendly between the USWNT and New Zealand served as the beginning of a new era with the match broadcast on HBO Max.

The $16 per month price point must've proven a barrier to many, but my advice is to instruct your parents to conceive you a sibling and then get that prodigal offspring to share their login and password with you (shoutouts to my younger brother and sister-in-law). 

NEW YORK - Veteran forward Alex Morgan heads a largely inexperienced roster as the U.S. women's national soccer team kick off 2023 with two friendlies on the road against World Cup co-hosts New Zealand.

The United States are gunning for an unprecedented third straight World Cup title — and fifth overall — when the tournament kicks off in less than 200 days, after a frustrating end to 2022.

In case you haven’t been paying attention for the last five years, Rose Lavelle is very good. At times, it seems the attacking midfielder and Skyline Chili stan can score whenever she damn well pleases. On Friday night, she damn well pleased and scored an all-time banger to secure a late 2-2 draw for OL Reign.

Megan Rapinoe is no longer a starter for the USWNT. Mallory Pugh has made the left flank her own, and it was the 24-year-old Chicago Red Stars forward who forced the opener on Tuesday night against Nigeria at Audi Field with a low cross that resulted in an own goal from the Super Falcons.

However, after Nigeria had surprisingly found an equalizer in the 50th minute through Tigres forward Uchenna Kanu, it was Rapinoe's introduction in the 65th that brought the crowd back to life before her quality in the final third restored the USWNT's advantage just one minute later.