Women

The United States women’s national team mounted a 2-1 comeback victory vs. Japan in the SheBelieves Cup semifinal on Saturday in front of a record crowd in Atlanta, Georgia.

The 50,644 fans (the most ever for a non-World Cup or Olympic game on U.S. soil) in Mercedes-Benz Stadium sat stunned when Japan figuratively punched the USWNT in the mouth with a goal just 30 seconds into the game.

30 seconds is all it takes for Japan’s Kiko Seike to take the lead vs. USWNT.

Woah

United States women’s national team head coach Twila Kilgore turned heads with her starting XI for the SheBelieves Cup semifinal vs. Japan on Saturday. Korbin Albert will start the game on the bench and Mallory Swanson returns for the first time in a year.

Swanson last started a game with the USWNT on April 8, 2023, when she suffered a severe knee injury. She’s back in the starting XI for the first time since.

USWNT starting XI vs Japan

The XI to get us started in Atlanta

United States women’s national team legend Ali Krieger is returning to the field and will play for the U.S. Women’s team in TST (The Soccer Tournament) this summer.

Krieger, who retired after winning the NWSL Championship with Gotham FC last season, is dusting off her boots for one last dance.

TST had its inaugural 7-on-7 competition last year and was a smashing success drawing in tons of fans for the $1 million tournament.

The United States women’s national team held a press conference on Wednesday which saw leaders Alex Morgan and Lindsey Horan address the controversial situation involving midfielder Korbin Albert.

The 20-year-old received waves of backlash after fans discovered she’d reposted anti-LGBTQ+ videos on TikTok and was caught liking a post making fun of Megan Rapinoe’s career ending injury.

Megan Rapinoe has stepped into the Korbin Albert controversy with a clear shot at the 20-year-old United States women’s national team midfielder.

Albert has been facing a tidal wave of backlash after fans discovered reposts on her TikTok that featured anti-LGBTQ+ posts. 

Albert also was caught liking a post that was celebrating and making fun of Rapinoe’s Achilles injury that ended her career in last year’s NWSL Championship game.

The Portland Thorns signed forward Sophia Smith to a two-year contract extension Tuesday, making her the highest paid player in the NWSL, ESPN reported.

While Smith's deal runs through the 2025 season, the contract will include an option for 2026.

No. 9

We’ve agreed to a contract extension with forward Sophia Smith.

More here: https://t.co/5lmwcbQau3 pic.twitter.com/suBqSm86qy

The Korbin Albert controversy kicked off Wednesday night when United States women’s national team fans discovered her far-right political reposts and likes on social media.

The reposts that got USWNT fans the most upset were on TikTok. It appears Albert’s account reposted videos about people needing to “be saved from being gay or transgender.”

Gotham FC and United States women’s national team forward Midge Purce is out for the season and unavailable for this summer’s Olympics after suffering an ACL injury.

Purce was substituted in the first half of her side’s 1-0 victory against the Portland Thorns on Sunday after picking up an injury.

The 28-year-old confirmed on social media that she had sustained an ACL injury and will be out for an extended period.

Midge Purce ACL injury

Mallory Swanson and Catarina Macario will make their long-awaited returns to the United States women’s national team after missing an extended period due to knee injuries.

Swanson’s last USWNT game was April 8, 2023, against the Republic of Ireland. During that game she suffered a gruesome torn patella tendon.

Macario returns after nearly two years with her previous national team appearance being a friendly vs. Uzbekistan on April 12, 2022. She tore her ACL that summer with her previous club Lyon.

The United States women’s national team will be looking for revenge against Mexico as the two sides will meet again in Harrison, New Jersey, on July 13. The game will take place 12 days before the USWNT’s opening game in the Paris Olympics vs. either Morocco or Zambia.

July’s friendly will be a special occasion as the game will also feature a reunion of the iconic 1999 USWNT Women’s World Cup team who lifted the title at the Rose Bowl in front of over 90,000 fans with 40 million tuning in.