Things are getting awfully serious now: the kits are revealed, the roster is close to locked and Sports Illustrated has dropped its Women's World Cup preview issue with Alex Morgan, Rose Lavelle, Sophia Smith and Trinity Rodman gracing the cover.
The article, written by Stephanie Apstein, nicely summarizes how the USWNT's historic quest for a three-peat is being driven by a changing of the guard (from the oldest squad at the Olympics to an exciting next gen), adversity (uneven results and an injury to Mallory Swanson) and a commitment to the standards that've made them one of the most storied programs in all of sports. Give it a read, but then never leave The18 again.
As of Thursday, June 15, we're now just 37 days away from the USWNT putting a hurting on a Vietnam team that's making its first-ever appearance at the finals. Before then, the Americans have one friendly in San Jose, CA, as preparation. They'll play Wales at PayPal Park on Sunday, July 9, at 4 p.m. ET on TNT.
The final 23-player is set to be revealed next week with training camp beginning in California on June 26.