USWNT

The last time a player on the USWNT scored a goal in their debut cap was all the way back in November. As predicted, another member of the youthful USWNT, Mallory Pugh, joined the First Cap, First Goal (1C1G) club this year. 

In case you missed the US women’s rout of Ireland, here are the four biggest highlights:

1. Carli Lloyd took 28 minutes to score her hat-trick. She’s in a slump, but seems to be coming back.

2. Alex Morgan put an exclamation on her 100th cap with a goal and two assists.

I’m comfortable calling Tobin Heath the best dribbler on the USWNT. Ever since she dropped this ridiculous elastico before assisting Abby “The Legend” Wambach against Mexico, she’s had the title firmly in her grip…er, between her feet. Now that she’s the reigning queen of dribbling it seems that her reputation is getting her some interesting gigs. For instance, this video of Tobin Heath nutmegging everyone on the USWNT at a recent training camp.

Who wouldn’t want to be like Carli Lloyd? The 2015 FIFA Women’s Player of the Year and World Cup Golden Ball Winner has it all, barring the occasional misspelling of her name at Starbucks.

Jill Ellis is starting 2016 on a high note, thanks to what she did in 2015.

Ellis was named the 2015 FIFA Women's Coach of the Year for guiding her USWNT squad to the 2015 World Cup totle in Canada. She was quick to shift the credit to ther USWNT players.

"I truly believe this team won the award," Ellis said at the FIFA Ballon d'Or gala.

Ellis's USWNT team started out slowly at the World Cup, but found their stride in the knockout stage and obliterated Japan in the final, 5-2.

Carli Lloyd can't get no respect. In Starbucks of all places.

We're sure the barista meant no disrespect to the focal point of the USWNT's World Cup-winning attack, but "Nardley" is not a name.

Carli Lloyd vs. The Starbucks Barista

Nardley is a new one. pic.twitter.com/6SVPYQeOEm

— Carli Lloyd (@CarliLloyd) January 4, 2016

USWNT standout Carli Lloyd was named U.S. Soccer female player of the year, for three very obvious reasons. She scored a hat trick in the Worl Cup final, but besides, that, she was the USWNT's rock all through the tournament. This is an honor she fully deserves. Here's a big reason why:

USA first goal by Carli Lloyd vs Japan in World Cup final: http://t.co/RYOocaDMCF via @YouTube

Abby Wambach's last professional soccer game is tonight. After today, Wednesday, December 16, 2015, we will never see Abby Wambach play in a soccer match that matters, barring something drastic.

She will retire the all-time leading scorer in international soccer (both men's and women's) history, with at least 184 international goals to her name.

Tonight in New Orleans, Abby Wambach will make her final appearance in professional soccer. It will be her 255th cap for the stars and stripes, a mark that puts her behind some names you’ve probably heard: Lilly, Rampone, Hamm, Foudy. After finally winning a World Cup this summer, she will step off the field as the most decorated U.S. player in history.

I want to believe in the integrity of the game. I really do. I want to believe that players go out every game with the intention of winning, that managers select players with the same intention, and that referees call a fair game. Sadly I know that this is not always the case, that across the world there have been numerous confirmed instances of bribery, match-fixing, and general corrupt behavior on and off the field. But this, this is on a whole different level. You are about to watch what might be the worst referee decision ever.

Marvel Comics teamed up with espnW to honor this year’s IMPACT25 nominees and the results, in the words of Barack Obama, are badass. The annual IMPACT25 serves to highlight 25 female athletes and influencers who shaped and impacted the biggest sporting events of the calendar year.