USWNT

Yes, you can expect Alex Morgan, arguably the USWNT's best player, to start tonight when the US faces China in the quarter finals of the 2015 World Cup. 

Morgan may still be recovering from a knee injury, but she is far closer to being 100% than she has ever been since going down injured in the first place. It is no coincidence that she has started the last two games. Expect that trend to continue, especially given the fact that Morgan scored the game winning goal against Colombia in her last match.

The United States and China have a bit of history in the World Cup. The last time these two teams met in the competition in 1999, the USWNT won the match, and went on to win the entire tournament. A high standard to live up to, especially considering that the US has yet to hit its best, most convincing form.

Although the win wasn’t pretty, the USWNT is through to the quarterfinals in this year’s World Cup, defeating Colombia, ranked 28th in the world.

The second-ranked U.S. came into the match after “struggling” with seven points during group play, while Colombia seemed to be hot after their upset over France.

It actually shows a lot of growth in women’s soccer that analysts are disappointed with the USWNT supposed difficulties and the high expectations that follow the team.

As the USWNT continue their preparations for their quarterfinal match against China, they do so knowing they’ll be without two of their best players: Megan Rapinoe and Lauren Holiday.

Both got a yellow card in the match against Colombia Monday night, The pair already received yellow cards in a previous match, which means neither can play against the Chinese.

The U.S. will miss both, but especially Rapinoe, who has made a huge impact for the U.S. in the World Cup.

We are only a few hours away from the USWNT facing Colombia in the semis of the World Cup and Colombian soccer player Lady Andrade has taken it upon herself to talk a little trash about the Americans.

“They belittle us. They think we’re a team they’re going to walk all over and it will be an easy game for them,” Andrade said in an interview with USA TODAY.

“We’re going to beat them since they like to talk so much.”

Now that the USWNT has moved on from Group D, their road to a World Cup championship has gotten a little bit easier.

The United States road through the bracket includes Colombia (ranked 28th in the world) and China (16th), with the winner of Germany vs France awaiting in the semis.

Other than China, it seems as if the road for the US has gotten a lot easier, although, is anything going to be easy for the US? Defensively, the US has been solid, not so much on the offensive end.

While some of you were watching the Golden State Warriors win an NBA title last night, the USWNT won their match against Nigeria 1-0 on Abby Wambach's goal.

Wambach's goal sent the US quietly into the round of 16. I say quietly because although the US has done what they were suppose to do, some are worried that their victories haven't been impressive enough.

If you were left feeling hung out to dry as a soccer fan after watching the United States complete a nil-nil draw against Sweden, you were not alone. This game had almost everything going for it: the #2 ranked team in the world against the #5 ranked team in the world, legendary players on both sides, an absolute smattering of attacking talent across the U.S. team sheet, and a head coach dropping some cold hard truth about her former players in the lead up to the match. The logs were gathered, the kindling was flaming, and all we got was…smoke.  

"Not at all. I'm not that smart.”

That was ex-USWNT head coach Pia Sundhage’s response to whether or not she engages in mind games. It is hard to believe at first. 

Sundhage was just featured in a New York Times article that was supposed to be nothing more than a profile of her, a Swedish sporting legend. Instead, it turned into the talking point of the young 2015 World Cup. 

Andrew McCutchen (Center Field, Pittsburgh Pirates)