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.
The American midfielder had nothing short of a bittersweet start to her weekend.
Korbin Albert topped off her more-than-busy Thursday scoring an insane long-range goal in Paris Saint-Germain’s quarterfinal UEFA Women’s Champions League knockout tie.
The USWNT midfielder received the ball on the outskirts of the 18-yard box and hit an absolute bullet with her weak foot against BK Häcken to seal PSG’s qualification to the semi finals of the European tournament.
Korbin Albert goal for PSG in Women's Champions League vs. Häcken
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 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.
The United States women’s national team’s 2024 revenge tour will begin in Nice and Marseille for this summer’s 2024 Olympics. The USWNT Olympic group will feature the winner of Morocco/Zambia along with powerhouses Germany and Australia.
After claiming bronze in 2020 and not making the podium in 2016, the USWNT will be seeking their first gold medal in 12 years.
USWNT Olympic group 2024
Our third opponent will be decided in a playoff during the April international window.
Chelsea and United States women’s national team forward Catarina Macario returned from an ACL injury this month and has already bagged two goals and an assist for her club.
Macario, who had been out injured since summer 2022, made her long-awaited Chelsea debut on March 3 in the FA Women’s Super League, scoring a late goal. She then found the back of the net again with the winner vs. Everton on March 10.
On Tuesday she provided her first assist for her new club as Chelsea defeated Ajax 3-0 in the Women’s Champions League.
Player-to-player relationships within the same squad are inappropriate and can lead to significant challenges for managers, Chelsea coach Emma Hayes said.
Reports in British media this week said Leicester coach Willie Kirk is under investigation by the club amid allegations of a player-coach relationship.
Asked about the need to safeguard players, Hayes told reporters: "Player-coach relationships - they're inappropriate, player-to-player relationships are inappropriate."
Emma Hayes relationships quote