USWNT

There was a large sense during the USWNT’s last two friendlies against South Korea that the team was growing stale.

Mallory Pugh is back.

After playing an ever-present role in Chicago’s regular season campaign — second most minutes, second most goals, joint-most assists — Pugh’s resurgent year continued on Sunday with her biggest strike yet: the game-winner against NJ/NY Gotham FC in the NWSL playoff quarterfinals.

Mal Pugh and her Chicago Red Stars are preparing for a trip to the NWSL postseason. But the 23-year-old American winger took a slight detour ahead of her quarterfinal showdown against Carli Lloyd and Gotham FC on Sunday in Chicago. Pugh was in Houston on Tuesday, watching her boyfriend win the World Series.

Carli Lloyd’s career on the field has already been badass enough. She had one last trick up her sleeve during Tuesday night’s 6-0 thumping of South Korea when she revealed she had played the game (or at least 20 minutes of the second half) with two jerseys on. When her curtain call came, she took off her Lloyd jersey to reveal a Hollins jersey.

Lloyd has been married to her husband, Brian Hollins, since 2016. Hollins and Lloyd have been together since high school and officially tied the knot five years ago. Here was the special moment when Lloyd revealed the second jersey.

What’s the appropriate way to send off a player who has reached heights few before her have achieved? As Carli Lloyd prepares for her final USWNT match, everyone from her male and female U.S. Soccer counterparts to Tom Brady has weighed in on the legendary player. But is it too much? Some people certainly think so, given her uncomfortable, often undiscussed stances on certain off-the-field issues.

Twice World Cup winner Carli Lloyd will put on the United States jersey one last time on Tuesday but was adamant she would not be leaving the sport of soccer entirely.

With two Olympic golds and the fourth-highest total of international goals to her name, the 39-year-old forward will leave a big pair of boots to fill after playing her final game for the U.S. against South Korea in Minnesota.

Carli Lloyd’s final USWNT appearance is Tuesday, Oct. 26, in a friendly against South Korea from Saint Paul, Minnesota. One of the greatest women’s soccer players of all time is retiring at the end of the NWSL season to start a family, and she’ll have one last sendoff with the national team. To commemorate her final cap, Fox Soccer will have a dedicated stream — a Carli Cam, if you will — following her every move at Allianz Field, according to Engadget. 

Carli Lloyd will play one final game with the USWNT on Tuesday against South Korea as the national team says goodbye to one of its greatest ever players. Lloyd — as has been the case since 2008 — will wear the No. 10 on her jersey for her sendoff.

The best players in the history of the sport have worn the iconic number ten. Marta, Pelé, Messi and Maradona are fitting company for Lloyd. The 39-year-old has been the USWNT’s No. 10 for almost 14 years. Before Lloyd, Aly Wagner wore the number and Michelle Akers before her.