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SheBelieves Cup Reenergizes USWNT Fans and Creates Excitement for Olympics

  • Updated: February 20, 2023
As I was setting up my training session last Wednesday, I was greeted by three very excited nine-year-olds sprinting across the soccer field towards me. The moment they got close enough, they started telling me every detail of the USWNT’s SheBelieves Cup 6-0 win against Argentina that had just finished up less than an hour ago. They knew who had scored, how they scored, and the name of every US soccer player that had stepped on the field in Orlando that day.
Rose Lavelle during the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France
Rose Lavelle (Washington Spirit) of United States during the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France Semi Final match between England and USA at Stade de Lyon on July 2, 2019 in Lyon, France. Image credit Jose Breton- Pics Action via Shutterstock.

I (unsuccessfully) tried to get them to refrain from telling me everything as I hadn’t yet watched the match and I didn’t want them to completely spoil it for me. But I was also smiling pretty hard as it was energizing to see them so excited and inspired.

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Before last week, I’d (almost) forgotten how much fun the women of the United States National Team are to to watch play soccer together. Prior to this stretch of tournament games, since the Covid-19 pandemic started, the USWNT has only gotten to play a few times: a set of friendlies in January (versus Columbia) and another match last November (versus the Netherlands). 

The SheBelieves Cup was a much needed dose of fun and excitement for fans of the women’s game after this long, pandemic-imposed hiatus. 

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SheBelieves Cup 2021 recap

The USWNT won all three of their 2021 SheBelieves Cup games, taking first place for the second year in a row. 

  • They put up 9 goals in total and kept a clean sheet.
  • They defeated Canada 1-0 in their opening match off a late goal by Rose Lavelle.
  • They took Brazil on a 2-0 win in a match that saw a front starting lineup of Christen Press, Alex Morgan and Lynn Williams. A goal by Christen Press helped set the tone early and the US women kept control and sealed the deal with an 88th minute volley from Megan Rapinoe into the back of the net.
  • The final match against Argentina saw the USWNT put six away as Argentina sat back in a low block but still got carved apart by the lethal, quick-moving, vertical passing combinations of the USWNT.
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The USWNT, together again

With a half dozen players traveling back from their current European clubs, a handful of young players getting some minutes, and majority of the fan favorites being healthy, the SheBelieves Cup was a fun combination of new, fresh talent and solid, dependable returners mixing and starting to find their flow again after a long time spent away from the national team field.
Coming from Manchester City was Abby Dahlkemper and Rose Lavelle, from Manchester United Christen Press, and Catarina Macario from Lyon. Alex Morgan, currently on loan to Tottenham Hotspur, scored for the US for the first time since giving birth last May, having been sick with Covid-19 during the team’s January friendlies against Columbia and not able to play. (Tobin Heath of Manchester United and Sam Mewis of Manchester City were both unable to play in the SheBelieves Cup this year due to injury.)
Fresh faces and veterans came together to bring a positive energy to the field which was seen in the collective play  and creativity that the USWNT brought to these three matches. Midfielder Kristie Mewis featured strongly in the third match against Argentina, with defender Midge Purce and forward Sophia Smith also getting some field time during the tournament. Veterans Carli Lloyd and Megan Rapinoe both put up a lot of minutes as well, doing their part to guide and lead the new crop of talent and set the tone for the upcoming Olympic games in Tokyo. 

SheBelieves Cup lives up to it's mission

As much fun as the USWNT is to watch as they dominate over and over again, they are even more inspiring when you know and understand their strong team culture and how much respect and encouragement they have for each other – not just on the field, but in life. They truly all enjoy being in this together – as teammates, as women, as equality fighters, as game changers. Their support and kindness for each other is inspiring, and it’s fantastic and refreshing to watch them celebrate and support each other.

{Related read: Strong team CULTURE in soccer; here’s 5 ways to make it happen}

And it’s not just between the team members, the respect and support extends to those all over the women’s game. From Megan Rapinoe’s goal shout-out to Ashlyn Harris & Ali Krieger’s newborn baby girl, to Julie Ertz and Brazil’s Marta joyfully praising the other’s greatness after a competitive 1v1 duel in front of the net – it’s even easier to get behind and support this group of women and see what great role models they are for young students of the game. 

"The  USWNT is the prime example that dreams are attainable if you set your mind to it and go after what you want. Through dedication, teamwork, perseverance and success, the U.S. Women's National team inspires new generations of young girls and women to be better and strive for better. They inspire them to believe."

SheBelieves, US Soccer
US Soccer’s tagline for the SheBelieves Cup is “Inspiring the Next Generation” and aims to portray a “message of empowerment and believing in yourself” to encourage and support young women in whatever venture they choose to pursue. 

From the perspective of a youth coach working with girls side teams in a competitive environment, I can hands down say that I can see this message reaching my players. By making women’s soccer more accessible to watch and getting it into the homes of these young, motivated athletes, US Soccer is doing a huge service to the future of the game. To have multiple players come sprinting onto the field talking a million miles an hour about the fantastic soccer feats they just saw their FEMALE heroes perform, makes me so so happy. 

It also inspires me, as a female coach, to keep working hard and growing as a leader, because, while I may not be a Alex Morgan, I am a direct, everyday presence in their lives and proof that females can coach, lead and do anything they want with hard work, dedication, drive and resilience.

Next up for US Women's soccer, Tokyo!

Watching the SheBelieves Cup with the game-to-game variation and changes to the starting lineup by US coach Vlatko Andonovski, it’s easy to conclude that this tournament was being used as a staging ground to try and solidify the roster for the upcoming summer Olympics in Tokyo.
While there is still uncertainty as to whether or not the Olympics will actually be happening due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, preparations must still be made and Andonovski must come up with an 18-player Olympic roster – which is a difficult job when compared to the World Cup’s 23-player allowance. It will be very interesting to follow along these coming months and see which US Women’s National Team veterans will be part of the squad, which top players will be healthy, fit and ready to go, and which, if any, newbies will secure spots on the team.
The 2020 Tokyo summer Olympics are slated to start on Friday July 23, 2021. Let’s all keep our fingers crossed that it happens and that we get to see our US women continue their pursuit of excellence at the highest level of the game. Go USA!
Portrait of Jenn Ireland, Mental Skills Coach at Expand Your Game

Hi everyone! I’m Jenn and I create content to help female soccer players and coaches maximize individual and team potential by developing healthy mindset skills. Join other subscribers and sign up for the newsletter for all my best tips and advice!

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Picture of Hi everyone!

Hi everyone!

I'm Jenn, a USSF C-licensed youth soccer coach, mental skills coach & founder here at Expand Your Game. I created this site because it is the site I needed when I was a soccer player.

About me: I am a former newspaper photojournalist who loves downtempo electronic music, guacamole and books of every sort. And of course soccer! On days off you can find me researching tiny farms in Portugal , tossing a frisbee for my dog, or tending to my growing collection of indoor plants.

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