A new-look USWNT finally turns up, but patient strategy conflicts with rapidly approaching Olympics

Three and a half games into the post-Women’s World Cup era for the U.S. women’s national team, signs of a rebuild finally emerged. Forwards Mia Fishel and Jaedyn Shaw came on for Alex Morgan and Sophia Smith to earn their first meaningful minutes for the national team, showed glimpses of promise, and then delivered as each scored their first international goals in the team’s 3-0 win over Colombia on Sunday.

For some, their introductions were overdue and the performances only confirmed that belief, especially as it pertains to the USWNT’s offense. The team that was once well known for their scoring exploits experienced their earliest ever World Cup exit after a nearly 300 minute goal drought and then brought back memories of that streak in Thursday’s 0-0 draw with Colombia. That series of events ushered in a call to bring in fresh faces across the board, with Fishel and Shaw being just two of the names on the list.