Marta waves to the crowd after being presented with her silver medal during the women’s football medal cermony at the Paris 2024 Olympic at Parc des Princes in Paris, France. (Photo Credit: Ane Frosaker / SPP)

PARIS — Shortly after the United States women’s national team won the gold medal match at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Saturday Aug. 10, the medal-awarding ceremony took place. The winners of bronze, Germany; silver, Brazil, and gold, the US, lined up on a makeshift podium on one end of the field and received medals, one-by-one, as the announcers read out their names.

Players like Alexandra Popp from Germany and Mallory Swanson of the United States, who scored the game-winning goal to clinch the gold medal, received notable applause. But the crowd, made up almost evenly of U.S. and Brazil fans, roared loudest together for one player – Marta. 

Marta Vieira da Silva, the 38-year-old Brazilian phenom who plans to retire from international soccer at the end of the year, has led a monumental career that will be…

United States defender Emily Fox (2) battles for the ball against Brazil forward Ludmila (14) in the gold medal match during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Parc des Princes (Photo Credit: Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports)

Throughout the Paris Olympics soccer tournament, the front three of the United States women’s national team have shouldered the responsibility of providing the decisive touch to secure their victories. This final was no exception, with Mallory Swanson netting the winning goal for the Americans in the second half against Brazil capping off what has been a high quality Olympics.

As with the previous matches, this game proved challenging for the Americans, with their opponents identifying and attempting to exploit weaknesses but ultimately failing to capitalize on their opportunities. Despite the tough competition throughout the tournament, Emma Hayes’ side once again emerged victorious.

The U.S. had quite a few positives but also their share of negatives in this game. In truth, we might have seen a…

Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher and forward Mallory Swanson hug after winning in the women’s soccer gold medal match during the 2024 Paris Olympic Summer Games (Photo Credit: Michael Madrid | USA TODAY Sports)

The U.S. women’s national team arrived in Paris with its eyes on a gold medal and after six grueling games in 16 days, the young American team walked away with just that.

The Olympic champion USWNT emerged victorious on Saturday, leaving Marta and a talented Brazilian side with silver once again. It was forward Mallory Swanson, in her 100th cap for the USWNT, who sealed the 1-0 win for the Americans. The 26-year-old striker found the back of the net 57 minutes into the frenetic finale at the Parc des Princes in Paris, her goal ultimately standing as the game winner.

The shutout marks just the second time an opponent was held scoreless in a gold medal match—the first coming in 2008 when the U.S. last faced Brazil in the final game of an Olympic tournament. The two teams also faced off for gold in 2004 in Athens, with Team…

Photo Copyright Ane Frosaker for SPP

Always the bridesmaid, or always the bronze, whichever way you look at it, Germany has cemented itself in that third-place spot at the Olympics.

On Friday, the Germans won their fourth Olympic bronze medal defeating Spain 1-0. Although it was their first bronze since 2008, the team has virtually had a lock on that position winning it every cycle from 2000 to 2008 before finally breaking through and winning gold in 2016. 

It marks a return to form for Germany, who failed to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics and failed to advance out of the group stage at the 2023 World Cup. In six Olympic appearances, the team has won five medals. Their first Olympic appearance in 1996 was the only one where they failed to medal. 

“We had some injuries, we had some infections, we had everything,” Germany goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger told Olympics.com. “The belief from the coach [Horst Hrubesch] that every single person can actually do the job — I think that’s why we won the bronze…

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Inside the Challenge Cup “bubble” of 2020, something bigger than soccer was happening off the pitch in the National Women’s Soccer League.  Between practices and games, Black players were having conversations with their teammates, trying to find the right words to explain why they were kneeling during the national anthem, why they were using their social media platforms to call for change, and the difficult realities of being Black in the NWSL — all on their own.

“In 2020 when we were protesting for Black Lives Matter, it was hard with some of the players, especially for those in the Black Women’s Player Collective who were the only Black players on their teams, to feel like they had a voice or were being listened to by their club and teammates,” Mandy Freeman told The Equalizer.

These hard but necessary conversations spurred important change in the NWSL, but what became clear is that the players faced a significant burden in trying to educate their…

Photo credit: Jay Biggerstaff / USA TODAY Sports

KANSAS CITY — Missing seven players to the 2024 Paris Olympics, NJ/NY Gotham FC has had to be a little more creative with its lineups in the inaugural NWSL x LIGA MX Femenil Summer Cup. 

Coach Juan Carlos Amorós has seemingly taken it in stride, advancing to the August championship match with three wins in group play and a 1-0 victory against Angel City FC on Tuesday afternoon at CPKC Stadium.

“[I have] admiration, respect and gratitude for the effort in football they have put in this month because we had a lot of players out, a lot of players leave for international duty, but also getting hurt in this competition,” Amorós said after the match.

And those missing players are not just any players. His starting goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger helped Germany record a pair of shutouts and reach the bronze medal match. Four of the six Americans have started and the other two have played significant minutes for the gold medal contenders.

Photo Copyright Nir Elias for Reuters via USA TODAY Sports

“I’m paid to do this job. What I’m interested in is what we do in-house. I’ve been coaching football matches [for] a long time. I’ve said it from the beginning: connections help. I don’t believe we’d have gone through if we’d have made too many changes.”

These were the words of Emma Hayes on the eve of the Olympic semifinal against Germany in Lyon. With games scheduled every two days, it’s little wonder that fatigue has been a topic of interest in almost every game. Still, you’d be inclined to allow Hayes’ management some leniency given the way they’ve progressed to the gold medal match.

Notably, Hayes heeded warning signs from her players’ on-pitch performances and made relatively early substitutions to manage recovery and consistency. This was reflected in the game’s state, being both cagey and more open than first anticipated. After the 4-1 battering in the group stages, Germany would have been forgiven for looking to play a bit more…

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The Orlando Pride are making sure that Seb Hines isn’t going anywhere, announcing on Wednesday that they have signed the coach to a contract extension through 2026. The contract also includes an option for 2027. 

This marks Hines’ second full season as head coach of the Pride, and he’s currently in the midst of leading the team on a historic unbeaten streak. Back in May, the club set the National Women’s Soccer League record for longest win streak with eight consecutive wins. 

They’re also undefeated through 16 games to start the NWSL season, with their unbeaten streak going 17 games dating back to last season. It’s the longest unbeaten streak in NWSL history. 

“Seb has done a tremendous job leading the Orlando Pride since taking over as head coach in 2022, and we are very excited to reward him with a new contract with the Club,” Orlando Pride Chairman Mark Wilf said in a press release. “Bringing valuable experience from his time as both…

Photo Copyright Nir Elias for Reuters via USA TODAY Sports

The U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) will play for Olympic gold for the first time since 2012 on Saturday back at the Parc des Princes after taking down a shorthanded German team 1-0 in extra time in Tuesday’s physical semifinal match in Lyon. The Americans will face the winner of the second semifinal this weekend in Paris between Brazil and reigning World Cup champion Spain, while Germany will stay in Lyon for the bronze medal match to be played the day prior.

It was a hard-fought and thrilling win for the USWNT, whose sole score came from Sophia Smith early in extra time off a pass from Mallory Swanson. Team USA’s talented front line again pulled through in the end while the defense held Germany scoreless for just the third time this year to avoid penalty kicks and keep the USWNT’s gold medal dreams alive.

All told, Smith, Swanson and Trinity Rodman now each boast three goals apiece this Olympic tournament. Icing on the cake: Smith and the USWNT will now…