Lo’eau LaBonta became the oldest player to debut in the United States women’s national team’s 40-year history on Saturday when she entered the match in the 70th minute of her team’s 3-0 win over China.
LaBonta is 32 years and 74 days old. She has a decade of professional experience as a box-to-box midfielder in the NWSL, but it didn’t earn her a USWNT call-up until earlier this month.
“You have to have a short-term memory, whether it’s wins or losses,” LaBonta told TBS after her international debut on Saturday.
“And when there’s a loss, you let it sink in, but you learn from it, and you move on. And that’s what I’ve done with every obstacle in my life. And you know me, I’m always joking around in the locker room, and I try and do everything with a smile, but I’m out here grinding, and I think eventually Momma Em [USWNT head coach Emma Hayes] called me in and let’s go.”
Midfielder McCall Zerboni set the previous USWNT record for oldest debut in 2017 when she debuted just before her 31st birthday.
LaBonta is the captain of the NWSL’s Kansas…
