In a tournament run otherwise lauded for the performance of three attackers, the United States’ semifinal instead showcased a defender at the top of her game.
Since Becky Sauerbrunn was ruled out for the 2023 Women’s World Cup, the USWNT backline has been Naomi Girma’s to lead. Girma only debuted as a professional in 2022, yet patrols the defensive third with the kind of composure and all-around excellence that’s more commonly expected from a grizzled veteran. The United States has relied heavily on her ability on the ground and in the air alike throughout this tournament, especially as her central partner has had to alternate between Davidson and Sonnett due to injury concerns around the former.
Throughout Tuesday’s shift, Girma checked all the boxes for a prototypical modern center back. Calm on the ball? She carried the ball for 687 meters — 24 per cent of the entire USWNT’s dribbling distance. Able to sustain possession with her distribution? She completed 125 passes from 132 attempts in a game where only one other player from either team attempted at least 100. She even created two chances for her teammates, trailing only Rodman and Swanson. Remembering that, despite this, defending is in fact a vital part of her job. Girma led the team in ball recoveries…
