The U.S. women’s national team opened the 2023 SheBelieves Cup with a solid 2-0 victory over reigning Olympic champions Canada. Winger Mallory Swanson scored twice in the first half, the first with a sharp finish and the second via a giveaway deep inside Canada’s defensive third.
The rest of the match was played out on more level terms, but the U.S. was able to comfortably see the game out. Combined with Brazil’s 1-0 triumph over Japan earlier in the day, the win puts the U.S. atop the SheBelieves Cup standings on goal differential. The SheBelieves Cup is the second-last window of international games for the U.S. before the 2023 Women’s World Cup begins in July, hosted in Australia and New Zealand.
Off the field, the match started with a show of solidarity between the U.S. and Canadian players on two fronts. Players from Canada have entered a very public dispute with their federation over financial resources and pay, which the American players have expressed support for, and both teams wore wristbands showing support for transgender students due to recent legislation in Florida, where the game was played.
Rapid reaction
1. The USWNT starts fast, and gives Canada a hard time
It’s tempting to think that the upheaval in Canada’s camp over the past few days — first they weren’t…
