As fans questioned whether the U.S. women’s national team was ready for the 2024 Olympics after a disastrous World Cup campaign last year, head coach Emma Hayes asked for patience as the team worked through growing pains.
The answers came quickly in the USWNT’s opener of the Olympics in France.
The Americans scored three goals in the opening 25 minutes to defeat Zambia 3-0 on Thursday and, despite a quieter second half, they looked convincing in the win. Trinity Rodman‘s brilliant spin-turn created space for a flashy opening goal before Mallory Swanson scored twice in a minute to punctuate the flying start from the four-time Olympic gold medalists.
The USWNT’s performance featured a proficiency that was lacking in recent matches and an intensity that was rarely seen from the Americans at last year’s World Cup. It is exactly the start the Americans needed amid doubts about their place among the world’s elite after a round-of-16 exit last year — the team’s worst World Cup in history.
Yes, Zambia played nearly an hour of the match down a player, but the USWNT was dominant and scored three times well before Pauline Zulu was sent off for denying a goal-scoring opportunity. Lindsey Horan nearly found the net 30 seconds into the match…
