Is the US Women's National Team All Washed Up?

Everyone saw it at the FIFA women’s world cup.  what looked like weariness.  It was the Fatigue wrought on the most successful women’s soccer Team in history by the nation’s expectations that the USWNT should Win the World Cup again and keep on winning! 

But let’s face it they looked all washed up!  Dead in the water!  And it’s not just the National team.  The women’s game in the US looks washed up too!  After five years of complacency and conservatism we are going nowhere!  You can’t rest on the laurels of 2015 and 2019 for ever – ask the Chicago Bears!!  US women’s football has just never caught FIRE from the spark that has ignited the game in Europe. Both Sexism and defeatism are factors.  The average us male has zero interest in women’s sports.  Even female sports fans are content to watch the NFL, NBA, NCAA etc. – and the R.O.W. men’s football leagues!  The best US women now play in the European Womens Super league where they can earn respect and rewards commensurate with their talents! 

I was at soldier Field, Chicago, last Sunday, along with barely 25,000 to witness the changing of the guard!  Of course the US team rolled over a clueless South Africa.  But it didn’t take away the sting of the World cup performances.  In the antipodes the US women could not pass the ball and they certainly couldn’t take penalties!  Did the coaches forget to ask them to practice?  Compare the fluid, adventurous football Spain played to win it all!  Returning home the US players gave despondent interviews.  (Of course the Spanish players got a very different kind of reception!!!) 

The highlight of Sunday’s game was a left foot strike from 5 yards back of the back left corner of the penalty area by Trinity Rodman. Not a curler but a bullet of a drive that grazed the opposite right corner of the upright and crossbar. It’s bound to be on the highlight reel – take a look! What a drive! What a player!

Sunday’s game was the last hurrah for Megan Rapinoe – on and off the field, A class act!  She was substituted off the pitch in the 54th minute after just narrowly missing the goal with a free kick that skimmed the crossbar. Visibly emotional, Rapinoe waved to the crowd and embraced all her teammates and coaches for one last time. After the game, she addressed the crowd sincerely and eloquently to thank them for the outpouring of support.  “We have fought so hard on the field, had so much fun, been so successful – doing it underneath all of your guys’ cheers,” Rapinoe said.  Megan is a class act – one of the most admirable figures in football to say the very least.  But I’m not so sure about the credit she gives to her teammates and the USWNT machine – not anymore! 

Is there hope for the future?  Not really!  USWNT doesn’t really have the players!  Trinity Rodman is the exception.  Now, she comes from fighting stock with talent and attitude.  He may have got married in a white dress on a Harley, but her father Dennis was a fierce competitor!  Trinity is a mix of guts and ballet – great skills, fierce determination.  Mia Fishel showed a little promise too.  Not sure that the rest can fill the gaps that injury and retirement have inflicted!  They look like the replacements! 

Also USWNT doesn’t really have the management.  The pathetic showing at the World Cup cost coach Andonovski his job. GM Kate Markgraf followed him out the door. Andonovski’s assistant, Twila Kilgore, has stepped in to manage on an interim basis. Basically, it’s a shambles!  The selection process stumbles on, and it needs to come up with someone of stature, not just another NWSL retread!  Wonder if Emma Hayes or Sara Wiegman are busy?! 

In Summary – it’s broken! We are in for a long period of rebuilding at the very least.  I wish I could end with some uplifting thoughts to gratify my US readers but I’m afraid, having looked everywhere, sources of optimism are hard to find.  Maybe the WNBA shows the way forward, being more inclusive and welcoming to the LGBTQ community!  Think I’ll pin my hopes on Trinity Rodman!  Chicago sports fans will remember Devin Hester.  And I saw him return countless Punts and Kicks for touchdowns (even one in the Superbowl).  And it is possible that one player, invested with great talents, can transform a team’s fortunes (think Messi).  Maybe its not possible, but Trinity Rodman, you may be our only hope!!!