The USWNT moved one step closer to a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in what could be the last go-around on a big stage for many key players.
They've been at the core of the United States Women's National Team for over a decade now. Names like Carli Lloyd, Alex Morgan, and Megan Rapinoe have helped the United States to two World Cup championships and a runner-up finish.
Some were there in 2012, when the USWNT last won the gold medal in the Olympics. Even more were there in the stunning quarterfinal loss to Sweden in the 2016 Rio Games.
And now, they have advanced to the semifinals of the 2020 Tokyo Games (here in 2021) after a riveting quarterfinal victory over Netherlands.
In a quarterfinal match that alternated between domination and frustration, the USWNT looked at times brilliant and other times utterly lost. Despite the hiccups and often times worrisome action in the defensive third, the United States managed to pull off the victory over the talented Netherlands squad.
The game pitted the two squads that met up in the 2019 World Cup final and it was worth every second. Paced by the youth of Sam Mewis and Lynn Williams, along with the play of Tobin Heath and Julie Ertz, team USA held a 2-1 halftime lead.
Williams shined in a rare start and had a foot in both goals. She set up Mewis with the first goal and scored herself minutes later.
Team USA controlled much of the action early, with the only blemish a breakdown in the 18th-minute that allowed Netherlands star Vivianne Miedema to find space and the back of the net.
Miedema again created space and tied things up in the 54th-minute. Her 10th goal of the tournament was nearly perfectly placed, deflecting off the hands of diving USA goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher.
Naeher more than atoned for this goal, saving a penalty kick by Netherlands Lieke Martens in the 81st-minute. Then, after the scored remained tied at two through extra time, Naeher had two huge saves in the penalty shootout.
The USWNT connected on all four of their shootout chances, with Rapinoe sealing the deal to send the United States to the semis with a 4-2 penalty victory.
Rapinoe, Christen Press, and Alex Morgan, all subs in the second-half, struggled at times with timing and passing. (Though they did help contribute to team USA's disallowed goal total, bringing it to nine in the Olympics.)
The next few years will be interesting to see how this team changes. Nothing is set in stone but the Tokyo Olympics could be the last world tournament that sees some of these players on the team.
USWMNT: Changing of the guard
The 2023 World Cup will take place in Australia and New Zealand. Many players on this current roster, if selected, would be attending their fourth World Cup that summer.
Lloyd is among them and already has a blazing 310 national appearances with the team. Lloyd is playing in her fourth Olympics and would be 41 in the next World Cup.
Rapinoe and Becky Sauerbrunn would both be 38.
Eyes towards a fourth World Cup appearance could also be on the agenda for Kelly O'Hara, Morgan, Press, and Heath, who are among players that would be between 34 and 36 years old when the 2023 tournament rolls around.
Now, this isn't to say any of these players shouldn't be on the team. All are still contributing at an elite level, though at times it has been shaky for some of them in these Olympics. Keep in mind, before losing to Sweden to kick off group play in Tokyo, the USWNT had a 44-match unbeaten streak.
There's a great veteran group behind this group of stars we've grown to love over the years. Ertz, Mewis, Rose Lavelle, Crystal Dunn, Abby Dahlkemper, Lindsey Horan, and Kristie Mewis would among the players who formed the backbone of future national teams.
Lloyd has previously stated she will be retiring following the Olympics. There's a good chance Rapinoe and Sauerbrunn will do the same.
As for the others? I can see them be selected for one more journey to achieve greatness. It might be in lesser roles for some but often times leadership on the bench is just as important. Injuries and decisions to simply move on could also factor in.
For now, a semifinal match with Canada awaits on 8/1 (4 a.m. ET). And if it indeed is the last go-around with this collective of players, let's hope it ends with a gold medal around their necks.
Image credit: Wikimedia Commons
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