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Carli Lloyd: 2023 World Cup will be ‘the hardest one to win yet’

Carli Lloyd holds the World Cup trophy after the USWNT’s win in 2019. (Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

Carli Lloyd believes the U.S. women’s national team is facing the toughest ever road to a World Cup title as it prepares for the 2023 tournament in Australia and New Zealand.

“It’s going to be the hardest one to win yet,” Lloyd said Wednesday on CBS Sports’ Attacking Third podcast. “So we’ll see. I’m anxiously awaiting, just as much as anyone else.”

Lloyd, 40, won two World Cups in her 17 years with the USWNT before she retired in October 2021. While the title-winning teams in 2015 and 2019 faced arduous journeys of their own, the growth of women’s soccer around the world makes each new tournament more difficult than the last, Lloyd said.

“I think it’s going to be the biggest and best World Cup, I’ve been saying it over and over again, so many people have been saying it as well,” she said. “And it’s just a testament to how far the game has come.

“Each World Cup continues to get better and better. There’s obviously a lot more investment around the globe with all these teams and countries. So it’s going to be incredibly exciting.”

The USWNT will play in Group E, alongside 2019 runner-up Netherlands, Vietnam and an intercontinental playoff winner.

While the U.S. maintained the No. 1 spot in the FIFA world rankings despite back-to-back losses in October, and the Netherlands sit at No. 8 after a disappointing quarterfinal exit at this summer’s Euros, the Dutch teams still presents a “good challenge” in the group stage, according to Lloyd.

The three group-stage matches for the USWNT will be held in New Zealand, and the team will get an early preview of the venues when it visits the country for a six-day training camp and two friendlies against the Football Ferns in January.

“Everyone always kind of wants to try to figure out: What type of group is this? Is this the Group of Death? Is this a good group that we’ve drawn?” Lloyd said. “The thing with women’s football now is, you can’t take any group lightly. No group is an easy group any more.”

Ahead of the USWNT’s next friendly matches against Germany, which will take place next week on American soil, the team is facing roster questions after a spate of injuries and its recent losses to England and Spain.

Lloyd is not pressing the panic button, and she had high praise for 22-year-old forward Sophia Smith in particular, calling her “a sponge” for soccer knowledge. But she’s not ready to crown the USWNT yet either.

“You never know what’s going to happen,” she said. “You obviously have to take care of your group first, one game at a time, but as we all know, World Cups, they start and end very differently. And it’s going to be interesting to see in nine or 10 months who’s going to be lifting that trophy.”

Caitlin Clark named to USA Basketball training camp roster

(Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)

Caitlin Clark received an invite to USA Basketball camp, which will take place in Cleveland on April 3-5. 

It could be an even busier weekend for the Iowa star, should the Hawkeyes make the Final Four, which also take place in Cleveland from April 5-7. Should they fall short, Clark would be able to take part in the senior team camp. She’s the lone college player named to the roster, which is filled with WNBA stars.

Clark currently leads Division I in scoring, assists and 3-pointers, and is largely expected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA draft on April 15. 

Dates have yet to be announced for when the two women’s basketball Olympic teams will be announced for 5-on-5 and 3x3. The Paris Olympics are set to take place from July 26 to Aug. 11, with the U.S. looking for its eighth consecutive gold medal in 5-on-5. They won the first 3x3 Olympic tournament at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. 

Nine former Olympians are set to take part in the camp in Cleveland, including five-time Olympic gold medalist Diana Taurasi. Others include Ariel Atkins (Washington Mystics); Chelsea Gray, A'ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young (Las Vegas Aces); Brittney Griner (Mercury); Jewell Loyd (Seattle Storm); and Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty).

Former No. 1 picks Aliyah Boston (Indiana) and Rhyne Howard (Atlanta Dream) were also invited to camp. 

Barcelona aims to end Emma Hayes UWCL dreams in semifinal

BARCELONA, SPAIN - MARCH 28: Jonatan Giraldez of FC Barcelona gestures during the UEFA Women's Champions League 2023/24 Quarter Final Leg Two match between FC Barcelona and SK Brann at Estadi Johan Cruyff on March 28, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Eric Alonso - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

Barcelona is set to take on Chelsea once again in the Champions League semifinals, and coach Jonatan Giráldez has his sights set on ending Chelsea’s run. 

It’s a rematch of last year’s semifinal, only this time both coaches are coaching in their final leg of UWCL matches with their respective teams. Giráldez will depart Barcelona for the NWSL’s Washington Spirit upon the conclusion of the season, while Chelsea’s Emma Hayes is set to take over the USWNT. 

While Giráldez has won the Champions League before with Barcleona, it’s the one trophy that has eluded Hayes in her time at Chelsea. 

"Emma's legacy is in what she has done at Chelsea and the growth [at the club] over more than 10 years," Giráldez said. "She has done a magnificent job at the club. The next [manager] will have bar set very high because she has done amazing things.

"She will hope to go out with a Champions League [trophy], but we are here to try and make sure that doesn't happen and to bring it home, which is our objective."

In her time with Chelsea, Hayes has won six Women’s Super League titles and five FA Cups. Chelsea has made the UWCL final just once – in 2021, when the team lost to Barcelona. Barcelona then ended Chelsea’s hopes again last year, winning 2-1 on aggregate in the semifinal before winning their second UWCL trophy in four years. 

The first leg of this year’s semifinal is set to be played at Barcelona’s Olympic Stadium, with Chelsea then playing at home in the second leg. 

"It will be a very even tie," Giráldez added. "Chelsea are a great side and the club have invested in the women's game in recent years -- and it shows. They've done well in the Champions League and are in great form, but so are we. I would have preferred to have the second leg at home, but it's not something we can control."

USWNT midfielder Korbin Albert issues apology for social media activity

Korbin Albert. (Photo by John Todd/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

USWNT midfielder Korbin Albert has apologized for past social media activity that appeared to support anti-LGBTQIA+ content and for liking an Instagram post that made light of Megan Rapinoe’s injury in her final professional game. 

The posts caused Rapinoe to call out the midfielder, who now wears Rapinoe’s No. 15, on Instagram, addressing her note to “the people who want to hide behind ‘my beliefs’” and saying that “all you believe in is hate.”

Rapinoe’s comments were then shared by USWNT teammate Becky Sauerbrunn, as well as others like Lynn Williams, Sam Mewis and Kristie Mewis. 

Among the posts reposted to Albert’s TikTok was a Christian sermon talking about how being gay and “feeling transgender” is wrong. The posts surfaced earlier this week and garnered widespread attention among fans of women’s soccer. 

Albert started in Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League game on Thursday, scoring in the 70th minute. Following the game, and hours after Rapinoe’s post, Albert posted an apology to her Instagram. 

"I want to sincerely apologize for my actions on social media," Albert wrote in a post shared on her Instagram story late Thursday. "Liking and sharing posts that are offensive, insensitive and hurtful was immature and disrespectful which was never my intent. I'm really disappointed in myself and am deeply sorry for the hurt that I have caused to my teammates, other players, fans, friends and anyone who was offended.

“I truly believe that everyone should feel safe and respected everywhere and on all playing fields. I know my actions have not lived up to that and for that I sincerely apologize. It’s an honor and a privilege to play this sport on the world stage and I promise to do better.”

U.S. Soccer has yet to address Albert’s social media activity, although she is set to join the USWNT next week in camp ahead of the SheBelieves Cup, which starts on April 6.

Megan Rapinoe confirms post was directed at Korbin Albert

(Photo by Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

Former USWNT forward Megan Rapinoe took to Instagram to implicitly call out current USWNT midfielder Korbin Albert’s past social media activity.

Albert, who now wears Rapinoe’s No. 15, came under fire this week for previous social media activity that included her appearing to support anti-LGBTQIA+ content and like an Instagram post that made light of Rapinoe’s injury in her final professional game. 

Rapinoe tore her Achilles in the NWSL championship, and Albert, via a screengrab, appeared to like a post from a meme account that read: “God taking time off performing miracles to make sure Megan Rapinoe sprains her ankle in her final ever game.”

Albert’s Instagram handle appeared to have liked the post in the screengrab, although the original appears to have been deleted as of March 28. 

On Thursday, Rapinoe posted her reaction to Albert’s activity via an Instagram story.

“To the people who want to hide behind ‘my beliefs’ I would just ask one question, are you making any time of space safer, more inclusive, more whole, any semblance of better, bringing the best out of anyone?” she wrote. “… because if you aren’t all you believe in is hate. And Kids are literally killing themselves because of this hate. Wake TF up! Yours Truly, #15.”

She signed off her note saying, “For all my trans homies enduring this horrific treatment day in and day out, I see you and hear you and I am WITH YOU.”

USWNT captain Becky Sauerbrunn reshared the post on Thursday, captioning it, “Well said.” Other former teammates and current USWNT members also shared the post, including Lynn Williams, Abby Dahlkemper, Sam Mewis and Kristie Mewis. 

When asked for comment by The Athletic, Rapinoe said the post was a response to Albert’s social media activity, but also noted that her focus is on protecting queer lives and sharing concerns over how online discussions and anti-trans sentiment can have real-world consequences.

Rapinoe isn’t the only USWNT member to have supported trans rights. Long-time captain Becky Sauerbrunn wrote an op-ed for a Missouri newspaper in support of allowing trans girls and women to play sports. In the final game of the 2022 SheBelieves Cup, held in Texas, players wore wristbands with the words “Protect Trans Kids” on the same day that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called for state employees to report the parents of trans children to the authorities. 

Following her Champions League match with club team Paris Saint-Germain, Albert posted an apology to Instagram.

“I want to sincerely apologize for my actions on social media,” she wrote. “Liking and sharing posts that are offensive, insensitive and hurtful was immature and disrespectful which was never my intent.

“I truly believe that everyone should feel safe and respected everywhere and on all playing fields. I know my actions have not lived up to that and for that I sincerely apologize. It’s an honor and a privilege to play this sport on the world stage and I promise to do better.”

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