Something had to change for the U.S. women’s national team.

They went into halftime of their World Cup group-stage game against the Netherlands on Thursday down just one goal, but it felt like a disastrous end to the first 45 minutes. The Americans started strong, with a chance from Savannah DeMelo in the box drifting just wide of the net.

After that, the energy shifted.

A breakdown in the midfield in the 16th minute led to wide open space for the Netherlands to work with. After multiple attempts to clear the ball, the U.S. couldn’t withstand the pressure and Jill Roord netted the game’s first goal.

NETHERLANDS STRIKES FIRST 🇳🇱

Jill Roord fires it into the bottom corner of the net! pic.twitter.com/E3eWRb3GmL

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 27, 2023

It was the only shot the Netherland’s had on target all game, but it stung. Suddenly, the U.S. looked passive, and for the rest of the half, the Dutch remained in control.

So when they went into the locker room at halftime, the USWNT knew they’d have to emerge as a different team.

Sophia Smith switched her hair from a braid to a bun. Vlatko Andonovski subbed DeMelo out in favor of Rose Lavelle. And from the halftime commentary box, USWNT legend Carli Lloyd called for more effort.

She got it in the second half, along with fire, anger and a “don’t mess with me” goal from Lindsey Horan that changed the energy on the field and saved the U.S. a point in a 1-1 draw.

The captain told Goal.com before the World Cup that she expected chatter from Lyon teammate and Dutch midfielder Danielle van de Donk.

“You get trash talk every single day from Dan van de Donk,” Horan said in the interview. “And once we play them, you’ll see it. She’ll be coming for my ankles like every single play, so watch out for that. That will be fun.”

But when it happened on Thursday in New Zealand, “fun” wasn’t the word that came to mind. After a physical, penalty-riddled first half, Van de Donk challenged Horan near the goal, and the U.S. midfielder took issue with the contact. The two exchanged words, and eventually, one of the referees brought them together to try to make nice.

Horan wasn’t having it. And as teammate Trinity Rodman brushed synthetic grass off Horan’s forehead — stuck there after her fall — Horan continued to talk with animated displeasure.

“I don’t think you ever want to get me mad, because I don’t react in a good way,” Horan told reporters after the game. “Usually I just go and I want something more. I want to win more. I want to score more. I want to do more for my team.

“So that moment, that little tackle — big tackle — changed a shift in my head because I want to do everything for my team and to win these games.”

Her reaction, aided by a pep talk from U.S. veteran Julie Ertz, was exactly what her team needed. It was also the best form of revenge in sports.

A U.S. corner kick snaked into the box and Horan charged forward, heading the ball past Dutch keeper Daphne van Domselaar.

LINDSEY HORAN SENDS THE ULTIMATE MESSAGE 🇺🇸

THE @USWNT HAS LEVELED IT 🤫 pic.twitter.com/IV7hnG4CyK

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 27, 2023

Horan proudly grabbed the top of her jersey and pulled the United States logo into view as she celebrated the game-tying goal. It was everything the USWNT needed in that moment.

“She wanted it so bad, and you could tell,” Rodman told FOX Sports after the game. “There was the trash talk, and then she scored. She was amped, and that energy spread to the entire team.”

“It’s a really good example of the leader that she (is),” Andonovski said, praising the way Horan’s response rubbed off on her younger teammates.

“She gets fouled, kicked, hurt, and obviously it’s a very difficult moment. And instead of crying about it, she just goes and makes a statement and basically shows everyone the direction that the game is going to take.”

From there, the U.S. regained control of the match. They recorded 18 shots to five from the Netherlands, failing to put another in the back of the net despite multiple chances, including an Alex Morgan goal called back for offsides. With the draw, the USWNT received a much-needed point that keeps them at the top of Group E and all but ensures they make it out of the group stage.

They have Horan to thank for that.

Eden Laase is a Staff Writer at Just Women’s Sports. Follow her on Twitter @eden_laase.

UEFA's 2025 Euro tournament is already knocking on the door of history, as the European Championship is on track to shatter the competition's overall attendance record — despite not kicking off until next week.

This year's Switzerland-hosted edition has sold more than 570,000 of the 673,000 tickets available as of Thursday.

Given that tally, England's 2022 Euro record of 574,875 is likely to fall in the coming days.

In addition to the tickets already on sale, stadiums will release another 32,000 to accommodate the knockout stages in the coming weeks.

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While Switzerland is poised to claim the Euro's total attendance title by the competition's July 27th finale, England's single-game record crowd of 87,192 — set at the 2022 championship match — will be safe, as no Swiss venue matches the capacity of London's iconic Wembley Stadium.

The 2025 Euro final will be a much more elite affair, as only 34,250 seats are available at Basel's St. Jakob-Park — the largest of the tournament's eight venues.

That said, this summer's European Championship will have more eyes on it than ever before, and not just from the stands.

The 2022 edition shattered viewership records worldwide, but the 2025 Euro has a chance to level up even more, as the tournament has seen its global broadcast footprint expand — particularly in the US.

UEFA inked a media deal with Fox Sports in late May, ensuring that audiences Stateside will have live access to at least 20 of the Euro's 31 matches next month.

While the overall tournament chases new attendance and viewership records, the 16 teams bound for Switzerland will be battling toward the 2025 Euro trophy when the competition kicks off next Wednesday.

The 2025 FIBA AmeriCup 5×5 basketball tournament tips off Saturday in Santiago, Chile, where a youthful Team USA will battle nine other countries from North and South America for both this summer's trophy and a ticket to the 2026 FIBA World Cup.

After falling to reigning champions Brazil in 2023, Team USA will aim to avenge the loss by winning a fifth all-time gold medal at the 2025 FIBA AmeriCup final on July 6th.

Led by Duke head coach Kara Lawson, this 12-player US squad follows the federation playbook by tapping top college talent, with the NCAA's finest looking to gain international experience and hone their skills against pros like Chicago Sky center Kamilla Cardoso, who leads Brazil's AmeriCup roster.

Full of familiar faces, the USA AmeriCup lineups includes March Madness stars Olivia Miles (TCU), Flau'Jae Johnson (LSU), Hannah Hidalgo (Notre Dame), Madison Booker (Texas), Audi Crooks (Iowa State), Raegan Beers (Oklahoma), and Joyce Edwards (South Carolina).

Also taking the FIBA court for Team USA are NCAA standouts Mikayla Blakes (Vanderbilt), Gianna Kneepkens (UCLA), Kennedy Smith (USC), Hannah Stuelke (Iowa), and Grace Vanslooten (Michigan State).

"[W]e haven't seen the level of physicality and experience we're going to see down there," Lawson said this week. "So that remains to be seen if we're going to be able to impose that athletic, physical play. But there's no doubt we're going to try."

How to watch Team USA at the 2025 FIBA AmeriCup

The 2025 FIBA AmeriCup group stage runs from Saturday through Wednesday, with the knockouts tipping off on July 4th in a run-up to the July 6th championship game.

Team USA will open their AmeriCup campaign against hosts Chile at 8:25 PM ET on Saturday, then face Colombia at 8:10 PM ET on Sunday.

Arguably the toughest Group B contest for the US will be their Monday matchup against Puerto Rico at 8:10 PM ET, before the collegiate stars finish up the tournament's group play against Mexico at 2:10 PM ET on Wednesday.

All 2025 FIBA AmeriCup games will stream live on Courtside 1891.

Three-time 1,500-meter Olympic gold medalist Faith Kipyegon fell just short of making running history on Thursday, as the middle-distance star clocked a time of 4:06.42 in her attempt to become the first woman to break the four-minute mile.

"It was the first trial. I have proven that it's possible and it's only a matter of time. I think it will come to our way," said Kipyegon following Thursday's race. "If it's not me, it will be somebody else."

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Still the fastest mile-runner of any woman in history, the Kenyan icon did beat her own previous world record of 4:07.64 by 1.22 seconds, though the time won't count as a new record as the race came during Nike's unofficial Breaking4 event.

With full support from the sportswear giant — the 31-year-old's partner for 16 years — Kipyegon had the benefit of multiple pace-setters, as well as an aerodynamic suit, 3D-printed Nike FlyWeb sports bra, and spiked shoes made specifically for the much-hyped four-minute mile attempt at Paris's Stade Charléty.

"Faith didn't just make history, she proved the future of sport is faster, stronger, and more inclusive than ever," noted Nike president Amy Montagne after Kipyegon's race.

"It was tough, but I am so proud of what I've done, and I'm going to keep on trying, dreaming and pursing big goals," said Kipyegon. "I want to show the world, and especially women, that you have to dare to try."

The world No. 1 USWNT topped the No. 25 Republic of Ireland 4-0 on Thursday, dominating the first of two friendly matchups against the Girls in Green this week.

Veteran midfielder Rose Lavelle notched a goal and an assist in her first appearance for the US in 2025, with defender Avery Patterson, midfielder Sam Coffey, and forward Alyssa Thompson also finding the back of the net to round out the scoresheet.

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Despite relative inexperience, this USWNT lineup claimed control of the match from the very first whistle, holding 68% of possession while keeping Ireland from registering a single shot on goal.

The US also saw new faces step up, as defenders Lilly Reale and Jordyn Bugg as well as goalkeeper Claudia Dickey all earned their first caps without a hitch.

While USWNT boss Emma Hayes is still figuring out her player pool, her team has been busy racking up the results.

"Being able to trust my teammates around me, trusting Emma — she's helped me a lot," Thompson said after the game. "Just the coaching staff in general, I feel like I've learned so much."

"My natural instincts are to go into the attack more," Patterson told media after tallying her first-ever senior team goal. "I think it's a little bit of that, and also the backing of my coaches."

How to watch the USWNT vs. Ireland this weekend

The USWNT and Ireland will clash again in Cincinnati, Ohio, at 3 PM ET on Sunday.

Coverage of the friendly will air live on TNT.