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How to fix the USWNT’s sputtering attack at the World Cup

Alex Morgan has been asked to play a slightly different role for the USWNT at the 2023 World Cup. (VCG/VCG via Getty Images)

After a relatively strong start against Vietnam, the U.S. women’s national team’s attack sputtered in a 1-1 draw against the Netherlands in their second match of the 2023 World Cup group stage.

The U.S. is playing in a front-three system with the intention of creating havoc on the wings and dangerous situations centrally. But against the Dutch, they were containable for too many minutes, raising concerns as tougher competition lurks in the knockout rounds.

Sophia Smith, Alex Morgan and Trinity Rodman are still building chemistry, after Mallory Swanson’s knee injury in April forced head coach Vlatko Andonovski to adjust his plans for the forward line. There have been bright spots, but a lack of consistency still plagues the relationship between the wings and the central position.

So, heading into their final group-stage match against Portugal, does the U.S. need to re-think its attack? And is the solution as simple as personnel changes, or would the team also benefit from an adjustment in tactics?

The promise of using space

Morgan in 2023 is not quite the same “Baby Horse” forward fans might remember from 2011 and 2015, though her role is not drastically different than it was in 2019. Andonovski has been very clear about how he wants the longtime veteran to play in 2023, using her positioning to occupy the attention of the other team’s center-backs and create space for the wingers around her. It’s a facet of her game she’s been honing in recent years with a commendable amount of success.

“It’s not that she’s not capable of scoring goals or getting behind crosses, but we can also see her playing balls to both Trinity and Soph, but also getting closest for them as well,” he said after the team’s draw with the Netherlands.

Morgan has consequently spent much of the first two games of the World Cup trying to fill spaces left by her teammates. She’ll drop into the USWNT’s struggling midfield to try to get touches on the ball, and drift wide when Smith takes point in the middle.

The difficulty Morgan had influencing the match against the Dutch for long stretches had less to do with her own ability, and more to do with the attack as a whole. Neither Smith nor Rodman had their best performances, over-relying on dribbling sequences and failing to beat the Dutch defenders to 50/50 balls. As a result, rather than Morgan pulling defenders in so the wingers could get wider, the front three began occupying the same spaces. The narrow approach didn’t provide the dynamism the U.S. needed off the ball to force the Netherlands’ back three into making risky choices.

The lack of lateral movement became a problem when the U.S. had to chase the game after falling behind in the first half, but those lanes also opened back up after the team drew level. Morgan had a golden opportunity to take the lead with a vintage run in behind, but Rodman’s entry pass came a little too late, ruling Morgan’s goal offside. Later in the match, Smith finally had 1v1 isolation opportunities on the left wing to get to the endline and send dangerous balls in across the Dutch penalty area.

Those second-half combinations showed more of what the U.S. attack can look like when all three players are consistently looking to find one another and combine.

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Trinity Rodman, Smith and Morgan played the full 90 minutes against the Netherlands. (Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

The sacrifice of the high press

The USWNT’s commitment to having Morgan drift into deeper positions to aid the midfield gives up significant ground in the USWNT’s off-the-ball defending. Morgan isn’t being asked to sit on the hip of the last line of defense anymore, keeping them honest and pressing to try to force turnovers. The approach theoretically gives her more flexibility as a passing outlet to then redistribute to the wings, but it also gave the Netherlands free rein to progress the ball up the spine of the USWNT midfield, resulting in sequences like the one that led to the Netherlands’ opening goal.

After falling behind in the first half, the U.S. press seemed to disappear, with Smith, Morgan and Rodman all sitting in prospective passing lanes rather than trying to regain possession. To the Netherlands’ credit, their dynamic movement in the midfield opened those passing lanes back up, and the U.S. couldn’t hold onto the ball for long enough to mount a comeback. Morgan was also forced into runs to overcome positional deficiencies rather than set the Netherlands on their heels.

If the U.S. is going to concede possession in the midfield, the frontline has to seize their moments off turnovers and transition play. It was only after Lindsey Horan inserted a spark of life into the USWNT that the frontline began successfully re-winning the ball. While the shift in intensity was admirable, it still felt like individual changes rather than the system working as planned.

Embracing the ability to adjust

Andonovski does have the personnel to try something different, but it would require a greater willingness to adjust the attacking approach than he has shown thus far. If combining with Morgan is Plan A, then a quick Plan B has to be to insert Lynn Williams for her pressing abilities, or Alyssa Thompson so that Smith can shift into the No. 9 role. Against the Netherlands, Andonovski partially relieved Morgan by subbing on Rose Lavelle as the primary playmaker, but no other changes were made.

Part of what made Andonovski’s unwillingness to bring Williams in against the Netherlands so baffling is that her skill set seemed tailor-made for the game. She has the ability to run in behind defenses and, with fresh legs, force a center-back into making a key mistake. She wouldn’t be asked to execute the center forward position in the same way as Morgan, but the defending champions should consider that a strength and not a weakness.

The frontline of Smith, Morgan and Rodman seems to favor a positive or neutral game-state, where all three players feel they have the freedom to try different movements in search of a goal. Williams is the player you bring on if you need to chase a result. And if Smith is ultimately more comfortable in a narrow attacking system, the team will need a more experienced player who can get wide and overlap with the young star so as not to sacrifice width in key moments during a match.

Andonovski let an opportunity to explore his attacking depth pass him by against the Netherlands, in a gambit that never relinquished the winning goal. Tuesday’s match against Portugal might be the next-best opportunity.

Claire Watkins is a Staff Writer at Just Women’s Sports. Follow her on Twitter @ScoutRipley.

Gotham FC Signs Record-Breaking Sponsorship Deal with Dove

Emily Sonnett shows off the new Dove sponsorship above her last name on her Gotham jersey.
Dove's partnership with Gotham is the brand's first major investment in a women's sports team. (Gotham FC)

Gotham and Dove are teaming up, with the 2023 NWSL champs signing a record-setting multi-year kit partnership with the beauty brand on Thursday.

As Dove's first major investment in a women's sports team, the move also ranks as the highest-ever back-of-jersey sponsorship deal in NWSL history.

While Gotham did not provide specific numbers, the contract surpasses Bay FC's then-record $500,000 deal with private equity giant Sixth Street.

Dove joins Gotham in fight to keep girls in sports

The partnership is a part of Gotham's "Keep Her in the Game" initiative, a community effort launched last August to help adolescent girls stay in sports. Dove will serve as the program's presenting sponsor.

"Dove is the ultimate leader in female strength and empowerment, and we could not be prouder to partner with the brand in a number of impactful ways," Gotham FC chief business officer Ryan Dillon said in the team's release. "We are excited to team up with Dove to create key pathways for young female athletes to stay in sports, develop confidence, and become strong future leaders."

"The partnership is taking effect at a crucial time when supporting girls in sports has never been more important."

With girls twice as likely as boys to abandon sports by age 14, "Keep Her in the Game" aims to bolster young athletes' resilience and amplify the joy and connection that happens on and off the playing field.

After impacting 30 local New Jersey and New York youth clubs and more than 500 players in 2024, the initiative is aiming to double its reach in 2025. It will also pass the proverbial mic to the young athletes themselves by creating a Youth Leadership Council.

"The data is clear: Sports build confidence, leadership skills and resilience in young women, benefiting them for years to come," stated Laura DiMiceli, the head of personal care sports marketing for Dove's parent company, Unilever North America. "Dove is committed to supporting 'Keep Her in the Game' as part of our overall mission to help young girls pursue sports and keep playing the games they love."

Unrivaled to Crown First-Ever 1v1 Tournament Champion

Lunar Owls forward Napheesa Collier dribbles the ball during an Unrivaled game.
Napheesa Collier is one of four Unrivaled players competing for the 1v1 tournament's $200,000 prize. (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

Unrivaled 3×3 Basketball will crown its first-ever 1v1 tournament champion on Friday night, when all four semifinalists take the court with a $200,000 grand prize on the line.

Vinyl guard Arike Ogunbowale will kick off the semis against Mist forward Aaliyah Edwards, before Unrivaled co-founder and Lunar Owls forward Napheesa Collier faces Rose forward Azurá Stevens. The victors will immediately advance to the night's best-of-three final series.

Notably, Friday's set puts alma mater pride on center court. A trio of UConn alums in Collier, Stevens, and Edwards will all clock in, while Ogunbowale reps Notre Dame — one of just three teams to beat the Huskies this NCAA season.

Along with those priceless bragging rights, the semifinalists are battling for a six-figure payday, though none will leave empty-handed. Each are guaranteed at least $25,000, with $50,000 on deck for the tournament's runner-up.

The players' Unrivaled teammates will also be watching with interest, as the winner's entire 3×3 team will snag $10,000 each.

Though 1v1 can feel like a schoolyard version of basketball, with this much money involved, expect the competition to rise miles above playground tussles.

Rose BC's Angel Reese defends Mist forward Aaliyah Edwards during an Unrivaled game.
Aaliyah Edwards is one of three UConn alums in the Unrivaled 1v1 semifinals. (Rich Storry/Getty Images)

Endurance could decide Unrivaled 1v1 tournament champion

Friday's format is in part a test of stamina, as players stare down a grueling schedule where the eventual winner must play either three or four 1v1 games in a single night.

To that end, Collier's elite conditioning could make her the favorite, if she can outlast Stevens in the pair's semifinal.

"Her motor is unmatched," Stevens said of Collier's endurance, a key factor in her success so far. "I try to conserve some energy in between possessions, especially when the games get really tiring."

Motors aside, Friday's title will boil down to fundamentals — and which athlete best leverages their personal skillset.

"I have to use my size and stick to my strengths," said Edwards. "It’s about imposing my will and getting the job done."

How to watch the Unrivaled 1v1 tournament finals

The inaugural Unrivaled 1v1 tournament concludes on Friday. Live coverage begins at 7:30 PM ET on TNT.

USC Beats UCLA as JuJu Watkins Ends Bruins’ Undefeated NCAA Season

USC's JuJu Watkins drives to the basket between UCLA's Janiah Barker and Elina Aarnisalo.
Watkins scored 38 points to hand UCLA their first loss of the season. (Robert Hanashiro/Imagn Images)

The last perfect DI basketball season has officially fallen, as USC phenom JuJu Watkins put up a historic performance to lead the No. 6 Trojans to a 71-60 win over then-undefeated No. 1 UCLA on Thursday.

Watkins finished the night with 38 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, and eight blocks, becoming the first DI player to register an overall stat-line so robust in 20 years.

"It took everything. It's been a rough couple weeks for me," Watkins said after the game, referencing uncharacteristic performances leading up to Thursday's rivalry matchup. "To be able to kind of snap back into it and get into my rhythm here at Galen versus UCLA, it's really all I could ask for."

"I'm really just like a kid out there and living out my dream."

Throughout the back-and-forth battle, Watkins's consistency made all the difference. She scored every one of USC's 14 second-quarter points, and helped lead a monster fourth quarter in which the Trojans slammed the door by outscoring the Bruins 24-8.

"I didn't teach JuJu any of that," commented USC head coach Lindsay Gottlieb after the game. "[I] just try to put her in situations to be her best self, and she does most of that work. What I was so impressed with tonight, obviously, was just the mentality she came out with."

With the marquee win, USC now sits firmly atop the Big Ten. That said, UCLA will have a chance to avenge the loss in the pair's March 1st rematch, when that final regular-season game could decide the conference title.

Until then, the Trojans will be riding high on their Thursday night dominance.

"We'll never forget this night," Gottlieb said. "It's as good as anything I've ever seen."

UConn star Paige Bueckers dribbles the ball during a game.
UConn takes on South Carolina on Sunday. (Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)

How to watch Top 10 NCAA basketball this weekend

With no undefeated teams left in DI basketball, Watkins's performance has put the field on notice to not make any assumptions about who might end up on top.

While Sunday will see USC roll against unranked Washington and UCLA try to bounce back against No. 22 Michigan State, the NCAA slate will also serve up two huge Top 10 matchups.

First, No. 7 UConn will take their final major regular-season test when they visit No. 4 South Carolina at 1 PM ET, when Paige Bueckers and the Huskies will aim to pull off a similarly impressive USC-inspired upset.

Then at 3 PM ET, No. 5 LSU heads to No. 3 Texas, where the Tigers will hunt their first win over the Longhorns in more than 22 years.

Both elite meetings are set to air live on ABC.

Pro Women’s Lacrosse League Debuts at WLL Championship Series

A promotional graphic for the WLL Championship Series.
The WLL played its first-ever pro games at this week's Lexus Championship Series. (ESPN)

The brand-new professional Women's Lacrosse League (WLL) made its official debut this week just outside of Washington, DC, where its first-ever game saw the New York Charging take down the Maryland Charm 14-13 in the WLL Championship Series.

After the inaugural Tuesday result, the action continued on Wednesday, when the California Palms opened their WLL account by getting the better of the Boston Guard in a tight 16-15 matchup.

Founded and run by the Premier Lacrosse League, the WLL fosters top-level competition as the sport gears up for its 2028 Olympic return.

The four-team WLL Championship Series follows an Olympic-style "sixes" format. Unlike traditional lacrosse, which uses a larger pitch and 10 athletes per team, sixes employs a condensed field with six players per side.

In the Championship Series, teams are first competing in three round-robin games to determine semifinal seedings. The tournament will culminate with the knockout semifinal and final rounds on Sunday and Monday, respectively.

Team USA lacrosse star Charlotte North gestures during a 2022 World Championship game.
Team USA star Charlotte North competes for the WLL's Boston Guard. (Ryan Hunt/Getty Images)

WLL looks to level up lacrosse ahead of 2028 Olympics

Despite the competition's quick turnaround, the WLL represents a growing professionalization movement in women's lacrosse — with all involved betting big on the sport's Olympic success in LA.

When lacrosse steps back onto the Olympic stage in 2028, it will have been 80 years since its last 1948 outing — and even then, it was merely a demonstration event. The last time the sport earned medals was in 1908.

Furthermore, the sport's entire Olympic history rests in the men's game — 2028 will see women take the Olympic lacrosse pitch for the first time ever.

"We are honored to be a part of the WLL, and we couldn't be more excited to bring this game to the fans in new ways than ever before," said Boston Guard star Charlotte North in a league statement.

"We firmly believe that this is the beginning of what will be a monumental movement in the game of professional women's lacrosse, and for female athletes around the globe.... It's our time."

Former Northwestern lacrosse star Izzy Scane shoots the ball during an NCAA game.
Izzy Scane, the NCAA DI lacrosse career scoring leader, plays for the New York Charging. (Greg Fiume/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

How to watch the WLL Championship Series

The tournament's round-robin play continues with the Maryland Charm facing off against the Boston guard at 9 PM ET on Thursday, before the California Palms contend with the New York Charging at 6 PM ET on Friday.

All WLL Championship Series games will stream live on ESPN+, with Sunday's and Monday's knockout rounds airing live on ESPN2.

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