The USWNT gutted out a win on Wednesday night over Canada, but the real story of the night was the game’s playing conditions.
The first half of the game featured a pitch that was borderline unplayable, with rain creating significant puddles on the pitch. At points, it was impossible for the ball to move, and players could be seen wringing out their jerseys, while others slid across the pitch in an attempt to make a tackle.
Jaedyn Shaw's opening goal for the US was essentially assisted by a puddle.
JAEDYN SHAW RIDING THE STORMMMM 🔥🤩 pic.twitter.com/0gq2tkR2sa
— Attacking Third (@AttackingThird) March 7, 2024
A number of the game’s biggest stars called for the match to be postponed due to the playing conditions.
“Call the game. Don’t wait another minute,” wrote Lauren Holiday, while Sam Mewis questioned why players were being put in potentially unsafe situations.
Why are the players being put in this situation? No chance these are safe playing conditions.
— Samantha Mewis (@sammymewy) March 7, 2024
Similarly, Julie Foudy called it “insane” and noted that "if ball can't roll, they typically call match."
San Diego Wave head coach Casey Stoney called the pitch “dangerous” and called on Concacaf to “make the right call for player safety.” Three of her players – Alex Morgan, Jaedyn Shaw and Naomi Girma – started in the match for the USWNT. The NWSL season is set to kick off on March 16.
So dangerous!! Make the right call for player safety! https://t.co/Cu5EJY8Jjx
— Casey Stoney MBE 💙 (@CaseyStoney) March 7, 2024
Postgame, both coaches and players discussed the conditions of the match.
"It's obvious that the game was unplayable," Canada coach Bev Priestman said. "We put in a lot of work in a game plan and within minute one, it's thrown out the window. … What I feel most concerned about is the players’ [safety] … I think the pitch, it changed the game."
Even still, Priestman acknowledged that the waterlogged pitch impacted both sides.
"I'm not going to make excuses as to was it fair, was it unfair," Priestman said. "We played the game in front of us. Both teams had to play on the conditions, and it was who could adapt the most."
USWNT captain Lindsey Horan was visibly upset by the conditions, at one point even approaching the referee in the first half to talk about the pitch. But the two sides played on, and postgame Horan criticized the conditions while also applauding her team’s effort.
"A little bit of frustration for me, it's not a day that you can play football,” she said. “It’s really unfortunate but at the end of the day me and [Canada WNT captain] Jessie [Fleming] were just like we gotta move forward and we gotta play. It is what it is and we played on.”
Sophia Smith, who had a goal and converted on a penalty kick, said that the conditions in the first half were “a little bit unplayable.”
When asked whether or not the game should have continued, USWNT interim head coach Twila Kilgore said “probably not.”
“But those decisions aren't my decisions,” she continued, “and if the referees make those decisions and the game goes on, it's our job to figure out how to win.”
At the half, Concacaf issued a statement on the conditions saying: “It is solely at the discretion of the referee as to whether the field is safe and playable.”
But others, including Christina Unkel, who is a referee and CBS Sports contributor, refuted that idea.
"Technically and practically, by law, it is always in the ultimate decision of the referee to make that decision," Unkel told CBS Sports' broadcast. "That being said, practically speaking, there is a match commissioner at each of these Concacaf matches, and as we saw within the first early minutes of this [W Gold Cup semi] game, the referee went and demonstrated that the ball was not in fact rolling when she went over to near the fourth official station, which is where the match commissioner stands.
"I want to be very, very clear: It was very clear from her demonstrative showing that she does not necessarily think this is a safe condition but is being told to continue this match by that match commissioner."
