Alex Morgan is the lone U.S. women’s national team player in the top 10 of EA Sports’ 2023 Women’s World Cup player ratings.

EA Sports will release a World Cup update for its popular FIFA 23 game at the end of June in preparation for the tournament, which kicks off on July 20 in Australia and New Zealand. Australia’s Sam Kerr, Spain’s Alexia Putellas and Norway’s Caroline Graham Hansen take the top three spots ahead of Morgan.

While no other USWNT star ranks in the top 10, the reigning World Cup champions count 12 players in the top 100 — though only 10 of those players are included on the World Cup roster. USWNT captain Becky Sauerbrunn and star forward Mallory Swanson both will miss the tournament with injuries.

Among the players who will make the trip Down Under, 22-year-old forward Sophia Smith comes behind Morgan at No. 14 overall, followed by midfielders Rose Lavelle and Lindsey Horan. Then comes Megan Rapinoe, Alyssa Naeher, Aubrey Kingsbury, Trinity Rodman, Casey Murphy and Kelley O’Hara.

Germany features the most players in the top 100 with 17 overall, though the team’s highest ranked player Alexandra Popp sits at No. 16 overall. England has 14 players in the top 100, while France has 13.

Still, the USWNT came out on top in the FIFA 23 simulation of the World Cup tournament, which saw the United States best Germany 4-2 in the championship match to claim the virtual three-peat.

FIFA 23 World Cup player ratings

Top 10 overall:

  1. Sam Kerr, Australia – 91
  2. Alexia Putellas, Spain – 91
  3. Caroline Graham Hansen, Norway – 90
  4. Alex Morgan, United States – 90
  5. Ada Hegerberg, Norway – 90
  6. Wendie Renard, France – 90
  7. Lucy Bronze, England – 90
  8. *Marie-Antoinette Katoto – 89
  9. Irene Paredes, Spain – 88
  10. Guro Reiten, Norway – 88

USWNT players in top 100:

  • 4. Alex Morgan, forward – 90
  • 14. Sophia Smith, forward – 87
  • 23. Rose Lavelle, midfielder – 87
  • 24. *Mallory Swanson, forward – 87
  • 26. Lindsey Horan, midfielder – 86
  • 33. *Becky Sauerbrunn, defender – 86
  • 35. Megan Rapinoe, forward – 86
  • 52. Alyssa Naeher, goalkeeper – 84
  • 58. Aubrey Kingsbury, goalkeeper – 84
  • 68. Trinity Rodman, forward – 83
  • 86. Casey Murphy, goalkeeper – 83
  • 92. Kelley O’Hara, defender – 83

The U.S. women’s national team will head to the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand without a number of big names.

Longtime captain Becky Sauerbrunn, veteran forward Christen Press and young star Mallory Pugh Swanson are among the major absences from the squad due to injuries.

Becky Sauerbrunn

Sauerbrunn is missing what would have been her fourth World Cup due to a foot injury she suffered in April, as first reported by The Athletic. She later confirmed the news, writing that “heartbroken isn’t even the half of it.”

While she “hoped and worked and hoped” to make it back in time for the tournament, there ultimately was “too much variability in my return to play timeline,” she wrote. With 216 USWNT appearances, Sauerbrunn has the most experience of any veteran player on the USWNT. But she has faith in her teammates.

“To my teammates, I love you,” she wrote. “Please, take a minute to enjoy this moment and appreciate everything that brought you here—every second of hard work and every bit of good luck—and then get back to work and go win the whole f*cking thing!”

Mallory Swanson

Mallory Swanson tore her patella tendon in her left knee during the April friendlies against Ireland, which has left her out of the 2023 World Cup. While she had a successful surgery shortly after the injury, she has a long road to recovery ahead of her.

There haven’t been many updates on Swanson’s status since then, although she has been a supporter on the sidelines at Chicago Red Stars matches.

Abby Dahlkemper

Abby Dahlkemper has yet to return to the pitch after telling fans in February via TikTok that she had undergone back surgery in December. She had surgery to target sciatic nerve pain that had been impacting her left leg during the 2022 NWSL season.

“It turns out that I had a cyst and bone fragments hitting my nerve roots, so it was very much needed,” she said. As of February, her bones had already begun to fuse, which her doctor told her put her ahead of schedule. Back in May, Dahlkemper posted photos of her on the pitch, although she still remains out with her injury.

Sam Mewis

Star midfielder and the former No. 1 player in the world Sam Mewis has been out since August 2021 after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on her right knee that was originally meant to keep her out six to eight weeks. In January, she announced that she had undergone another surgery on that same knee.

“I’ll be starting my rehab at home where my family can support me,” she wrote. “I gave everything I had after my last procedure in 2021. This has been a really difficult time for me personally and I’ve been devastated to be away from soccer for so long.”

Mewis has no timeline for her return to soccer, and she’s not expected to play in the NWSL this season.

Catarina Macario

One of the USWNT’s top midfielders, Catarina Macario tore her ACL last June while playing for UWCL team Olympique Lyonnais. In May, she announced that she “won’t be physically ready for selection,” after a lengthy rehab process. It confirmed what had been speculation for some time, as the injury recovery took longer than expected.

As of mid-April she had remained sidelined even from training. She recently signed with Chelsea, however, and that deal was contingent on a medical evaluation.

Tobin Heath

One of the more senior members of the USWNT, Tobin Heath hasn’t suited up for the red, white and blue since October 2021. Throughout 2022 she struggled with injuries, including a hamstring injury that ended her season with Arsenal. She later joined OL Reign, appearing in five matches, before once again being sidelined with an injury.

She underwent season-ending knee surgery in September 2022 and has been seen doing limited training. In February, Andonovski said that Heath was “absolutely” still under consideration for World Cup selection and was up for selection in April.

Christen Press

Star forward Christen Press has undergone a “unique journey” in her recovery since tearing her ACL last June. Back in March, she revealed on Instagram that she had undergone three knee surgeries in the span of eight months on the same knee. Still, she remained optimistic about her World Cup hopes and had recently been seen back in cleats and training with Angel City.

There is, however, still hope for Press to return to the NWSL this season.

U.S. women’s national team star forward Mallory Swanson has provided an update on her recent patellar tendon tear.

Swanson, who tore the tendon in her left knee during Saturday’s 2-0 win over Ireland, revealed Tuesday that she had a successful surgery that morning.

“This is hard. I’m in shock and don’t have much to say other than, thank you to everyone for the messages. I feel the love and prayers, and holding them close to my heart,” she wrote. “Surgery this morning was a success. I’m thankful for my trainers, doctors, coaches, and teammates for their help throughout this process.

“The beauty out of all of this, is that God is always good. He’s got me and always has.”

The day proved for both members of the Swanson family, as Mallory’s husband Dansby had to exit the Chicago Cubs’ comeback win over the Seattle Mariners due to exhaustion. He woke up at 4 a.m. Tuesday to accompany Mallory and her mom to the hospital, spending most of the day there before reporting for the game at Wrigley Field.

“Realistically I felt like my body was just kind of done,” he said after the game. “I felt like doing anything more probably would have put me in harm’s way. It felt like the night was over for me, pretty simple. I probably haven’t eaten or slept or drank enough water the past few days, so already getting fluids in me and taking care of myself.”

Still, there is a silver lining for the Swanson family.

“Glad we can be here together — I can’t imagine being apart right now,” Dansby Swanson said. “Everybody knows it’s a pretty tough and heartbreaking situation for her. I’m heartbroken for her. Just a lot of tears and sadness.

“Two things can be true at the same time: It can stink, and we can be sad and upset. We can also understand God’s bigger picture and plans and everything. … It’s just a sad time and we’ll get through it together.”

Of course, surgery to a patellar tendon typically takes around six months to recover, putting Swanson’s status for the World Cup – which begins in three months – in jeopardy.

And for USWNT coach Vlatko Andonovski, a player like Swanson will be difficult to replace so soon before the World Cup. The team had been building around both Swanson and Sophia Smith’s attacking power, he says, so now decisions have to be made.

“With losing Mal [Swanson], conceptually we may look slightly different,” he said. “Now with Mal not being there, we’re going to have to make a decision. What are we going to go for? Like for like and try the same way? Or is Mal going to be replaced by a group of players?

“We’re going to change that as we go forward, from game to game. It’s hard for me to answer this question right at this moment but once camp is over and we review it, we hope to have a little better answer or at least a clear understanding of the direction that we want to take.”

On Saturday, the unthinkable happened. Months away from the 2023 World Cup, the U.S. women’s national team lost a locked-in starter when Mallory Swanson went down with a torn patella tendon in her left knee late in the first half of the team’s friendly against the Republic of Ireland.

There’s never a good time for a long-term injury, but the twist of fate that befell Swanson’s planted leg is devastating not only for a young U.S. team looking to battle for its third straight World Cup trophy, but also for a player who had worked her way back into the starting lineup through determination and skill. The timeline for Swanson’s return hasn’t been officially confirmed, but the severity of the injury makes it all but certain she will miss this summer’s World Cup.

Because of the short timeline, there’s very little room to dwell on what might have been. The U.S. has one friendly left on Tuesday night before naming the 23-player roster for the 2023 World Cup, and now they have to evaluate a starting role that head coach Vlatko Andonovski hadn’t anticipated opening up.

Replacing the irreplaceable

In many ways, Swanson is irreplaceable. The 24-year-old has World Cup experience to draw on and was in the form of her life before Saturday’s injury. Swanson had scored a towering seven goals for the USWNT in 2023 alone, and her confidence on the ball in front of goal had never been higher as she grew into a well-rounded playmaker.

She’d also been taking steps into a leadership role while playing for the Chicago Red Stars, her NWSL club. Last November, she spurred the USWNT’s comeback against Germany that saved the team from a historic losing streak. Her off-the-ball defensive work rate is one of the highest on the national team, and she provides relief for the outside back who plays behind her by shutting down lanes on the left flank.

Another underrated element of Swanson’s absence is the loss of her dead-ball ability, which she had been quietly honing with the Red Stars. Swanson’s corner kick delivery was consistent, and she was becoming more clinical from the penalty spot. With Megan Rapinoe no longer a likely starter, Swanson’s skill on set pieces was an asset the U.S. increasingly relied upon.

Finally, Swanson was an incredibly durable player before the contact injury that will now sideline her for some time. The U.S. finds ways to rotate players, but Andonovski’s preferred wingers — Swanson and Sophia Smith — were expected to carry a heavy minutes load throughout the World Cup. Even when rotating in younger talent like Trinity Rodman or Alyssa Thompson, or a veteran like Rapinoe, the U.S. is going to have to account for subbing patterns that would have been unnecessary with Swanson available.

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Trinity Rodman is the most likely starting replacement for Swanson on the left wing. (Erin Chang/USSF/Getty Images)

U.S. winger depth can absolutely step up

If there is any silver lining for the USWNT with such little time to adjust, it’s that winger is one of the team’s deepest positions. When Swanson originally had to leave Saturday’s match, she was replaced by Rodman, who has repeatedly proven herself in a USWNT jersey.

The 18-year-old Thompson replaced Swanson on the U.S. roster for the second game against Ireland, and Andonovski told reporters she’ll get time in Tuesday’s game. Thompson has all the tools to be one of the next great American wingers, as shown by the goals she’s already scored at the professional level with Angel City. But her opportunity on the biggest stage might be coming sooner than expected, and it’s up to the coaching staff to make sure she isn’t placed under too much pressure before she is ready.

Finally, the largest presence looming over the position is that of Rapinoe, who was fit enough to join the team for the SheBelieves Cup before being left off the April roster with a lingering calf injury. Rapinoe’s fitness has ebbed and flowed throughout the last year, but when healthy, she has provided a calm veteran presence and a spark off the bench for the U.S. in important games. Andonovski’s original vision for Rapinoe was as a mentor working in tandem with Swanson as a starter, a luxury the team no longer has.

Rodman is well on her way to having the right balance of off-the-ball tenacity and on-the-ball skill to step up in Swanson’s absence, but the reality for Andonovski is it might take a combination of three possible replacements to adequately make up for his lost star. Rapinoe is the dead-ball expert, Rodman is the connective playmaker, and Thompson is the speedy striker with an ability to run at defenses.

Striking the proper balance and making the right roster decisions could be the difference between the U.S. weathering the storm for the World Cup and failing to adapt after a run of terrible injury luck.

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

With three months until the 2023 Women’s World Cup, Mallory Swanson’s status is unclear. The USWNT star suffered a torn patella tendon in her left knee during during Saturday’s friendly against the Republic of Ireland, U.S. Soccer announced on Sunday.

As the first half of Saturday’s friendly was nearing a close, Swanson collided with Ireland’s Aoife Mannion. She grabbed her left knee as she fell to the ground and immediately signaled for assistance. As she was stretchered off the field, she clapped her hands several times as the crowd chanted her name.

Earlier in the first half, Swanson was briefly taken off the pitch after she collided with the knee of Irish keeper Courtney Brosnan.

Per U.S. Soccer, Swanson has returned to Chicago for further evaluation. Alyssa Thompson was named to the USWNT roster in Swanson’s place ahead of Tuesday’s second friendly against Ireland.

Swanson’s recovery timeline is currently unclear, but the injury could be devastating for the USWNT’s hopes of winning a fifth World Cup title this summer. Swanson leads the USWNT in scoring in 2023, with seven goals so far this year. Alex Morgan and Rose Lavelle are next on the list, with two goals each.

Also in Saturday’s friendly, Julie Ertz made her competitive return after 611 days away from the USWNT. After the Tokyo Olympics, Ertz took time away due to injury, and then gave birth to her son in August 2022. Andonovski has said that Ertz needs to sign with a club team in order to be considered for the World Cup roster.

The San Diego Wave kicked off the 2023 NWSL season in dramatic fashion.  Competing in front more than 30,000 fans at Snapdragon Stadium, Alex Morgan converted a penalty in the 89th minute to secure a 3-2 win against the Chicago Red Stars.

The Wave’s home crowd of 30,854 broke the record for largest NWSL home opener, previously set by the Orlando Pride (23,403) in 2016.

“30,000 in the stands just kept us going,” Morgan said while walking a post-game victory lap. “Just to win in our first game, feel good going into the season, there’s no better feeling. Hopefully we get 30,000 fans next game.”

The Chicago Red Stars got on the board first with an 18th minute goal from Yuki Nagasato, but the Wave equalized quickly thanks to this Amirah Ali header (video below).

The two teams headed to halftime tied 2-2 after 18-year-old Jaedyn Shaw scored for the Wave off a corner kick. Mallory Swanson (née Pugh) then equalized for the Red Stars on a penalty (video below).

The second half was scoreless until Red Stars defender Arin Wright was called for a handball and San Diego was awarded a penalty. Alex Morgan tucked the ball just inside the left post, just out of the reach of USWNT teammate Alyssa Naeher.

The 2023 NWSL is shaping up to be one of the most competitive yet, as a new wave of talent enters the league. With the 2023 World Cup taking place in the middle of the NWSL season, expect top internationals to step up their game prior to the tournament and underrated teammates to emerge in their absence.

Let’s take a look at who seems poised for a career year in 2023, as availability ebbs and flows around the international calendar. These are my predictions for the top team and individual awards this NWSL season.

Rookie of the Year: Alyssa Thompson, Angel City FC

Competition for this award will be fierce, with the first two 2023 draft picks — Thompson and Kansas City’s Michelle Cooper — likely to see a fair amount of playing time and a number of late-round gems looking strong in preseason. This award went to a defender last year in San Diego’s Naomi Girma, so I anticipate it swinging back around to an attacker in 2023.

Thompson is the easy choice due to her high-profile entry into the NWSL. The No. 1 pick should have the opportunity to produce as a bigger part of Angel City’s attack due to the injuries they’re carrying along their frontline.

Dark-horse candidate: Messiah Bright, Orlando Pride

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(Harry How/Getty Images)

Defender of the Year: Sarah Gorden, Angel City FC

Sarah Gorden’s return to an NWSL defense is going to feel like a breath of fresh air after a season lost to an ACL tear. The center back plays her position with a freedom of spacing thanks to her blistering speed, which allows her to push forward in distribution while also making key recovery runs. Angel City might need positional flexibility from Gorden as they settle on their defensive personnel at center and outside back, and she’ll take the opportunity and run with it.

Dark-horse candidate: Tierna Davidson, Chicago Red Stars (if she doesn’t make the USWNT roster)

Goalkeeper of the Year: Bella Bixby, Portland Thorns

Kailen Sheridan deservedly won this award last year, but with the Canadian goalkeeper likely absent during the World Cup period, other top performers could rise to the occasion. Bixby has been a consistent presence for the reigning champion Thorns, but sometimes gets overlooked due to the excellence of her backline. If the Thorns make another run at the NWSL Shield, Bixby could finally get some of the individual attention befitting her performances.

Dark-horse candidate: Abby Smith, Gotham FC

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(Jamie Sabau/USA TODAY Sports)

Coach of the Year: Casey Stoney, San Diego Wave

Stoney won Coach of the Year in 2022, and there’s very little reason to think she’d give up the title in 2023. The Wave have constructed their roster to be able to withstand pressure from opponents and take the next step toward controlling tempo and evolving their style of play in Year 2. Stoney also has the challenge of dealing with World Cup absences. If the Wave can both produce top internationals and stay close in the Shield race, expect Stoney to have this one locked up.

Dark-horse candidate: Seb Hines, Orlando Pride

Golden Boot: Mallory Swanson, Chicago Red Stars

Swanson will likely miss a number of games for the World Cup, but with the way she is playing so far this year, it might not matter in the Golden Boot race. Swanson has had the task of being Chicago’s primary goal-scorer and playmaker in recent seasons, notching 11 goals and eight assists in 2022. This season, the Red Stars will rely on her once again as their attacking engine. If she can stay healthy, the clinical finishing she’s been showcasing with the U.S. women’s national team could put her on top.

Dark-horse candidate: Ebony Salmon, Houston Dash

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(Craig Mitchelldyer/USA TODAY Sports)

MVP: Sam Coffey, Portland Thorns

A defensive midfielder has never won NWSL MVP, but if there was ever a year to break the mold, it would be 2023. Coffey has found herself on the outside of the USWNT midfield bubble for this summer’s World Cup, and players who have just missed out on an international opportunity have thrived in the past. In fact, if the U.S. struggles in the midfield on the international stage, Coffey’s excellence at the league level might be thrown into sharp contrast, garnering the attention her position sometimes lacks.

Dark-horse candidate: Midge Purce, Gotham FC

Challenge Cup champion: Orlando Pride

The winner of the Challenge Cup should be a squad best set up to withstand World Cup absences, and the Pride might just fit that bill. Orlando has been in a strategic rebuild over the last few offseasons, and the team’s up-and-coming talent should have significant playing time under their belts by the middle of the regular season. While NWSL Shield contenders have to manage more rotations, teams with their core intact might be able to snag the first Cup of the year.

Dark-horse candidate: Angel City FC

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OL Reign's Jess Fishlock and Laura Harvey (Ira L. Black - Corbis/Getty Images)

NWSL Shield: OL Reign

The Reign play some of the most intricate soccer in the NWSL, and they suffered no real loss of talent over the offseason. The 2022 Shield winners still have room to grow as a squad, including integrating their frontline into the smothering possession-based style of their midfield. They’ll also have to be versatile in handling international absences mid-season, but the Shield rewards consistency, and the Reign are the most consistent club in the league under coach Laura Harvey.

Dark-horse candidate: San Diego Wave

NWSL Champion: Kansas City Current

Unlike the NWSL Shield, winning the NWSL Championship is about peaking at the right time. It might take the Current a few months to begin to gel after an offseason of intense roster reshuffling, but if they can ride the wave of World Cup returners into their best run of form, they’ll be difficult to break down in the postseason. Head coach Matt Potter now has NWSL final experience and should have the tactical ability to keep his group versatile enough to solve any problem.

Dark-horse candidate: Portland Thorns

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

The U.S. women’s national team remains unbeaten in 2023 and in the SheBelieves Cup with a 1-0 win Sunday against Japan in Nashville.

The match presented a different challenge from Thursday’s 2-0 win against an exhausted Canada side. Japan came out with its foot on the gas, putting the USWNT defense to work.

But despite controlling much of the game in the first half, Japan couldn’t find the back of the net. Then, right before halftime, Mallory Swanson struck once again, scoring her sixth goal in four games and her third of the SheBelieves Cup.

Her scoring streak reached five consecutive matches, the longest such streak of her career. Swanson was named Woman of the Match for the game-changing play.

She was assisted by Alex Morgan on the goal, marking Morgan’s 49th career assist which ties for 10th on the USWNT’s all-time list.

The team is back in action for the final game of the tournament against Brazil on Wednesday.

Mallory Swanson is doing pretty well for herself for the U.S. women’s national team to start 2023. In just three games this year, she has five total goals, including two in the USWNT’s 2-0 win Thursday against Canada.

“She’s just feeling it,” said head coach Vlatko Andonovski after the victory to open the SheBelieves Cup.

“She’s in the moment,” he continued. “She’s not just confident and playing well. It’s one of those things where you’re just feeling it. And she’s feeling it. That’s the simplest way I can put it.”

It didn’t take Swanson long to find the back of the net, as she opened the scoring in the game’s seventh minute. She would add another goal in the 34th minute to help the team take a 2-0 lead into the locker room at the half.

“I don’t know if I would say that’s what I expect, but that’s what I want from her every game,” Andonovski said. “Two goals, what else is there to say? And it’s not just the two goals. Her flair in the game, she just makes it look easy. Every time I watch her play — in games and in training — she makes me feel like I can go back and play this game. That’s how easy it looks.”

The scoring surge continues a triumphant return for the 24-year-old forward, who was left off of the Tokyo Olympics roster in 2021. She’s said in the past that the snub helped her find her game again, and that has shown in the first months of this crucial World Cup year.

Swanson and the USWNT will be back in action at 3:30 p.m. ET Sunday against Japan.

“Start fast.”

The U.S. women’s national team entered its opening match of the SheBelieves Cup guided by that directive, Mallory Pugh Swanson revealed at halftime.

Swanson delivered, striking first in the seventh minute and then adding another in the 34th to lead the USWNT to a 2-0 win against rival Canada at Exploria Stadium in Orlando. Florida. The 24-year-old forward has six goals in her last four games for the national team.

Her first goal came off an assist from Alex Morgan, who made her 200th appearance for the USWNT in the victory.

For her second goal, Swanson darted into the box to intercept an ill-placed pass from Canada, then slammed the ball into the back of the net.

The USWNT showed high energy from the opening whistle, a welcome sign as the team continues to prepare for the World Cup.

For the Canada women’s national team, though, the match capped a draining week. The squad is embroiled in a labor dispute with its national federation and is playing the round-robin tournament under protest.

The best chance for Canada came from Janine Beckie at the very end of the first half. The shot required a diving stop from USWNT goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, who made the save and recorded her second shutout of 2023.

Claire Watkins’ top takeaways

Our staff writer Claire Watkins provides her breakdown of the USWNT’s victory. Follow her on Twitter @ScoutRipley and subscribe to the JWS newsletter for more.

The USWNT started off the SheBelieves Cup with a bang, defeating rival Canada 2-0 with two first-half goals from Mallory Swanson.

  • Swanson continued her scintillating form, scoring off of the U.S.’s high press for her fourth and fifth goals of 2023 in just three games.
  • The first goal came after a sequence started by Trinity Rodman and assisted by Alex Morgan, and the second off a slow back-pass by Canada defender Vanessa Gilles.

Center back Naomi Girma joined Rose Lavelle on the bench with a knock to her right leg, and Ashley Sanchez got the start in the attacking midfield.

  • Emily Fox and Crystal Dunn started at outside back, with Fox switching to the right side of the pitch.
  • Trinity Rodman got an extended look at the right wing, creating chances and switching the point of attack in the second half.

Canada looked somewhat mentally depleted after spending the week in conflict with their federation.

  • The reigning Olympic gold medalists only registered three shots on goal, forcing Alyssa Naeher into one good save in first-half stoppage time.

Bottom line: Canada can be forgiven for a certain amount of mental fatigue, but the U.S. came into the SheBelieves Cup with an intensity that matches their ambition to win the whole thing.