The USWNT begins their 2024 Olympic campaign today, taking on Zambia in their first group stage match.
The team will be looking for a positive first result, before taking on Germany and then Australia in a fast and furious schedule kicking off in Nice before traveling west down the coast to Marseille.
The road to Olympic gold starts now
While eight of the 12 teams competing in the group stage will move on to the August 3rd quarterfinals — including two countries advancing on a third-place tiebreak — first week successes can dictate a path to the medal rounds.
"There's top footballing nations in this tournament. I don't think shocks in the women's game exist anymore — I think we have to reframe our focus a little bit and have respect for the rest of the world," US head coach Emma Hayes told the media this week.
"We've learned a lot and we've grown a lot," added USWNT forward Sophia Smith. "We're just looking at this tournament and not backwards because there's really no point in doing that."
Sizing up the USWNT's Olympic challengers
Hayes’s words could prove true from the jump. While FIFA world No. 92 Zambia weighs in as Group B's lowest-ranked team, they're definitely capable of setting the USWNT on their heels. This will be the first-ever meeting between the two nations, though Zambia has both Tokyo Olympics and 2023 World Cup experience under their belt.
Case and point? Starting striker Barbra Banda currently leads the NWSL's Golden Boot race, firmly placing herself in the MVP conversation while routinely going head-to-head with USWNT players.
"I know what a threat she can be," US defender Emily Fox said this week. "Their entire team is a threat, especially with their transition. But we're ready for it."
Hayes has emphasized cohesion from her starting group, indicating fans could see this afternoon's starting XI mirror the lineups utilized in the last two tune-up friendlies. The US defeated Mexico 1-0 before drawing Costa Rica 0-0 in their final two games before traveling to training camp in France.
Where to watch USWNT vs. Zambia
Today’s Olympic group stage match between the USWNT and Zambia kicks off at 3 PM ET with live coverage on NBC platforms.
A couple of marquee signings and one key absence highlight an eventful international break in the NWSL.
On Thursday, the Kansas City Current announced that star defender Gabrielle Robinson is out for the season with an ACL tear. Robinson, the only Current defender to start and play every minute of the team’s first 10 games, sustained the injury during the team’s 1-0 win over Utah.
"Gabby has been one of the league's best defenders this year and we are heartbroken for her," Current head coach Vlatko Andonovski said in a team release. "She has worked so hard to make an impact on our club. She has one of the best attitudes around this injury and we are confident she will make a full return as she tackles her recovery process with a positive attitude.
"Her teammates have been incredibly supportive, and we have talented players that will be able to step in during her absence."
The Current are one of just two undefeated teams left in the NWSL, sitting second behind the Orlando Pride. The Pride, running off an eight-game win streak, announced the signing of Zambian midfielder Grace Chanda on Thursday.
Her Zambia national team co-star Barbra Banda joined the Pride earlier this season, and currently tops the Golden Boot race with eight goals in seven games for Orlando. Chanda is set to join the Pride after the Summer Olympics.
Chanda played the last two years for Madrid CFF, making 28 appearances for the club. While she helped Zambia qualify for last summer’s Women's World Cup, she missed the tournament due to illness.
"I am extremely excited to join Orlando. It is a great club, where I will be able to play alongside amazing players, like Marta and Barbra," Chanda said in a statement. "This is a very important step in my life because I have always wanted to play in the NWSL, one of the best leagues in the world."
Also announcing a big-name pick-up is the Washington Spirit, who are set to add Manchester City defender Esme Morgan to the lineup.
Morgan made 53 appearances over her seven seasons with Manchester City, which included time spent on loan to Everton. A member of the England national team, she was named to the Women’s World Cup squad last summer.
Zambia had already pulled off the improbable.
During Friday’s friendly match against Germany, Zambia — ranked No. 77 in the world by FIFA — was leading 2-0 heading into stoppage time.
But Germany, World No. 2 and one of the favorites heading into the 2023 Women’s World Cup, wasn’t going down without a fight. Lea Schueller scored a header in the first minute of stoppage time to make it 2-1. Nine minutes later, German captain Alexandra Popp scored what seemed to be the equalizer.
But Barbra Banda, the breakout star of the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, had other plans. The Zambian captain capitalized on a poor throw-in from Germany’s Klara Buehl, out-sprinted her defender and launched the ball over German goalkeeper Merle Frohms.
Banda’s incredible goal — her second of the game — secured the 3-2 win for Zambia (video embedded below).
The win over Germany should give Zambia a confidence boost ahead of its first-ever Women’s World Cup appearance. Zambia will compete in Group C against Spain, Japan and Costa Rica.
Note: Following Friday’s World Cup send-off game, the Guardian reported that Zambian head coach Bruce Mwape has been accused of sexual misconduct and that the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) referred an investigation to FIFA. You can read more about this development here.
UNREAL FINISH
— Just Women’s Sports (@justwsports) July 7, 2023
World No. 77 Zambia STUNS No. 2 Germany ahead of the World Cup 🤯🇿🇲 pic.twitter.com/P9IuDPiMJ2
The head coach of Zambia’s national women’s soccer team, Bruce Mwape, is facing allegations of sexual misconduct less than two weeks before the 2023 Women’s World Cup begins.
The Guardian reported on Saturday that Mwape, who was appointed in 2018, and U17 women’s head coach Kaluba Kangwa have both been accused of sexual misconduct.
“If he [Mwape] wants to sleep with someone, you have to say yes,” an unnamed player told the Guardian. “It’s normal that the coach sleeps with the players in our team.”
Claims of sexual abuse by Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) employees were raised last year. In September 2022, the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) said it referred an investigation to FIFA and the police after allegations of sexual misconduct were made on social media, but did not disclose which or how many employees were under investigation.
“Although we have no record of official complaints from anyone on the allegations, we consider these allegations very serious and have opened an inquiry into the matter,” FAZ general secretary, Adrian Kashala, said at the time. “We shall collaborate with the Zambia Police Service and other relevant stakeholders in dealing with this matter.”
The Guardian reported that players have received threats of punishment if they spoke out about the alleged harassment.
In a statement to the Guardian, FIFA said it could not comment on ongoing investigations and that any information the ethics committee decides to share will be communicated at its discretion.
Just Women’s Sports also reached out to FIFA for comment on how the organization handles these types of investigations, what steps (if any) are taken to protect players from retaliation, and whether FIFA still plans to provide Mwape with a credential for the upcoming Women’s World Cup.
FIFA said the relevant representative was not immediately available to comment.
Zambia is making its Women’s World Cup debut this summer. In a World Cup tune-up match on Friday, Zambia, ranked 77th in the world, pulled off a major upset against No. 2 Germany thanks to an incredible stoppage time goal from captain Barbra Banda.
This is a developing story and will be updated accordingly.