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USWNT V NED: Three Things We Learned

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On Friday, the Netherlands took on the United States in a rematch of the 2019 World Cup final. The Dutch have had several matches over the past couple international breaks as they have been competing for a spot at the 2022 UEFA European Women’s Championship. On October 23rd, they were able to secure qualification after a 7-0 win over Estonia.

Unlike their opponents, the USWNT have not had an abundance of opportunities to play together in 2020. Their last match was back in March; a 3-1 win against Japan in the SheBelieves Cup — the final football tournament to be held in America before all professional sports across the country shut down due to the pandemic.

Even though the USWNT have not played in eight months, they outclassed the Dutch in pretty much every department, with scores from Rose Lavelle and Kristie Mewis leading to a 2-0 win. (You can read a full recap of the game here.)

The match revealed quite a bit about the current state of both teams, and what to expect as they move into the new year.

Here are three things that we learned from the USWNT’s win.

1. The USWNT are still the best team in the world 

With all the time off, especially compared to their opponents, it would have been expected for the USWNT to be rusty. Moreover, this was only head coach Vlatko Andonovski’s 11th game in charge after Jill Ellis stepped down following five years in charge.

However, the team were comfortably able to outmatch and compete against an almost full-strength Dutch team.

It took some time for the USWNT to find fluidity in their attack, but the press was relentless, and the Dutch barely had a say in the happenings of the match. Once the first 20 minutes seemed to pass, the American attack appeared to gain confidence, and after Lavelle finally opened up the scoring in the 41st minute, it looked like the Netherlands were in for a long night, despite only being down one at the half. The USWNT would go on to register 11 shots throughout the match, with six of them being on target.

It isn’t just their attack that makes America the best team in the world. Defensively, the Dutch barely got a sniff, despite having proven goal-scorers in Barcelona’s Lieke Martens and Arsenal’s Jill Roord in the starting eleven, and VfL Wolfsburg’s Shanice van de Sanden coming off the bench. The back four of Crystal Dunn, Becky Sauerbrunn, Abby Dahlkemper, and Kelley O’Hara excelled in limiting the chances and shots of their opponents, but more on the Dutch’s lackluster attack in a second.

In terms of the midfield, the trio of Sam Mewis, Lavelle, and Julie Ertz have constantly shown up and performed for the national team, and this match was no different. They are the perfect trio in terms of versatility, with each of them having a distinct role to play. Ertz did her part as a defensive midfielder, sniffing out any attacking threat from the Netherlands, which gave Mewis and Lavelle the freedom to bomb forward and threaten Netherland’s defense alongside the USWNT’s front three.

Finally, what makes the USWNT the best team in the world today is their depth. With players like Kristie Mewis, Alex Morgan, Midge Purce, and Sophia Smith (in her first appearance for the team) coming off the bench and immediately contributing, the U.S. can rest assured that that if they ever have injury problems, or just need a new gameplan, there is little to no drop off in the quality of their substitutes.

Kristie Mewis punctuated this point when she came off the bench to score the second goal of the night.

2. The Dutch desperately missed Vivianne Miedema

Despite the USWNT going into this match as the clear favorites, the Dutch are no team to scoff at. They were runner-ups at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, and were the 2017 champions of the UEFA Women’s Euro’s. And though they lost 2-0 against the USWNT in the World Cup final as well, that match was much more balanced then the one that took place on Friday.

The glaring omission in the friendly was the absence of Vivianne Miedema, who had to pull out of international duty due to a hip injury.

Miedema is considered one of the best players in the world, and a taliswoman for her country. For Arsenal this season in the FAWSL, she’s had 12 goal contributions (10 goals, and 2 assists), and on October 18th, became the first to score 50 WSL goals, overtaking Nikita Parris’ all-time league record of 49.

The Netherlands were missing a superstar playing at the peak of her powers, and it showed. Against the U.S., the Dutch only registered two shots on goal, and both were off the target.

Despite having more possession (62% vs 38%), the Dutch really struggled to get the ball into the box, and while credit to the USWNT’s defence is due, without Miedema, Holland lost their main target and their best finisher. They were unable to form coherent attacking plays, and were often stuck with the ball in their own half, or on the flanks of the pitch in the final third.

It is unclear how serious Miedema’s hip injury is, and the hope for the Dutch is that it is not a long term injury that keeps her out for the upcoming 2021 Olympics.

3. The competition within the USWNT is at an all-time high — and big names will be cut for the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo

The Olympics are set to start on July 23rd, 2021, after being postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, unlike the FIFA Women’s World Cup, which has a limit of 23 players per final squad, the Olympics has a cap of 18. As mentioned before, the USWNT has amazing strength in their depth, and that means that several players who may be deserving of a call-up won’t get one.

There have not yet been any set USWNT matches scheduled from now until the Olympics, but with a training camp scheduled in January, the SheBelieves Cup in February, as well as some friendlies expected to happen, Andonovski will have lots of time to narrow down a selection. This USWNT squad is so talented, it’s only inevitable that big names and fan favorites will have to be cut in order to fit the 18-player limit.

Christen Press back training with Angel City FC

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 15: Christen Press #23 of Angel City FC waves to fans following a game between the Portland Thorns and Angel City FC at BMO Stadium on October 15, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katharine Lotze/Getty Images)

Christen Press continues to inch her way back to a return, having returned to training with the team. 

Angel City coach Becki Tweed said on Wednesday that Press is back with the team full-time as she continues to make her way back from an ACL injury. While she’s still working on rehab, her being back with the team gives staff a better picture of her progress. 

"Christen [Press] is back with us full time which is amazing,” she said. “Having her in and around the team every day, continuing to work hard on rehab ... she's in a space where being in with the team is really important to her and her progression as well.”

The status update comes days after Press posted videos to social media that featured her doing lateral movement in cleats on grass. 

“Look out world she’s on the move !” Press captioned it. 

Press has been sidelined with an ACL injury since 2022, which caused her to miss the 2023 World Cup. She’s since had four separate surgeries to help repair her ACL. Press told The Athletic a month ago that she’s been “relentless” in her optimism with her recovery despite it being a “slow process.”

“I have a bit of relentless optimism,” she told The Athletic. “I never, ever doubted that I would make it back on any of the timelines I’ve been on. Every single time I’ve heard, ‘You have to have surgery,’ I’m completely shocked,” she said. “When somebody asks me how it’s going, I’m like, ‘It’s going great. And it was going great every time. So I don’t know what to tell you anymore!’”

Sophia Smith re-signs with Portland on record deal

(Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports)

Sophia Smith is now the NWSL’s highest-paid player. 

The Portland Thorns announced on Wednesday that they have signed Smith to a new contract through the 2025 season, with an option for 2026. While the terms of the deal were not disclosed, the team did reveal that Smith is now the highest-paid player in the league on an annual basis.

It’s the latest in what has been a series of record-breaking contracts in the NWSL offseason. 

Chicago Red Stars forward Mallory Swanson, Bay FC forward Racheal Kundananji, and Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda all signed multi-year deals worth between $2 million and $2.5 million in total. While Smith’s contract is shorter and not worth as much over the long-term, the annual worth is higher. 

“We are over the moon to have Soph commit again to the Thorns. She is a proven, world-class talent and one that we are excited to have contribute to the team’s continued success,” said head coach Mike Norris in a statement. “We look forward to working with her in a Thorns jersey as she continues to shine as one of the top strikers in the world.”

In just four seasons in the NWSL, Smith has led the Thorns to five trophies – including the 2022 NWSL championship – while winning league and championship MVP in 2022. In 61 appearances with Portland, she has 34 goals – including a brace to start this season against Kansas City. 

She’s also a member of the USWNT, having scored 16 goals in 44 international appearances.  Set to become a free agent at the end of this season, she told ESPN she “thought of all the options” but ultimately Portland felt like the right decision.

"There is no place like Portland," Smith said in a small roundtable interview that included ESPN. "I don't believe there's an environment like Portland to play in and it's a city that's so special to me and a city that I feel like I've grown up in almost and become who I am."

She also told ESPN that the team’s new ownership “changes everything.” The club is now led by the Bhathal family, who bought the club after Merritt Paulson was forced to sell it following his part in the NWSL’s abuse scandal. 

"Since I've been here there has been a lot of things going on with this club -- a lot of not-great things going on with this club -- and I have just been waiting for some stability and some reassurance that this club is headed in the right direction, and the Bhathal family coming in is doing exactly that, if not more,” Smith said. 

"Their vision for this club is so exciting, and you can just tell how passionate they are about making this what it should be and continuing to push the standard in women's soccer globally.”

Caitlin Clark offered $5 million to compete in Ice Cube’s league

IOWA CITY, IOWA- MARCH 25: Guard Caitlin Clark #22 of the Iowa Hawkeyes celebrates as time runs out in the second half against the West Virginia Mountaineers during their second round match-up in the 2024 NCAA Division 1 Women's Basketball Championship at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on March 25, 2024 in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)

Caitlin Clark has been offered $5 million to play in Ice Cube's Big3 league, he confirmed on social media Wednesday after the offer leaked.

"We intended the offer to remain private while Caitlin Clark plays for the championship," Ice Cube wrote on social media. "But I won't deny what's now already out there: BIG3 made a historic offer to Caitlin Clark. Why wouldn't we? Caitlin is a generational athlete who can achieve tremendous success in the BIG3."

While there has yet to be a women's player in the league, both Nancy Lieberman and Lisa Leslie have been part of the league as coaches and won championships.

"The skeptics laughed when we made Nancy Lieberman the first female coach of a men's pro team, and she won the championship in her first year," Ice Cube continued. "Then Lisa Leslie won it all in year two. With our offer, Caitlin Clark can make history and break down even more barriers for women athletes."

Ice Cube, whose name is O’Shea Jackson, says that the offer was made with the intention that Clark be able to compete in the WNBA “offseason.” Clark is largely expected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA draft in April. But it’s unclear how the scheduling of the two leagues would work. 

The 2024 Big3 season is set to tip off on June 15, with 10 games spanning through mid-August. The WNBA regular season, meanwhile, begins on May 14 and ends on Sept. 19.

On “The Pat McAfee Show” on Wednesday, Jackson said that the league has yet to hear back from Clark. 

“We just need an answer, as soon as they are ready to give it to us,” he said. “It’s always 50-50 till we get a no. At the end of the day, it’s a generous offer.”

The offer – as well as the confusion on Jackson’s part about the timing of the WNBA season – caused some current WNBA players to react. 

"It's funny cause I be seeing his son at W games.. they don't talk?" wrote former No. 1 pick Rhyne Howard

"So no other women's basketball player has came to mind in the last 7 years?" wrote Lexie Brown, adding that she'd support if Ice Cube wanted to build a women's iteration of the league. She later discussed it on the Gils Arena Show, noting that his reasoning of wanting to “uplift and support WNBA players and women athletes” is a “cop out.”

Kalani Brown, meanwhile, told Clark to "take that money" and start a women's Big3.

WNBA salaries has been a talking point in recent months as more collegiate stars declare for the league. WNBA stars have often made more money playing abroad than they have in the WNBA. Clark is expected to be the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft on April 15, with a rookie salary of $76,535 for lottery draft picks (Nos. 1-4) that rises to $97,582 by her fourth season. But she also has an NIL valuation of almost $3.5 million.

Diana Taurasi famously skipped the 2015 WNBA season at the request of her Russian club, who paid her more to sit out than she would have made in the W. Her contract with the club was reportedly near $1.5 million per year.

Jackson also seemed to suggest that his league could be an alternative to going abroad

“America’s women athletes should not be forced to spend their off seasons playing in often dismal and dubious foreign countries just to make ends meet,” he wrote. Although it’s unclear whether or not the rapper intends to make offers to additional WNBA players. 

While the league does hold prioritization rules in its CBA, those typically apply only to players playing in overseas leagues. It’s unclear whether or not that would prevent Clark’s participation in the Big3 league. WNBA players that don’t want to go overseas currently have the option of playing in Athletes Unlimited, which competes in the WNBA offseason.

USC’s Aaliyah Gayles Opens Up About Her Journey Back to Basketball

USC Basketball - Aaliyah Gayles

As part of our 1-v-1 video series, USC’s India Otto sat down to interview her teammate Aaliyah Gayles. Here are five things to know from our conversation with the redshirt freshman guard from Las Vegas.

#1 Aaliyah suffered from a near-death act of violence in 2022.

The incident taught her a lot about herself and the support around her. “[USC] Coach Lindsay [Gottlieb] was one of the first people to fly out there and come see me. That means a lot to me off the court.” 

#2 Her favorite USC memory is when she surprised her teammates after getting out of the hospital.

She left her walker at the door to show she was on the road to returning to the court. “That was my favorite memory because it was family. It was my first time being able to walk to you guys and see you practice.”

#3 There's a reason she wears #3.

#3 was her grandpa’s favorite number and a golden number in her life. Plus, AG3 has a nice ring to it. 

#4 She has a list of basketball GOAT’s:

Candace Parker, Magic Johnson, Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, and Cason Wallace.

#5 There have been many celebrity appearances at USC’s games over the years, especially this season.

Aaliyah’s favorites include Will Ferrell, Kehlani, and Saweetie. And she hopes Lil Durk will come to watch a game soon.

Watch the full conversation on the Just Women’s Sports YouTube channel.

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