USAWNT's Future: Can the Team Reclaim World Cup Glory After Recent Setbacks?
Through the program, local schools will partner with SLU to identify and nominate promising students to receive half-tuition scholarships worth more than $28,000 per year. Applicants will remain eligible for additional scholarships above this level.
I remember watching the 2019 Women's World Cup final like it was yesterday—the electric atmosphere, the tension, and that incredible victory celebration. The US Women's National Team felt unstoppable then, a perfect blend of veteran leadership and emerging talent. Fast forward to today, and the landscape looks dramatically different. We've witnessed some surprising losses and transitional phases that make you wonder—can this team really reclaim World Cup glory after these recent setbacks? As someone who's followed women's soccer for over a decade, I've seen cycles of dominance and rebuilding, but this current moment feels particularly pivotal.
The phrase "Yun 'yung hawak namin kung paano kami gagalaw sa loob ng court" keeps coming to mind when I analyze this team's situation. For those unfamiliar with Tagalog, it roughly translates to "That's what we hold—how we move within the court." This concept perfectly captures what made the USAWNT so dominant in previous years and what might be missing recently. During their golden years, the team had this incredible court intelligence—an almost telepathic understanding of spacing, movement, and tactical execution. They didn't just outplay opponents; they outthought them. Watching players like Megan Rapinoe and Carli Lloyd in their prime was like witnessing chess masters who happened to be world-class athletes.
Recent performances, however, suggest that this court intelligence has somewhat diminished. The 2023 World Cup round of 16 exit was particularly shocking—the team's earliest elimination in tournament history. Statistics from that tournament still haunt me: only 4 goals scored in 4 matches, with a mere 42% shot accuracy rate compared to their historical average of 58%. The midfield seemed disconnected from the forward line, and defensive lapses cost them crucial moments. I've noticed that when teams press them high now, they struggle to maintain that fluid movement that once defined their play. The chemistry isn't quite there yet with the newer players, and it shows in those tight moments where split-second decisions determine outcomes.
What gives me hope, though, is the emerging talent. Sophia Smith, Trinity Rodman, and Naomi Girma represent what could be the next golden generation. Smith's 14 goals in her last 20 international appearances demonstrate her scoring prowess, while Rodman's creative numbers—8 assists in the 2023 NWSL season—show she's developing into the playmaker this team desperately needs. Girma's defensive stats are equally impressive, with an 88% tackle success rate that reminds me of Becky Sauerbrunn in her prime. These young players just need time to develop that court intelligence—that innate understanding of how to move together that made previous squads so special.
The coaching transition adds another layer to this rebuilding process. Emma Hayes taking over brings both excitement and uncertainty. Her record with Chelsea is remarkable—winning 4 consecutive WSL titles between 2020 and 2023—but international management presents different challenges. I'm particularly curious to see how she addresses the team's recent struggles against high-pressing European sides. In their last 12 matches against top-10 European teams, the US has won only 5, drawn 3, and lost 4. That's a significant drop from their historical dominance.
Financial and structural factors also play into this equation. The NWSL's growth has been phenomenal—attendance increased by 78% between 2019 and 2023—but other leagues are catching up fast. England's WSL saw a 125% attendance jump in the same period, while Spain's Liga F secured a television deal worth approximately $42 million annually. The global competitive landscape is shifting, and the US can no longer rely on having superior resources or development pathways. This makes reclaiming World Cup glory more challenging than ever before.
Still, I remain optimistic about USAWNT's future prospects. The foundation is there—the youth development system continues to produce exceptional talent, and the institutional knowledge from past successes hasn't disappeared. What they need to rediscover is that essence captured in that Tagalog phrase—the deep understanding of how to move as a unit, how to control the court rather than just playing on it. The 2027 World Cup feels like the realistic target for this new iteration to truly contend again. By then, the current young core will have 3-4 more years of experience, and the team culture will have solidified under new leadership.
I'll be watching closely as this new chapter unfolds, remembering that even the most dominant teams go through transitions. The US women's soccer program has faced challenges before and emerged stronger. What matters now is whether they can rebuild that court intelligence—that magical understanding of movement and space that separates good teams from legendary ones. The journey to reclaim World Cup glory won't be easy, but it's precisely these kinds of comebacks that create the most compelling stories in sports.