For the latest episode of The IX Sports Podcast, host Kathleen Gier talks listeners through the recent USWNT friendly matches against Japan. The US women won their first match against Japan, 2-1, on Saturday, but fell 0-1 to the recent Asian Cup winners on Tuesday. The teams will face off for a third and final time on Friday to conclude this international window.
Gier spends some time highlighting the players who have returned to the USWNT roster during this window, like Tierna Davidson. Tuesday was Davidson’s first appearance in over a year since tearing her ACL, and she brought some much-needed experience to the youthful roster.
Gier also focuses on some of head coach Emma Hayes’s statements after the second match against Japan, which the team lost 0-1 despite retaining 67% possession. Though the roster on Tuesday night contained a smattering of younger players, Gier understood Hayes’s decision-making. “I like Emma’s approach of forcing this secondary roster,” Gier said. “She’s … getting people a significant amount of minutes and giving them a really solid look of what this can look like as you’re going against one of the big sides.”
Gier finishes the episode by giving a nod to two USWNT legends who went into the Hall of Fame, Tobin Heath and Heather O’Reilly. She highlights not only their achievements on the field but their crucial roles in fighting for equal pay for the USWNT and helping shape the NWSL into the powerful force it is today.
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