On this soccer edition of The IX Sports Podcast, host Kathleen Gier recaps the USWNT’s 2-0 victory over Argentina at the SheBelieves Cup and previews their upcoming match against Canada. Plus, the N.C. Courage introduce new head coach Mak Lind at NWSL preseason media availability.
First, Gier talked about what the game against Argentina showed about this USWNT team, “especially from a toughness standpoint”:
“Emma Hayes talked about that a lot after the game, especially answering a couple of questions about how maybe it was too tough at times. Jaedyn Shaw took a very hard foul in the first half, and then there [was] just some continued, I think [Hayes] calls it scrappiness, throughout that game,” Gier explained.
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“But she seemed to definitely see that as a positive challenge for this team, where they are right now, pushing them to be a little tougher, but then also mentally be tougher and to not retaliate and not let that get to them as the game goes on, especially in a tournament environment.”
Then Gier previewed the upcoming game between the U.S. and Canada, which will kick off on March 4 at 6:45 p.m. E.T.
“I would assume that Canada is going to be a little feisty,” she said. “There’s a lot of history between these two teams, a lot of familiar faces, with several players competing in the NWSL like Kailen Sheridan of the N.C. Courage, Washington’s Gabby Carle, [and] Chicago’s Julia Grosso. And on a quick turnaround [for] both teams: Canada defeated Colombia … in their game on … Sunday, and then the U.S. obviously winning that one 2-0 [against Argentina]. These two teams, U.S. and Canada, met 67 times, and the U.S. holds a commanding lead in that one, although it feels like it’s been closer, 54 wins, four losses and nine draws. U.S. won the last meeting 3-0 in July of 2025 and also won the last time they faced off at the SheBelieves Cup, which did go into extra time.”
Tune in to hear highlights from USWNT head coach Emma Hayes’ media availability, more from Gier about the upcoming SheBelieves Cup matches, and key points from the introduction of new N.C. Courage head coach Mak Lind.
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