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<p>Diana Moskovitz is Defector&#8217;s investigations editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99</p>


Diana Moskovitz

A general view of the outside of Stadium Australia with the official FIFA Women's World Cup logo ahead of the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group B match between Australia and Ireland at Stadium Australia on July 20, 2023 in Sydney, Australia.

Try Watching This World Cup In Spanish

Patrick Redford

2-time FIFA World Cup Winner and investor in NJ/NY Gotham FC emcees the World Cup Send Off for the players going to represent their countries in the 2023 FIFA World Cup after the National Women's Soccer League Match between the Chicago Red Stars and NJ/NY Gotham FC at Red Bull Arena on June 25, 2023 in Harrison, New Jersey.

Carli Lloyd Somehow Finds Invalid Criticism For Team That Did Everything Wrong

Luis Paez-Pumar

Netherlands' forward #22 Esmee Brugts (centre L) scores her team's sixth goal during the Australia and New Zealand 2023 Women's World Cup Group E football match between Vietnam and the Netherlands at Dunedin Stadium in Dunedin on August 1, 2023.

Esmee Brugts Only Scores Absolute Firecrackers

Tom Ley

Ana Capeta #21 of Portugal sends a shot off the post during the second half of the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia Auckland, New Zealand.

The USWNT Stayed In The World Cup By An Inch

Billy Haisley

Mary Fowler of Australia celebrates after scoring a goal with her teammates that was later cancelled as a result of VAR consultation during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 Group B match between Canada and Australia at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium in Melbourne, Australia on July 31, 2023.

Canada And Spain Ate Shit And Deserved It

Justin Ellis

New Zealand's defender #07 Ali Riley (L) and New Zealand's midfielder #12 Betsy Hassett (R) greet supporters at the end of Australia and New Zealand 2023 Women's World Cup Group A football match between Switzerland and New Zealand at Dunedin Stadium in Dunedin on July 30, 2023.

New Zealand Waited For Another Goal That Would Never Arrive

Ray Ratto

Manuela Vanegas of Colombia celebrates after scoring her team's second goal during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Group H match between Germany and Colombia at Sydney Football Stadium on July 30, 2023 in Sydney, Australia.

Colombia Made The Ground Shake And Stunned Germany

Lauren James of England in action during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 match between England and Denmark at Sydney Football Stadium on July 28, 2023 in Sydney, Australia.

Lauren James Is The Burgeoning Star Of The New England

Rasmus Hojlund of Atalanta BC celebrates after scoring the team's third goal during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and Hellas Verona at Gewiss Stadium on May 20, 2023 in Bergamo, Italy.

Window Shopping: Is Rasmus Hojlund Ready For Primetime?

Asisat Oshoala of Nigeria celebrates with teammates after scoring her team's third goal during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Group B match between Australia and Nigeria at Brisbane Stadium on July 27, 2023 in Brisbane, Australia.

Nigeria Was Ready For Its Moment

David Roth

Sophia Smith lines up a shot in the US Women's National Team's game against the Netherlands in the Women's World Cup on Wednesday night.

Podcasts

How Much Vlatko Is Too Much Vlatko, With Abigail Segel

Lindsey Horan #10 of the United States celebrates scoring during the second half against the Netherlands during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Group E match at Wellington Regional Stadium on July 27, 2023 in Wellington, New Zealand.

Lindsey Horan And The Power Of Rage Saved The USWNT From Itself

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<div>Abigail Segel is a contributing writer at Defector. She is also an editor for The IX Soccer and the Equalizer. Her work has been published in the Guardian and the Montreal Gazette.</div>
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Abigail Segel

Republic of Ireland captain Katie McCabe at amid heavy rain during the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 Group B match between Republic of Ireland and Canada at Perth Rectangular Stadium in Perth, Australia.

It’s Too Bad Canada Was Better Than Ireland

Mary Wilombe of Zambia post game despair after the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Group C match between Spain and Zambia at Eden Park on July 26, 2023 in Auckland, New Zealand.

Zambia Learns How Unforgiving The World Cup Can Be

Albert Burneko

Kylian Mbappé alone against a blue background

What The Hell Is Going On With Kylian Mbappé?

Sarina Bolden (R) of Philippines celebrates after scoring her team's first goal during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Group A match between New Zealand and Philippines at Wellington Regional Stadium on July 25, 2023 in Wellington, New Zealand.

While You Were (Probably) Sleeping, Group A Got Real Hectic

Linda Lizeth Caicedo Alegria of Colombia celebrates after scoring her team's second goal during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Group H match between Colombia and South Korea at Sydney Football Stadium on July 25, 2023 in Sydney, Australia.

Linda Caicedo Is The Future

Bia Zaneratto of Brazil celebrates after scoring her team's third goal during during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Group F match between Brazil and Panama at Hindmarsh Stadium on July 24, 2023 in Adelaide, Australia.

Brazil’s Quintessentially Brazilian Goal Is Soccer At Its Finest

Germany's forward #11 Alexandra Popp (R) celebrates scoring her team's first goal during the Australia and New Zealand 2023 Women's World Cup Group H football match between Germany and Morocco at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, also known as AAMI Park, in Melbourne on July 24, 2023.

Alexandra Popp Is The Dream Crusher

Lo'eau LaBonta and Sam Coffey face off in the 2022 NWSL Championship match.

Even During A World Cup Summer, There’s A Lot Of Fun To Be Found In The NWSL

Lucy Bronze of England battles for possession with Melchie Dumornay of Haiti during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Group D match between England and Haiti at Brisbane Stadium on July 22, 2023 in Brisbane / Meaanjin, Australia.

It’s Melchie Dumornay’s World Cup, And We’re Just Watching It

Sophia Smith #11 of the United States celebrates scoring during the first half of the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Group E match between USA and Vietnam at Eden Park on July 22, 2023 in Auckland, New Zealand.

Sophia Smith Is The Answer To Every Question

Aitana Bonmati of Spain and Barcelona celebrates after scoring her sides first goal during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group C match between Spain and Costa Rica at Wellington Regional Stadium on July 21, 2023 in Wellington / Te Whanganui-a-Tara, New Zealand.

Spain Came Just Short Of Perfection

<p>Kim McCauley covers soccer for The Athletic and ESPN, and worked as a data analyst at Angel City FC. You can <a href="https://twitter.com/kimischilling" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://twitter.com/kimischilling&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1690042325485000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3FfPKUcZC9_LzSiHDnR1Ox">follow her on the bird app</a>.</p>
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Kim McCauley

Alyssa Thompson #7 of the United States dribbles the ball during the first half of an international friendly against Wales at PayPal Park on July 09, 2023 in San Jose, California.

What Is This USWNT Player’s Deal: Alyssa Thompson

Alanna Kennedy of Australia celebrates the team's 1-0 victory in the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group B match between Australia and Ireland at Stadium Australia on July 20, 2023 in Sydney / Gadigal, Australia.