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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

Sophia Wilson of United States fights for the ball with Isadora Haas of Brazil during the international friendly match between Brazil and United States on June 06, 2026 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Soccer

The USWNT And Brazil Stretched The Definition Of “Friendly”

Interviews

What’s Parenting Lily Yohannes Like? An Interview With Her Dad

Michelle Cooper #17 of the Kansas City Current looks on during the first half against NJ/NY Gotham FC at Sports Illustrated Stadium on June 07, 2025 in Harrison, New Jersey.

Michelle Cooper Is Always Ready To Pounce

Patrick Redford

Manchester United goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce during the Adobe Women's FA Cup semi-final match at the Joie Stadium, Manchester. Picture date: Saturday April 12, 2025. (Photo by Martin Rickett/PA Images via Getty Images)

Phallon Tullis-Joyce Makes Her Case As The USWNT Holds First Keeper Tryout In 30 Years

USA's forward #9 Ally Sentnor celebrates scoring her team's first goal during the SheBelieves Cup football match between USA and Japan at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California, on February 26, 2025.

Emma Hayes Shows Us The USWNT She Believes In

Lily Yohannes of the United States looks to the ball

Enjoy The Lily Yohannes Victory Lap

in the FIFA Women's World Cup 2015 Round of 16 match at Commonwealth Stadium on June 22, 2015 in Edmonton, Canada.

Alex Morgan Knew How To Use The Spotlight

Luis Paez-Pumar

Alex Morgan #13 of San Diego Wave FC waves to the crowd after the game against the North Carolina Courage at Snapdragon Stadium on September 08, 2024 in San Diego, California. This was Morgan’s final NWSL game before her announced retirement.

Alex Morgan Conquered The World

Lauren Theisen

Naomi Girma #4 of Team United States celebrates victory in the Women's Gold Medal match

Olympics

The USWNT Is As Golden As Ever

Billy Haisley

US' forward #05 Trinity Rodman (L) and US' forward #09 Mallory Swanson (R) celebrate after US' forward #11 Sophia Smith (C) scored in the 95th minute during the women's semi-final football match between USA and Germany during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Lyon Stadium in Lyon on August 6, 2024.

The USWNT Is Grinding Its Way Toward A Better Future

US' forward #05 Trinity Rodman (3L) celebrates scoring the opening goal in the women's group A football match between the USA and Zambia during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Nice Stadium in Nice, on July 25, 2024.

The USWNT Still Has Questions To Answer

Alex Sujong Laughlin

Players give high-fives after the National Anthem before an NWSL match between the Portland Thorns and Kansas City Current on June 23, 2024 in Portland, Oregon.

The NWSL Took Me Back

COMMERCE CITY, COLORADO - JUNE 01: Sam Coffey #17 and Lily Yohannes #6 of the United States enter the field for warmups prior to playing the Korea Republic at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on June 01, 2024 in Commerce City, Colorado. (Photo by Erin Chang/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

Lily Yohannes Is The Truth

Korbin Albert of the United States arrives at the field

USWNT Stars Past And Present Condemn Rising Star Korbin Albert’s Noxious Internet Habits

Mallory Swanson poses with her arms in the air during a USWNT portrait studio session on February 13, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

Mal Swanson Is Back! And So Are The Red Stars

Tom Ley

Lindsey Horan Headed The USWNT Into Its Next Era

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 06: Alyssa Naeher #1 of the United States celebrates after defeating Canada during the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup semifinals at Snapdragon Stadium on March 06, 2024 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Ben Nichols/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

The USWNT Survived Some All-Time CONCACAF Madness

CARSON, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 26: Alex Morgan #7 of United States reacts after a goal by Mexico in the second half during Group A - 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup match at Dignity Health Sports Park on February 26, 2024 in Carson, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Mexico Finally Killed Off The Old USWNT For Good

Emma Hayes, Head Coach of Chelsea FC poses for a portrait during the UEFA Women's Champions League Official Portraits shoot on October 17, 2023 in Cobham, England.

Emma Hayes Knows What American Soccer Needs

Julie Ertz #8 of the United States watches a tribute video after playing South Africa at TQL Stadium on September 21, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Julie Ertz Was The USWNT

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 06: Vlatko Andonovski, Head Coach of USA, speaks to the media in the post match press conference following the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Round of 16 match between Sweden and USA at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on August 06, 2023 in Melbourne / Naarm, Australia. (Photo by Alex Grimm - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

It Is Mercifully Vlatkover

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 06: USA players react as Sophia Smith of USA misses her team's fifth penalty in the penalty shoot out during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Round of 16 match between Sweden and USA at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on August 06, 2023 in Melbourne / Naarm, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Sunrise Is Way Too Early To Be Crying For The USWNT

Kelley O'Hara, Alyssa Thompson, Megan Rapinoe, and Alyssa Naeher of the USA are dejected after their team was defeated in the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023 Round of 16 match between Sweden and USA at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on August 06, 2023 in Melbourne / Naarm, Australia.

The USWNT Lived By An Inch And Died By A Millimeter

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.

The 16 Teams Left In The Women’s World Cup, Ranked By Coolness


<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.