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Defector

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.

Soccer

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

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

Luis Paez-Pumar

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

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

<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

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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

SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - JULY 09: Sofia Huerta #3 of the United States controls the ball during the second half of an international friendly against Wales at PayPal Park on July 09, 2023 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

What Is This USWNT Player’s Deal: Sofia Huerta

Megan Rapinoe #15 of the United States celebrates her goal in the first half against France during the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France Quarter Final match between France and USA at Parc des Princes on June 28, 2019 in Paris, France.

Megan Rapinoe Couldn’t Have Done It Any Better

A statue of Alex Morgan of the United States dressed as the Statue of Liberty.

What is this USWNT Player’s Deal: Alex Morgan

Crystal Dunn #19 of the United States warms up

The USWNT Is Under Pressure, And That’s Bad News For The Rest Of The World

SAINT LOUIS, MO - APRIL 11: Kristie Mewis #22 of the United States with the ball during a game between Ireland and USWNT at CITYPARK on April 11, 2023 in Saint Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Bill Barrett/USSF/Getty Images).

What Is This USWNT Player’s Deal: Kristie Mewis

Sophia Smith #11 of the United States runs on the field during a game between Ireland and USWNT at CITYPARK on April 11, 2023 in Saint Louis, Missouri.

What Is This USWNT Player’s Deal: Sophia Smith

CARSON, CA - FEBRUARY 20: United States players celebrate a second own goal in their favor during a match between New Zealand and United States as part of SheBelieves Cup 2022 at Dignity Health Sports Park on February 20, 2022 in Carson, California. (Photo by Omar Vega/Getty Images)

The USWNT World Cup Roster Doesn’t Answer All My Questions

ST. LOUIS, MO - APRIL 11: Trinity Rodman #25 of the United States runs for the ball during an international friendly game between Ireland and the USWNT at CITYPARK on April 11, 2023 in St. Louis, Missouri.

What Is This USWNT Player’s Deal: Trinity Rodman

AUSTIN, TX - APRIL 8: Rose Lavelle #16 of the United States dribbles past Megan Connolly #6 of the Republic of Ireland during a game between Ireland and the United States at Q2 Stadium on April 8, 2023 in Austin, Texas.

What Is This USWNT Player’s Deal: Rose Lavelle

Lynn Williams #6 of the United States controls the ball during the SheBelieves Cup game between Brazil and USWNT at Toyota Stadium on February 22, 2023 in Frisco, Texas.

What Is This USWNT Player’s Deal: Lynn Williams

Lindsey Horan #10 of the United States dribbles the ball during a game between Brazil and USWNT at Toyota Stadium on February 22, 2023 in Frisco, Texas.

What Is This USWNT Player’s Deal: Lindsey Horan

TOPSHOT - United States forward Alex Morgan (C) raises the SheBelieves Cup trophy as the United States Womens National Soccer Team celebrates following the 2023 SheBelieves Cup soccer match between the United States and Brazil at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, on February 22, 2023. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)

Alex Morgan Is All The Way Back

Laura Wagner

Canada team group as the players wear purple t shirts with enough is enough written on them during the 2023 SheBelieves Cup match between Canada and Brazil at GEODIS Park on February 19, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee

U.S. Soccer Has Nothing To Say About Canadian Women’s Protest

NASHVILLE, TN - FEBRUARY 19: Mallory Swanson #9 of the United States is marked by Fuka Nagano #8 and Risa Shimizu #2 of Japan during a game between Japan and USWNT at GEODIS Park on February 19, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Dorton/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

The USWNT Is Still Coming Together Slowly

Team Canada stands at mid-field with their Olympic Gold Medals before the first of the Canadian Women's National Team Olympic Gold Medal Celebration Tour games against the New Zealand Womens Football Ferns national team.

Canadian Women’s National Team Forced To Play In Women’s Empowerment Soccer Tournament

WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND - JANUARY 18: Mallory Swanson of USA celebrates after scoring a goal during the International friendly fixture match between the New Zealand Football Ferns and the United States at Sky Stadium on January 18, 2023 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

Mallory Swanson Nudges The USWNT Back On Track

Sophia Smith #11 of the United States scores a goal and celebrates during a game between Germany and USWNT at Red Bull Arena on November 13, 2022 in Harrison, New Jersey.

USWNT Beats Germany For Much-Needed Win

PAMPLONA, SPAIN - OCTOBER 11: Megan Rapinoe of USA reacts during the Women's International Friendly match between Spain and USA at El Sadar Stadium on October 11, 2022 in Pamplona, Spain

USWNT Loses Two In A Row

Billy Haisley

England players celebrate with fans during the England women's team celebration at Trafalgar Square on August 01, 2022 in London, England. The England Women's football team beat Germany 2-1 in the final of the UEFA European Women's Championship last night at Wembley Stadium.

Is Women’s Soccer Leaving Home?

USA's Alex Morgan (top) celebrates with teammates after scoring against Canada during their 2022 Concacaf women's championship final football match, at the BBVA Bancomer stadium in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon State, Mexico on July 18, 2022. (Photo by Julio Cesar AGUILAR / AFP) (Photo by JULIO CESAR AGUILAR/AFP via Getty Images)