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Defector

Luis Paez-Pumar

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.

Soccer

Alexandra Popp Is The Dream Crusher

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

Hannah Wilkinson (2nd R) of New Zealand celebrates with teammates 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 Norway at Eden Park on July 20, 2023 in Auckland, New Zealand.

New Zealand Opened The World Cup With A Victory For The Ages

Mayra Ramirez (R) of Colombia celebrates with teammates after scoring the first goal of her team during a Group A match between Ecuador and Colombia as part of Women's CONMEBOL Copa America Colombia 2022 at Estadio Pascual Guerrero on July 17, 2022 in Cali, Colombia.

Colombia Is Ready To Shock The World Again

Patrick Redford

PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 07: Players of Korea Republic huddle on the pitch prior to the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France group A match between France and Korea Republic at Parc des Princes on June 07, 2019 in Paris, France. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Can South Korea Finally Break Out At The World Cup?

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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

Albert Burneko

The Italy women's national team poses for a team photograph at the Euro 2022 tournament.

Italy’s Getting There, Slowly, Maybe

Yamila Tamara Rodriguez (#11) of Argentina celebrates after scoring the second goal of her team during a match between Argentina and Uruguay as part of Women's CONMEBOL Copa America 2022 at Centenario Stadium on July 15, 2022 in Armenia, Colombia

Argentina Is Just One Win Away From A New Era

LEIGH, ENGLAND - JULY 22: Stina Blackstenius of Sweden celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal which was later disallowed by VAR for an offside during the UEFA Women's Euro 2022 Quarter Final match between Sweden and Belgium at Leigh Sports Village on July 22, 2022 in Leigh, England. (Photo by Harriet Lander/Getty Images)

This Could Finally Be Sweden’s Year

HAMILTON, NEW ZEALAND - FEBRUARY 23: Marta Cox and Wendy Natis of Panama celebrate with team member Raiza Gutierrez during the 2023 FIFA World Cup Play Off Tournament match between Paraguay and Panama at Waikato Stadium on February 23, 2023 in Hamilton, New Zealand. (Photo by Joe Allison - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Panama Has Done Its Job Simply By Making The World Cup

Debinha #9 celebrates with her teammate Marta #10 of Brazil after scores 1st goal during the match between Japan and Brazil at Exploria Stadium on February 16, 2023 in Orlando, Florida.

It’s Brazil Versus Time At This World Cup

Billy Haisley

Portugal's players celebrate scoring during a group A play-off tournament match between Portugal and Cameroon for the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 at the Waikato Stadium in Hamilton, New Zealand, Feb. 22, 2023.

Portugal Is Finally Where It Ought To Be

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

What is this USWNT Player’s Deal: Alex Morgan

Lieke Martens of the Netherlands celebrates after scoring her teams first goal, Danielle van de Donk of the Netherlands during the International Women's Friendly match between Netherlands and Belgium at the Parkstad Limburg Stadion on July 2, 2023 in Kerkrade, Netherlands

The Netherlands Will Find Life At The World Cup Much Harder This Time Around

Vietnam's Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy (L) celebrates with Vietnam's captain Huynh Nhu (R) after a goal during the women's football match between Vietnam and Philippines at RSN Stadium during the 32nd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in Phnom Penh on May 9, 2023. (Photo by NHAC NGUYEN / AFP) (Photo by NHAC NGUYEN/AFP via Getty Images)

Vietnam’s World Cup Debut Could Be Short And Sweet

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

LUCERNE, SWITZERLAND - APRIL 06: Wang Shuang of China (C) and teammates thanks supporters for standing during the International Womens Friendly match between Switzerland and China at Swissporarena on April 6, 2023 in Lucerne, Switzerland. (Photo by Marcio Machado/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)

China Has A Hard Path Back To World Cup Glory

Haiti celebrate qualification for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup after their victory in the 2023 FIFA World Cup Play Off Tournament match between Chile and Haiti at North Harbour Stadium on February 22, 2023 in Auckland, New Zealand.

Haiti’s The Underdog With The Biggest Dog

The Spain women's national team huddles on the field after losing to Italy in the UEFA Euros

Spain Is A Big Ugly Mess With Some Extremely Cool Players

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

Members of the Canadian womens national soccer team wear "Enough Is Enough" shirts in protest for equal pay ahead of the 2023 SheBelieves Cup soccer match between Canada and Japan at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, on February 22, 2023.

Canada Needs A Win, And They Might Just Get One

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - JULY 07: Ada Hegerberg celebrates after their sides victory with Caroline Graham Hansen of Norway during the UEFA Women's Euro 2022 group A match between Norway and Northern Ireland at St Mary's Stadium on July 07, 2022 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Maddie Meyer - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

Norway’s Quest For Redemption Starts Now

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

SAINT LOUIS, MO - APRIL 11: Naomi Girma #27 of the United States warming up before a game between Ireland and USWNT at CITYPARK on April 11, 2023 in Saint Louis, Missouri. (Photo by John Todd/USSF/Getty Images).

What Is This USWNT Player’s Deal: Naomi Girma

AUSTIN, TEXAS - APRIL 8: Crystal Dunn #19 of the United States passes the ball during the first half against the Republic of Ireland in a 2023 International Friendly match at Q2 Stadium on April 8, 2023 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)

World Cup