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It was an absolutely wild year for the U.S. women’s national team: a new head coach, an Olympic gold medal and more retirements from the greats of the program, from forward Alex Morgan to goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher to former captain and centerback Becky Sauerbrunn.
The high point was the Olympic gold medal-winning goal, scored by Mallory Swanson, who returned to the spotlight this summer after a year of recovery from a torn patellar tendon. Swanson’s goal was the result of a clever upfield ball from Korbin Albert and a patient dribble into the heart of the penalty area.
The best game was the CONCACAF W Gold Cup quarterfinal against Colombia, which was a pivotal morale-boosting win for the team, with standout performances from Trinity Rodman and Sophia Smith.
Naomi Girma was named the best defender in the world, and her coronation tour at the Olympics.
Emma Hayes, the new head coach, is a quotable coach who is known for her honesty and humor.
Alyssa Naeher’s penalty shootout heroics against Canada were the “wait, what?” moment of the year.
The player to watch in 2025 is Yazmeen Ryan, a 25-year-old midfielder who has flourished since joining Gotham FC in 2023.
The biggest question for 2025 is what will happen to the goalkeeper position, with Naeher’s retirement and the need to build a new generation of goalkeepers.
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