Photo Copyright Vincent Carchietta for USA TODAY Sports
On Tuesday, July 16, the U.S. women’s national team will take on “Las Ticas” of Costa Rica for its final tune-up before the 2024 Olympics in Paris. The match, which kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET, will be the USWNT’s last chance to test out its 18-person roster and answer any lingering internal questions before the international tournament kicks off.
The Ticas won’t be a terribly heavy opponent for the USWNT; they are currently ranked 44th in the world by FIFA and in the 17 total times the two sides have met, the U.S. has won each competition. But, as the USWNT learned the hard way, through disappointing losses against both high- and low-ranked teams over the past few years, no opponent should be underestimated.
Recent successes under new head coach Emma Hayes, however, including a win against Mexico on Saturday, July 13, have helped the U.S. feel confident heading into the Olympic games. With this in mind, what can fans expect from the USWNT on Tuesday night?
Faith in the front line, with room for competition
There is no longer a lingering question about who can score. In fact, a better question is – who can’t? Although Saturday’s win only saw one goal from the U.S., it was a dominant showing, with a goal scored by someone put on the field to do exactly that – Sophia Smith. Smith, alongside Trinity Rodman and Mallory Swanson, are the inevitable starting front line of this team, and have more than proven themselves to be smart, energetic, and reliable.
But in a match like Tuesday’s, against a lower-ranked team, Hayes may want to play around with her subs and alternates right away. Lynn Williams, who was promoted to the roster from an alternate position after Catarina Macario withdrew from the games, could earn a start, or – even better – prove the deservedness of her promotion with a goal (she is the second all-time leading scorer in the NWSL, after all).
Hayes could also give the start to Crystal Dunn, historically a full-back but a forward on Hayes’s USWNT, or Jaedyn Shaw, the 19-year-old phenom who seems to score in every USWNT game in which she appears. Smith, Rodman, and Swanson are the tournament’s likely A-team, but Williams, Dunn, and Shaw are certainly capable of fighting their way into that starting line.
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Opportunities for subs and alternates to show their stuff
Mexico, who the USWNT faced on Saturday, was a slightly more formidable opponent than the Ticas are likely to be on Tuesday. Mexico, while ranked 29th, has a historically competitive national team and actually beat the U.S. the last time the two teams met, in the CONCACAF Gold Cup this past winter. Hayes played a slightly defensive set against Mexico, but again, fans can expect her to go with a slightly more creative and spontaneous style on Tuesday.
This lessening of rigidity might involve opportunities for players on the roster who haven’t touched the field yet. This includes veterans like Casey Krueger, a defender who for years has remained on the cusp of full membership to the USWNT. It also includes newbies, like midfielder Hal Hershfelt, who was named to the squad as an alternate and has yet to earn her first national team cap.
There’s also Emily Sams, who was recently promoted to the team as an alternate to fill the shoes of Lynn Williams, who is busy filling the shoes of Catarina Macario. Sams, a 25-year-old defender who has played a key role in her club team Orlando Pride’s undefeated streak in 2024, is also looking for her first cap.
Lastly, one thing fans already know to look for is a newfound sense of joy that seems to emanate from the team, on and off the field. While Saturday’s game against Mexico had its imperfections – one goal was not nearly all that the USWNT wanted – the players appeared to cheer each other on and communicate effectively.
Off the field, the chemistry the team portrays seems to have also hit a positive high. A recent TikTok circulated around social media features members of the team joking and dancing about their clothing choices, and even includes an appearance by captain Alyssa Naeher, who famously avoids the camera. Tuesday’s match could be filled with new and creative choices for the team from a coach who is not so intimidated by her rival. But the game should reliably include the continued confidence and optimism exuded by the team – they’re having fun doing it.
