The USWNT are in a position to win a gold medal this Saturday to bounce back after their worst World Cup performance just last summer.
The Americans will be taking on Brazil for the third time in the Olympic gold medal game. They have come out victorious the last 2 times.
Despite being undefeated in the tournament this far, the USWNT did not breeze their way to the finals. Their previous two games against Japan and Germany went into extra time and were decided by one goal.
The forward trio of Sophia Smith, Mal Swanson and Trinity Rodman have been rock solid throughout the tournament. Rodman scored the game-winning goal against Japan and Smith scored the one against Germany.
Smith, Swanson and Rodman all have had three goals each in this tournament thus far. Nine out of eleven USA goals have come from them. The firepower that comes from these three is something the USA team has lacked in previous years.
While the trio up top deserves the recognition they have been receiving, a lot must be said about star defender Naomi Girma and Alyssa Naeher. These two have been rock solid as they only have allowed two goals the entire tournament. Right now there is no better defender and goalie duo a team could ask for.
Brazil had to defeat reigning World Cup champions Spain to get themselves into the gold medal game. The Brazilians were heavily outplayed in the semifinals, but that did not matter as they made every shot count. They found the back of the net four times on seven shots.
Brazil struggled through the group stage, going through as one of the third place teams. They finished the group stage with a record of 1-0-2.
Marta, Brazil’s captain, has been out due to a red card and suspension, but she will be able to return against the USA in what will be her last international game for Brazil.
With Marta back in the lineup, she has a chance to win her first ever gold medal. Will her presence be enough to drive Brazil to an Olympic championship?
With star power up top and a rock solid defense and goalie, the Americans are going into this game as the clear favorites and something to prove after the World Cup last year.
Will the USA win their fifth gold medal and put themselves back in the conversation as the best team in the world?
