The US Women’s National Team has clinched the gold medal at the Paris Olympics with a decisive 1-0 victory over Brazil, thanks to a crucial second-half goal by Mallory Swanson. The full-time whistle blew at the Parc des Princes, setting off a jubilant celebration among the players and tens of thousands of American fans present.
As Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA” echoed through the stadium, the American team surged onto the field, celebrating their first major tournament win since the 2019 World Cup. This victory not only marks a golden start to a new era for the USWNT but also signifies a fresh chapter with new faces joining the squad.
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This Olympic campaign saw nine players making their debut, and the gold medal triumph is hoped to signal a return to dominance following a series of less successful tournaments. The win also marks a significant achievement for coach Emma Hayes, who has begun her tenure with a bang. Appointed earlier this year, Hayes led the team with just six training sessions under her belt and made headlines by omitting star forward Alex Morgan from the squad—a notable decision as it was the first time Morgan missed the Olympics since 2008.
The journey to gold was a tense one, with the USWNT demonstrating dominance at the start of the tournament but facing a series of tight matches, culminating in three narrow 1-0 victories. Both the quarterfinal and semifinal matches required extra time to determine the victors.
The decisive goal came from Mallory Swanson in the 57th minute, a veteran player who had been instrumental throughout the tournament. Swanson’s strike was all the team needed after goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher made several critical saves in the first half to keep the score level.
The attacking trio of Swanson, Sophia Smith, and Trinity Rodman proved to be a formidable force throughout the Paris Games, with Swanson’s goal highlighting the effectiveness of their combined efforts. This gold medal win caps off an exceptional tournament for the USWNT, setting a high bar for the future.
(Includes inputs from online sources)
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