USWNT Makes History in Seattle!
The USWNT (Soccer) played a friendly match against Japan on April 14th at Lumen Field in Seattle for the first time since 2017, and let me tell you the city showed up! 36,128 people showed up on a rainy cold night in Seattle, making it the highest attended Women’s sporting event in the history of the city. Which is in fact a really big deal! In 2023 Megan Rapinoe’s (who even attended this game) farewell match was the highest attended at that time with 34,130.
Even with the cold weather and unpleasant, though not unusual for Seattle, rain, the crowd was very hyped. The stadium was full all the way to the nosebleeds. Japan was the most dominant during the match, winning the game with a goal in the first half by Maika Hamano. The U.S. were struggling a bit, might have had to do something with the cold and relentless rain.
Seeing this team for the first time ever was so special to me. This team has influenced me since I was a little girl, and although players I didn't get to see when I was little didn't obviously play, it was amazing seeing this new generation of players. Sophia Wilson who had just been called up again after having her daughter almost with a goal during the second half. Lindsey Heaps almost scored a header, and Claire Hutton became the youngest USWNT captain to start a game at 20 years old.
But this is the 4th loss this team has with Emma Hayes as manager, which is the only downfall this game had. After a terrible run in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand under Vlatko Andonovski, fans of the USWNT didn't want him there anymore. I mean because of this new generation, many believed that they would have won the World Cup as they did in the previous WC but they were eliminated during the Round of 16 by Sweden during the most intense penalties I've ever seen at 3 am.
In November 2023 Emma was appointed Manager after a very successful managing career at Chelsea FC winning 16 trophies in the WSL, Hayes has impacted this team A LOT since she's been manager. What I love the most is that she has an individual bond with each of the girls. Since then the USWNT has been VERY successful, even winning a Gold Medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics against Brazil.
This game was full of greatness. I was super cold the entire time, I couldn't feel my fingers after the game, I was super close to the players. These girls truly have the best bond all together now seeing it in person. But overall this team has the potential to make it far again next year at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, if they qualify (they most likely will).
