Say one thing about the U.S. Women’s National Team–the one that plays football, and not Football, for the lack of the initiated. They have a flair for the dramatic.
In a blissful and white-knuckling case of deja vu, they scored their second consecutive extra time 1-0 knockout round win of the Paris Olympiad this afternoon/evening. As NEWSWEEK’s Noah Camrus hurriedly jotted just hours ago:
In the 95th minute in extra time, the United States finally broke through as Mallory Swanson made a great pass into the box to Sophia Smith, who immediately put a shot on goal after beating German defender Felicitas Rauch. Smith chipped the shot over the right leg of Germany’s goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger, giving the USWNT a 1-0 lead, one they wouldn’t relinquish for the remaining 25 minutes of extra time.
Barely 48 hours earlier, it was pretty much the same storyline, only this one was decided by a somewhat more familiar surname to the average sports fan, as USA TODAY’s Craig Meyer chronicled at the time:
Playing against a Japan team that’s only two spots behind them in the FIFA world rankings, the Americans dominated possession, but were held in check for much of the day, playing with a noticeable lack of urgency and resorting far too often to lateral passes between players in the midfield and along the backline.
Late in the match, with the possibility of a penalty shootout looming, that frustration gave way to euphoria.
In extra time and with the teams still stuck in a scoreless deadlock, Trinity Rodman brought down a brilliantly placed 40-yard pass from Crystal Dunn near the 18-yard box. She cut back and fired a left-footed strike that found the side netting to deliver the USWNT a hard-earned 1-0 victory and a spot in the semifinals…Rodman’s goal, her third of the Olympics, earned her praise on social media from the likes of Draymond Green and Carli Lloyd and served as yet another reminder of her importance to a team that has endured bouts of offensive impotence going back to the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
And it’s somewhat apropos that she draws praise from the likes of a wildman rebounding ace like Green because, yep, she is indeed the biological daughter of a guy who won a few titles of his own in his day, the Draymond Green of the 90s. Though you might just tick her off if that’s the extent of your praise. As Meyer reminded:
Rodman is the daughter of Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman, but was raised primarily by her mother, Michelle Moyer, who Rodman says is her favorite superhero, according to her USWNT bio.
As Wikipedia detailed:
Michelle Rodman filed for divorce in 2004, although the couple spent several years attempting to reconcile. The marriage was officially dissolved in 2012, when Michelle again petitioned the court to grant a divorce. It was reported that Rodman owed $860,376 in child and spousal support.[105]
For that reason alone, I’m truly hoping she and her teammates can bring back gold, and give the team a much needed global boost and resurgence after their disappointing Round of 16 elimination at the hands of Sweden on penalty kicks during last summer’s Women’s World Cup. They will have that opportunity on Saturday when they face Brazil, a team they beat for both the 2004 and 2008 Olympic crowns. But they haven’t been to either of the last two Finals, scoring only a bronze in Tokyo and failing to medal at all in Rio de Janiero.
With this kind of resurgence, plus the second half of the NWSL season ahead, the opportunity for Rodman and Smith to cash in could be as optimal as possible with a win. And if it’s as exciting as what they’ve provided so far this week, I have a hunch some marketing opportunities might allow Trinity to allow her mom to be a bit less needy for the money that her deadbeat ex owes her.
Wouldn’t THAT be a kick in the head?
Courage…