In case you missed it, the US Women’s National Team won the World Cup over the weekend, for its fourth title, successfully defending their 2015 championship.

I’m not much of a soccer fan, normally preferring “American” football, but this World Cup captured my attention, and I watched every minute of every match that the US Women played on their way to the championship. And I’ll be waving my red, white and blue, and continuing the celebration for many days to come.

So why do I contend that this team is one of the greatest ever?

Let’s start with the list of records that were broken during the last month:

  • Most goals in a single World Cup match (Men’s or Women’s)

The U.S. team started the World Cup off in dominating style in mid-June, defeating Thailand’s team 13-0 during their first match in the group stage.  13 goals in a single game is a World Cup record, for both men and women.

  • Highest margin of victory in a single World Cup match (Men’s or Women’s)

That 13-0 defeat against Thailand was also the highest margin of victory in a single match, besting the previous record held by Germany for beating Argentina 11-0 in 2007. For the men, the record victory margin is 9-0.

  • Most goals by one player in a single women’s game (tie)

Alex Morgan tied the record for the most individual goals in a single women’s World Cup game in the match-up with Thailand. The five goals tied the record set previously by Michelle Akers, playing for the U.S. in 1991.

  • Most consecutive World Cup tournament wins (tie)

With two consecutive wins in 2015 and 2019, the U.S. is tied with Germany, who won in 2003 and 2007. No other team has won more than one Women’s World Cup title since the tournament began in 1991.

  • Most FIFA Women’s World Cup wins

The USWNT’s broke its own record for the most wins in the tournament’s history. The U.S. had already won three World Cup finals in 1991, 1999 and 2015 and now has earned their fourth in 2019. Germany has two, while Norway and Japan each have one.

The U.S. is unbeaten in its last 16 Women’s World Cup matches (13 wins and 3 draws), winning the last eleven in a row.  They are the only team to ever win 11 consecutive WWC matches.

  • Most goals in a FIFA Women’s World Cup tournament

With 26 total goals, the USWNT now has the record for making the most goals in the tournament, beating the record of 25 set by Germany in 2003 AND USA in 1991.

  • Coach with Back-to-Back Women’s World Cup Titles

Jill Ellis became the first women’s coach ever to win two World Cup titles in soccer history. On the men’s side, only Italy’s coach, Vittorio Pozzo, did it in 1934 and 1938.

That’s quite the impressive list, isn’t it? Are you convinced yet?

Beyond the amazing performance of this group of players on the field, I have also been impressed that they were able to consistently play at such a high level, despite a great deal of controversy and distraction off the field.

Distractions, you ask? Let me summarize the big ones:

Earlier this year, the American players sued the U.S. Soccer Federation for gender discrimination. Equal pay made the headlines, but the complaint makes a larger point about female athletes being treated as an afterthought.

I respect the women for taking a stand on what they believe in!

Megan Rapinoe, the most vocal of the team, got into a bit of a Twitter battle with President Trump. A video aired of her stating she would not visit the White House if the team won the world cup (she is far from the first athlete to take that stance), and Trump responded that “Megan should WIN first before she TALKS! Finish the job!”

His criticism didn’t seem to shake her at all, as she finished the job in a big way, leading her team to the championship!

There’s more, but these are big and important topics that I’d need to do a lot more research on before I reach conclusions and voice options. So for now, we’ll just leave it noted that there were some pretty big distractions swirling around this team while they were playing their hearts out for the Red, White and Blue.

And besides, I‘d really rather get back to celebrating, instead of digging around in the mud!

Until next week,

Carrie