In case you've been living under a rock, the U.S. Women's National Team defeated Japan 5-2 Sunday night to win the Women's World Cup title. The team's stunning victory came after an incredible hat trick from Carli Lloyd within the first 16 minutes of the game (the fastest in Women's World Cup history), as well as goals by two of Lloyd's fellow midfielders, Lauren Holiday and Tobin Heath. This is the third time the USWNT has won a Women's World Cup, and the first time since 1999 that the team has gone home with the gold. The final last night marked a satisfying end to what has been an interesting World Cup run for the USA. The USWNT looked mediocre at best during group play, but steadily improved throughout the tournament and peaked at all the right moments during the knockout games. No one can say that this team doesn't deserve their success.
In addition to being a group of world-class athletes, the 23 women on the USA's World Cup roster embody the American spirit. This team has overcome a lot of adversity to reach this result. They faced harsh criticism leading up to this tournament and during group play, and at the beginning of the tournament, they weren't generating the viewership or the impact they had hoped for. Yet, the American squad kept a quiet confidence throughout the tournament. This confidence was evident in interviews individual members of the team gave with the press, and it was evident even in the way team members carried themselves both on and off the field. It wasn't the slight overconfidence of 2011, not the belief that what they desired would be handed to them because they deserved it. It was simply the way that every one of the 23 players expected to come home with that trophy, so they did whatever it took to make that result happen.
Prior to the WWC, the team launched the "She Believes" campaign in an effort to show women and girls everywhere that they can achieve their dreams and they can be the best, if they fight for their dreams and never stop reaching. These 23 women represent the diverse population of the country they play for (not racially, but that's a topic for another day). Every girl who dreams can relate to a member of this team. Maybe it's Sydney Leroux, who took a chance and risked everything to play for the best team in the world. Maybe it's Ali Krieger, who has come back from injury after injury with an unparalleled resilience and fought her way back into the starting lineup each time. Maybe it's Abby Wambach, who showed on Sunday that you can play soccer, you can win soccer, you can even be the best goal-scorer in the world—and you can go kiss your wife after you win. For me, I see Kelley O'Hara, who hails from my small hometown, living her wildest dreams and playing for the best team in the world, and it inspires me to pursue my own dreams even further. Not everyone dreams of playing soccer professionally, but everyone has a dream. That's what this team means to us as a nation. They represent the possibility that, with enough effort and with no small amount of personal sacrifice and setbacks, dreams are achievable. That's something everyone can get behind.
I believe, and #SheBelieves.
