The United States women’s national soccer team continues group play at the 2024 Paris Olympics Sunday with a match against Germany. It is the second of three group stage games for the Americans, who beat Zambia 3-0 to start, and it is the second big-tournament match for new head coach Emma Hayes.
USA TODAY Sports will bring you live updates, results, highlights, and more throughout the match. Follow along.
Germany has two huge chances but can’t score
MARSEILLE, France – The Germans have put some pressure on the U.S. in the first part of the second half and have missed two golden opportunities to score.
The first came on a Jule Brand grounder that hit the near post past a diving Alyssa Naeher. Five minutes later, Naeher was beat but a brilliant defensive play by Trinity Rodman – doing it on both sides of the pitch tonight – somehow kept Germany off the board.
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U.S. coach Emma Hayes was displeased with the second-half effort in the opener against Zambia and can’t be pleased the Americans are playing on their heels thus far in the second despite the lead.
Halftime: USWNT 3, Germany 1
MARSEILLE, France — This one has been far from boring.
Up-and-down action throughout the first 45 minutes ended with the U.S. up 3-1. Two goals from Sophia Smith and one from Mallory Swanson – her third of these Olympics – were the difference in the first half, in which the Germans controlled the first 10 minutes prior to Smith netting a cross from Trinity Rodman.
Germany equalized at 1 following Smith’s first goal after Lindsey Horan made her second ill-fated pass of the half. Swanson’s putback on a Smith shot that Germany keeper Ann-Katrin Berger initially saved returned the lead into the Americans’ hands.
Smith scored a lucky goal toward the end of the half that perfectly ricocheted off a defender and over Berger’s head, clanged off the post, and rolled over the line for another tally.
The U.S. will be without Tierna Davidson in the second half due to injury; she was replaced by Emily Sonnett.
The U.S. has five shots on goal compared to Germany’s three. They controlled possession for 64% of the half.
Tierna Davidson out with injury; Emily Sonnett in
MARSEILLE, France — The U.S. will play the second half with a major change to its back line. Tierna Davidson left with an injury following a collision at midfield and Emily Sonnett came on to replace her just before Rose Lavelle’s corner led to Smith’s goal.
Referees added seven minutes of stoppage time to close out the half.
USWNT 3, Germany 1
MARSEILLE, France — Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good.
Sophia Smith scored her second goal of the match by firing one from outside the box. The ball ricocheted off a sliding German defender and over the keeper’s head, before hitting the right crossbar and, ultimately, trickling over the goal line to give the U.S. some breathing room in the 44th minute.
USWNT 2, Germany 1
MARSEILLE, France — Call it the Summer of Mal.
Mallory Swanson quickly helped the U.S. retake the lead in the 25th minute by netting a rebound following a shot from Sophia Smith that Germany keeper Ann-Katrin Berger initially saved. But her collision with the ground popped the ball loose. A sprinting Swanson put it in the back and the U.S. was back on top in the action-heavy start to this one.
USWNT 1, Germany 1
MARSEILLE, France — This time, a bad pass from the U.S. captain actually led to a goal.
Germany’s Giulia Gwinn beat Alyssa Naeher to the far post as the Americans dealt with an out-of-system defensive stretch, starting with another Lindsey Horan cough-up, that led to the equalizer
What USWNT has showed so far during Paris Olympics
Professor Hayes – that would be United States women’s national soccer team coach Emma Hayes – does not grade on a curve, even in her first official match leading the team.
She would probably give her squad an “A” for the first 25 minutes of the USA’s 3-0 win Thursday over Zambia to start Group B play at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“The first part of the first half was exceptional,” Hayes said after the match. “To come out the way we did – the intention, the intensity, the decision-making, the execution, should have been at least five (goals) at halftime.”
Two goal-line clearances, including one on a volley from captain Lindsey Horan, helped Zambia keep the U.S. at bay.
But as for the rest of the match, well, the Americans wouldn’t make the honor roll in Hayes’ class.
USWNT 1, Germany 0
Germany controlled the first 10 minutes of the match … until they didn’t anymore.
Trinity Rodman found her groove around the right side with two runs that led to crosses through the box. On the second one, a streaking Mallory Swanson – with the ball played slightly behind her – let the pass go through. In came Sophia Smith, who found the back of the open net for an early U.S. lead.
USWNT nearly experiences disaster in 4th minute
MARSEILLE, France — Disaster nearly struck early for USWNT early.
In the fourth minute, captain Lindsey Horan didn’t realize the backward pass she was about to attempt had a German player waiting for it. Forward Lea Schueller had a golden opportunity but goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher bailed out her teammates with a huge stop.
But the Americans were still in trouble with the ball kicking around the box. Tierna Davidson went to the ground and successfully cleared for the U.S., ending a heart-pumping moment.
What time does USWNT play Germany?
The U.S. and Germany kick off at 3 p.m. ET.
Where to watch USA vs. Germany
USA network is airing the match, and Peacock is live streaming it.
USWNT Olympic schedule
- July 25:USWNT 3, Zambia 0
- July 28: USWNT vs. Germany, 3 p.m. ET
- July 31: USWNT vs. Australia, 1 p.m. ET
USWNT Olympic roster
- Forward: Sophia Smith, Mallory Swanson, Jaedyn Smith, Trinity Rodman and Crystal Dunn.
- Goalkeepers: Casey Murphy and Alyssa Naeher.
- Defenders: Tierna Davidson, Emily Fox, Naomi Girma, Casey Krueger, Jenna Nighswonger, Emily Sonnett.
- Midfielders: Korbin Albert, Sam Coffey, Lindsey Horan, Rose Lavelle, Lynn Williams.
Croix Bethune active instead of Jaedyn Shaw again
Emma Hayes is dealing with an adjusted bench once again as Jaedyn Shaw, one of the American reserves, appears to be unavailable. Croix Bethune, an alternate, is taking Shaw’s place on the bench, as she did against Zambia on Thursday in Nice. Bethune did not play, but Hayes emptied the bench in the 3-0 win.
Shaw is the youngest player on the 18-person roster at 19 years old. Bethune is 23.
USWNT starting XI vs. Germany
- Goalkeeper: Alyssa Naeher
- Defender: Emily Fox
- Defender: Naomi Girma
- Defender: Tierna Davidson
- Midfielder: Lindsey Horan (captain)
- Midfielder: Rose Lavelle
- Midfielder: Sam Coffey
- Forward: Sophia Smith
- Forward: Trinity Rodman
- Forward: Crystal Dunn
- Forward: Mallory Swanson
Available substitutes: Korbin Albert, Casey Krueger, Lynn Williams, Jenna Nighswonger, Emily Sonnett, Casey Murphy, Croix Bethune.
Germany without star defender these Olympics
MARSEILLE, France — Germany’s medal chances took a hit weeks before the Olympic tournament when Lena Oberdorf suffered a torn ACL during a Euro 2025 qualifying match.
The 22-year-old defender made her international debut in 2019 and was a member of Germany’s Euro 2022 squad. During that tournament, she was recognized as the “Best Young Player” and was named to the all-tournament team.
But in the 70th minute of a 4-0 victory over Austria on July 16, Oberdorf collided with an opposing player and the resulting injury cost her the Olympics.
USWNT group
The U.S. is in Group B, along with Germany, Zambia and Australia.
How many gold medals has USWNT won?
The U.S has won four Olympic gold medals: 1996, 2004, 2008 and 2012.
When does the USWNT play next?
The USWNT plays again Wednesday, July 31, at 1 p.m. ET against Australia.
Germany vs. US in Olympic women’s soccer: Long history, but first time for everything
MARSEILLE, France — This will be the second time the U.S. will play Germany at the Olympics and the first time it’s happening in group play.
That first Olympic matchup came in the semifinals of the 2004 Athens Games. The Americans won, 2-1, in extra time, and went on to defeat Brazil in the gold-medal match. Heather O’Reilly, then 19 years old, scored the game-winning goal in the 99th minute to push the U.S. past Germany.
It’s the 36th overall international meeting between the teams.
USWNT Olympic wins
The USWNT is 28-7-4 all-time at the Olympics, including four gold medals, won in 1996, 2004, 2008 and 2012.
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