How USWNT’s stars reacted to SheBelieves Cup triumph

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The USWNT went back-to-back at the SheBelieves Cup as they retained their crown with dominant victories over Canada, Brazil and Argentina.

Vlatko Andonovski’s side turned the style on for their final game against Argentina, cruising to a 6-0 win over Argentina thanks to goals from Carli Lloyd, Kristie Mewis, Alex Morgan, Christen Press and a Megan Rapinoe double.

Here’s how the stars responded after the game.

Scoring in this game meant more to Morgan that it will have done for most. It was her first strike for the USWNT since the header that won the 2019 World Cup semi-final against England, after which Morgan took time away from football to become a mother.

„To say it’s been a long time is an understatement, it’s been over 500 days, you guys don’t have to sugar coat it,“ she said (via ESPN). „I’m very excited to get my first goal back with national team and join the list of moms on the team who have scored goals and played as a national team player.

„I just want to be an example for other female athletes who are moms, or want to become moms, knowing that they still belong in the game after they have kids. You can be a mum and still be at the top of your game. I want to continue to show that and tonight was the first step of that.“

Rapinoe took home the tournament’s top scorer award after finishing the event with three goals, and the OL Reign winger admitted she took a more goal-focused approach to the competition this year.

“We wanted to come out fast as always,” said Rapinoe (via The Guardian). “It’s always dangerous to leave teams hanging around, so we were able to do that today.

„I just tried to find the space, be aggressive. Found myself in the middle a little bit more. The nines better be careful, leaving me out there scoring goals. Just trying to get up there and take the chances.”

Rapinoe grabbed the goals, but it was Manchester City playmaker Lavelle who picked up the competition’s MVP award – something she could hardly understand.

„Honestly I don’t know how I won that. I don’t know who picks that,“ she said. „I think there were a lot better options, but I guess it’s always it’s always nice to be recognized!“

Andonovski has enjoyed a perfect start as USWNT managerAndonovski has enjoyed a perfect start as USWNT manager
Andonovski has enjoyed a perfect start as USWNT manager | Alex Menendez/Getty Images

For manager Andonovski, it’s 16 games and 16 wins in charge since replacing Jill Ellis as manager of the team.

„It’s always hard to play against a team that sits low, it’s hard to break them down,“ he said. „And it’s hard to do it quick. So for us, it takes a little bit of time to figure out the angles, to figure out the area, to figure out the positions and how we can do it. So that was one thing that we’re looking at. How quick can we do it? Who can who can figure that out and how we can unlock a team?

„So, the understanding of our principles, the implementation of our principles and the execution individually, as a group, as a unit, and also as a team is what we’re looking for. So, overall very happy with how we are performed and how we were able to unlock Argentina early in the game, and how we finished the game as well.“

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