U.S. WNT

Time to Change Your Bookmarks for the New WNT Blog

2009-08-06T15:56:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the updated version of the Women’s National Team Blog on ussoccer.com – your new home for all things related to the WNT!

This will be the final post in this version of the Women's National Team Blog, but fear not! We will lead you to the new home for WNT news, notes and comedy: just click here to visit our new digs on the new-look ussoccer.com

While the U.S. Women are on hiatus, you will have ample time to adjust to the new surroundings and we will too, but have no fear – the WNT Blog will still be the top destination for all your favorite videos, photos, insight and behind-the-scenes STUFF that we hope you love.

Have no fear, the former, (award-winning!) WNT Blog will still be accessible right here and you’ll still find all the cool stuff we’ve done over the past two years, which, as you know, is a LOT of cool stuff.

Thank you, as always, for your continuing support of the U.S. Women’s National Team –We'll see you over there! Make sure you change your bookmarks!

http://www.ussoccer.com/Social/WNT-Blog.aspx

25 Random Things

2009-07-29T10:08:00.000-07:00

If you got one of the 2009 Official U.S. WNT Yearbooks at one of the two recent domestic matches, you saw that as part of the FactBook theme, each player listed a bunch of Random Things About Me. We only had space for 10-12 in the book, but each player did at least 25. To read the rest, you can go to ussoccer.com's Center Circle (updated link). There are more than a few amusing ones, including this one from Lori Chalupny (left):

24) I wish I could grow just a little bit so I could be listed (on the rosters) at 5-5 instead of 5-4.

Buy the 2009 WNT Factbook now at ussoccerstore.com.

Abby Wambach - 100 Goals Tribute

2009-07-28T14:28:00.000-07:00

To commemorate Abby Wambach's historic 100th career goal, the talented folks at ussoccer.com's all_access video put together this Abby goals compilation, including her 1ooth, scored on July 19 in her hometown of Rochester, N.Y., in the 1-0 victory over Canada. The video, minus the 100th goal (we're not that quick) was played in the stadium moments after the end of the match. So from all of us at U.S. Soccer, well done Abby!

Enjoy.

Add Nairn

2009-07-24T09:10:00.000-07:00

Upon further research by statistics guru extraordinaire Peter Hirdt of Elias Sports Bureau, we have discovered that Christine Nairn is the 9th youngest player ever to score a goal for the full U.S. Women's National Team. Kristine Lilly was the youngest at 16 years, 22 days, a record that will likely never be broken (one of many seeingingly unbreakable records by Lilly!).

Kristine Lilly

16 years, 22 days

08/13/1987 vs. China (1-1 T)

Tiffany Roberts

16 years, 340 days

04/10/1994 vs. T&T (3-1 W)

Jenn Grubb

17 years, 182 days

01/18/1996 vs. Ukraine (6-0 W)

Veronica Zepeda

17 years, 210 days

01/07/2000 vs. Czech Republic (8-1 W)

Cindy Parlow

17 years, 251 days

01/14/1996 vs. Russia (8-1 W)

Heather O'Reilly

17 years, 277 days

10/06/2002 vs. Italy (4-0 W)

Mia Hamm

18 years, 130 days

07/25/1990 vs. Norway (4-0 W)

Aly Wagner

18 years, 262 days
04/29/1999 vs. Japan (9-0 W)

Christine Nairn

18 years, 300 days

07/22/2009 vs. Canada (1-0 W)

Christie Welsh

18 years, 314 days

01/07/2000 vs. Czech Republic (8-1 W)

Let's Hear it for the Kid!

2009-07-22T21:20:00.000-07:00

How's this for an amazing scenario: The USA will play a two-game series against Canada, and in the first match a player will score her 100th career goal and in the second a player will score her first? And the two players who were a part of that 100th goal, will also play a part in the first goal. And both goals will come late in games and be game-winners? Pretty amazing story, huh? And it's true! After Abby Wambach dramatically won the USA-Canada match on July 19 in her hometown of Rochester, N.Y., with a 79th minute goal assisted by Lauren Cheney, 18-year-old Christine Nairn scored her first-ever goal for the senior WNT tonight in the 89th minute to defeat Canada again by a 1-0 score. The goal came after head flicks from Wambach and Cheney. Nairn now becomes one of the rare players to score a goal for the full National Team before ever playing a college game (Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly and Heather O'Reilly being a few more that we can think of off hand). Nairn, a veteran of the U.S. team that won the 2008 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Chile will likely be a key member of the U.S. squad that will attempt to qualify for the 2010 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Germany. She will play her freshman season at Penn State in the fall. So congrats to Christine and to the rest of the team for pulling out two dramatic wins over a tough Canadian side. The WNT Blog now takes another break, although we might be back for a post or two here and there, until the U.S. team gets back together in late September for a training camp. For now, it's back to their WPS teams and the quest for a playoff spot. As always thanks for following the WNT Blog. Your patronage is appreciated. Blog out from Charleston, S.C.

Starting XI

2009-07-22T16:10:00.000-07:00

Here's today's lineup from head coach Pia Sundhage:

Wambach--------------Tarpley

Rapinoe-----Boxx (c)-----Lloyd-----O'Reilly

Cox-----LePeilbet-----Buehler-----Mitts

Hope Solo

Canada's coming soon...check out matchtracker.ussoccer.com

Loooong Day

2009-07-22T11:28:00.000-07:00

With an 8 p.m. ET kickoff tonight (Live on Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Sports en Espanol), the U.S. players have about 10 hours to kill before leaving for the match. That's a long time to wait for a soccer player anxious to play a game. What do the U.S. players do all day? Not surprisingly, most just chill. A few of the players not starting tonight went for a light training in the morning. A few went for a walk in historic downtown Charleston. Megan Rapinoe says she "sits on my bed all day and wait for the next thing to come," which means the next meal or meeting. Yeah, the players eat and snack a lot during the day as well. Abby Wambach reads, a lot. The U.S. striker is a voracious reader. Amy LePeilbet is spending the afternoon reading and watching TV, but she'll have to make due with CNN, ESPN and Amanda Bynes' "Sydney White," a modern retelling of Snow White set against students in their freshman year of college in the Greek system. There's not much on daytime TV in Charleston. Stanford grad and potential future medical school student Rachel Buehler says, "I used to study all day, but now I just read." Hopefully, not medical textbooks. Suffice it to say, when the U.S. team boards the bus today for the match, they will be raring to go.

P.S.: The other day when we posted that a little known fact that Tobin Heath won the Outer Banks Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo in 2006 by catching a 88-pound Carolina Cobia. Ummm...we were joking. Not only does that fishing contest not exist, Tobin has never been in a rodeo of any sort and we have no idea what a Carolina Cobia looks like or how much a big one weighs. The WNT Blog apologizes for this moment of flippancy.

Pia Portrait

2009-07-22T08:34:00.000-07:00

In partnership with the USOC, artist Jamie Franki, an Associate Professor of Art at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, is collecting photographs and quotations from all the Team USA coaches whose athletes medaled in Olympic and Paralympic competition in Beijing. He is using the photographs to create commemorative portraits of each coach. The coach’s name, their Olympic event, a hand-drawn portrait and a quotation about their Olympic coaching experience are combined on 4’ x 12’ banners. The commemorative banners will travel the United States as a benefit exhibition. Booking fees will benefit Team USA. Franki is also the designer of the Order of Ikkos medal, which was presented to the U.S. coaches whose teams won gold medals in Beijing. Coaches do not get medals in the Olympics, only players, so the USOC thought it proper to create a medal for the head coaches as well. Pia's excellent portrait is hand-articulated colored pencil drawing.

In case you can't read it, Pia's quote for the banner was: "One of the things I am most proud of about our run to the Olympic gold medal was creating an environment on the team in which the players and the staff brought out the best performance in each other. Soccer is a team sport and a player's sport. The gold medal was a victory for team effort, teamwork and team spirit."

Well said, Pia, well said.

The Double

2009-07-21T15:59:00.000-07:00

Tobin Heath has some skilz. Oh, she's got skills too, but within those skills are some serious skilz. In fact, as the kids say, she's "just plain sick" when it comes to dribbling. Despite her youth, Tobin is one of the USA's most skillful players and a dynamic, slashing dribbler who brings some truly unique qualities to the field. With a desire to run at players from the flanks and go inside or outside to fire shots or bend in crosses with both feet, Heath has solidified her status as one of the top young players in the country. Her very first touches in her very first cap in January of 2008 against Finland featured a nutmeg and she hasn't stopped since. Her first touches against Canada on July 19 after coming into the match in the 75th minute were also a nutmeg. Then she pulled of this double-nutmeg below, which got the crowd, and Pia Sundhage, jumping for joy. If you're keeping score, that's three nutmegs in 15 minutes. But that's just Tobin. Check out the roll with the sole and then the toe-poke to Shannon Boxx. Yeah, sick.

P.S.: If you don't think juggling can help improve your ball skills, don't forget ussoccer.com's all_access Video of the Year in 2008: WalkAbout with Tobin Heath

Dinner Out

2009-07-20T20:59:00.000-07:00

The U.S. team got out of the hotel for a nice dinner tonight in downtown Charleston, one of the most picturesque and historic small towns in America. The excursion gave the U.S. players a chance to get out of their soccer clothes and stretch their legs before getting some well-deserved rest on a travel day. At the dinner, U.S. head coach Pia Sundhage and the team presented Abby Wambach with a Wambach 100 jersey (courtesy of Nike) signed by the whole team to commemorate her milestone goal last Sunday in her hometown or Rochester, N.Y. As far as we know, it's the only Wambach 100 jersey in existence so don't look for one on ussoccerstore.com. Wambach thanked the whole team for helping and supporting her through a difficult last 12 months during her comeback from her broken leg.

It's Hot in Charleston

2009-07-20T20:40:00.000-07:00

The U.S. team has arrived in Charleston, S.C. to prepare to face Canada on Wed., July 22 at Blackbaud Stadium. The match kicks off at 8 p.m. ET and will be televised live on FSC. It's a little bit "moist" in Charleston, especially as compared to the summer in upstate NY in Rochester, because as you know, it's not the heat that gets ya, it's the humidity. The USA left early this morning (6:30 am bus depature! Yes, it's not all glamour with the WNT) and arrived in Charleston (via Charlotte, N.C.) at around 1:30 p.m. The team trained at 5 p.m. as the players shook some soreness out of their legs that comes with 90 minutes on artificial turf. Thankfully, the match on Wednesday is on the plush grass at Blackbaud, home to the USL's Charleston Battery. Before the USA's training, Tobin Heath (left) reeled in a virtual marlin, or virtually caught a cast iron marlin in a fountain? One of the two. (Little known fact: Tobin won the Outer Banks Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo in 2006 by catching a 88-pound Carolina Cobia). And Shannon Boxx, Angela Hucles, Heather Mitts and Lindsay Tarpley (right) relax before hopping on the bus. (Looks like Tarp was munching on a Gatorade Bar as well). Tarpley didn't play against Canada in Rochester as she recovered from a knock on her ankle suffered in her last WPS match against the Boston Breakers, but she trained full out today and should be ready to go at Blackbaud.

WPStreaming

2009-07-20T20:27:00.000-07:00

While the players are with the National Team, they of course are keeping an eye on the results from their WPS clubs as the season enters its critical stage in the run to the playoffs. The players mostly have to follow Twitter, text messages from their teammates, WPS MatchTracker and post-game phone calls, but Lori Chalupny and Cat Whitehill were lucky enough to be able follow the St. Louis Athletica vs. Washington Freedom match via a webcast. While the WNT teammates and WPS foes were able to co-exist diplomatically in front of the computer screen, needless to say there were some fist pumps, jumping up and down and verbal banter as Whitehill's Freedom pulled out the 1-0 victory. Chalupny, who once again put in a stellar match at left back during the USA's last game, playing 90 minutes against Canada on July 19, will not be available for the 2nd leg on Wednesday night as she has returned home to St. Louis due to a death in the family. The WNT Blog sends out its thoughts and well wishes to Chalupny and her family. With U.S. captain Christie Rampone already out after having abdominal surgery in Rochester a few days ago, that leaves the U.S. team without its captain and co-captain and with just five defenders on the roster: Whitehill, Amy LePeilbet, Rachel Buehler, Heather Mitts and Stephanie Cox. Last we checked, though, you only need four Ds to play a 4-4-2, Pia Sundhage's formation of choice for most of her tenure at the helm of the U.S. team.

Mistaken Identity

2009-07-20T19:45:00.000-07:00

More than a few times has Heather Mitts and Leslie Osborne been mistaken for each other and/or compared to each other, mostly when they are on the field, and mostly by fans and TV analysts. Sure both are very blond, have similar hair styles, similar builds (although Osborne is 5-8 and Mitts is 5-5), similar facial structure and often wear similar cute hairbands, but last night in Rochester it got taken to another level. Osborne was out at dinner with her dad after the USA had defeated Canada 1-0 and two tables worth of young soccer girls were looking at her, pointing and whispering during the entire meal. They finally got the courage to come up to Osborne and ask to get their picture take with her. Osborne, a fan favorite where ever she plays, of course posed with all the girls, one of whom ended the meet and greet with, "It's so awesome that you have 100 caps!" Of course, Osborne has 60 caps. It was Mitts who was honored at the match for earning her 100th cap last March at the Algarve Cup. Osborne didn't have the heart to tell the girls that she was not Heather Mitts. "I just walked out of the restaurant," said the slightly embarrassed Osborne. But girls, trust us, still pretty cool to get your picture taken with Leslie, who is with the National Team for the first time in over a year after recovering from two reconstructive surgeries on her left leg. To hear Leslie's thoughts on her long road back and her return to the National Team, along with fellow ACL survivor Cat Whitehill, check out this all_access video.

She's Done It!

2009-07-19T17:16:00.000-07:00

It was a magical afternoon in Rochester, N.Y. this afternoon as Abby Wambach fulfilled what most only dream about. She scored her first goal since tragically breaking her leg in the final pre-Olympic match just over a year ago. It was her historic 100th career goal, putting in an exclusive club with four of the USA's greatest-ever players, and she did it in her hometown in front of hundreds of friends and family and live on ESPN. Not only that, but she scored her 100th goal in the same town (although not the same stadium) as her friend and mentor Mia Hamm, who scored her 100th goal (the first player ever to do so) in 1998 at Rochester's Frontier Field. So congrats to Abby who surely has shown a flair for the dramatic. Suffice it to say, Abby is Back. Freel free to post your congrats for the USA's top striker!

198 Goals Between Them

2009-07-18T20:59:00.000-07:00

It's a special moment for women's soccer as two players will be going for their 100th international goals in the same game, something that may never happen again (unless of course neither Abby Wambach and Christine Sinclair score tomorrow, then it will happen again on July 22 in Charleston, S.C.) For now, we'll enjoy this moment in history as the USA and Canada clash live on ESPN on Sunday, July 19 at 3 p.m. ET. To give you a special appreciation of their amazing accomplishments, we sat down two of the world's top forwards, side-by-side talking about they have in common (Hint: G---'s Anatomy and definitely not their favorite dog), their potential career milestone and their respect for each's other's game.

P.S.: You like the song in this video? It's by LA-based artist Rachael Cantu. Hear more at http://www.myspace.com/rachaelcantu

Get to Know Her: Christine Nairn

2009-07-18T20:50:00.000-07:00

Most fans are familiar with most of the U.S. players, but with just one cap, Christine Nairn is definitely the new kid on the block. She has yet to play a college match (she will this fall for Penn State), but has already won a world title, helping the U.S. U-20s to the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup championship in Chile last fall. In this special WNT Blog video, spend 60 seconds with Christine Nairn.

House of Wambach

2009-07-18T15:05:00.001-07:00

The entire U.S. team and staff were hosted for a scrumptious BBQ dinner last night at Casa Wambach. Special thanks to Abby's parents, her brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, friends, relatives and everyone else. Really, the Wambach Clan is never-ending. It was nice to get out of the hotel, get some good food and visit with one of the U.S. WNT's favorite families. The Wambach's will be out in force for the USA-Canada match tomorrow. If you are in the stadium, you won't miss them. We don't want to call them "rowdy" but the Wambach's like to have a good time. How about vocal?

The Mayor of Rochester

2009-07-18T13:54:00.000-07:00

Abby signs for some young fans at the Univ. of Rochester after the USA's weight-lifting session

What do Bob Duffy and Abby Wambach have in common? Well, one IS the mayor of Rochester and one COULD be the major of Rochester, or perhaps it just seems that way whith the amount of love and recognition that the U.S. striker gets when she returns to her hometown.

Wambach has done interviews with about a 10 different media organizations since return to Rochester and she has been constantly recognized on the streets. She will have more than 100 family and friends in the stands for the match tomorrow at 3 p.m. live on ESPN as she shoots for her historic 100th goal. For a list of her previous 99 goals, click here. Wambach has scored two goals in each of her previous two matches in Rochester, those coming against Iceland and Mexico, so the world's 11th ranked Canadians present a bit stiffer competition.

Wambach has played just 90 minutes for the USA since breaking her leg on July 16, 2008, that coming in the USA's 4-0 win over Canada in Toronto on May 25. Tune into ESPN on Sunday, July 19, at 3 p.m. ET to see Abby and her teammates go for the win over Canada as well as Abby's 100th goal.

Abby with a young fan and Trinidadian Tiger Fitzpatrick of the Rochester Rhinos

Tag along with Abby during her first few days in Rochester in this all_access video.

Rampone Out for Canada Matches

2009-07-18T11:20:00.000-07:00

U.S. captain Christie Rampone underwent emergency abdominal surgery early this morning in Rochester, N.Y., where the USA is preparing to face Canada on Sunday at 3 p.m. live on ESPN and will not be available for that match, or the July 22 clash with Canada in Charleston, S.C. (Live on Fox Soccer Channel at 8 p.m. ET). Rampone is fine, resting and may leave the hospital later today. It is undetermined how long she will be sidelined. Rampone has played every minute of all five WNT matches so far this year and led the team in minutes played in 2008, setting a U.S. record for most minutes played in a calendar year with 3,066. U.S. head coach Pia Sundhage will not replace Rampone and the USA will head into the two matches against Canada with a roster of 20 players.

Rock Hard Abs

2009-07-17T10:12:00.000-07:00

If you watch the USA-Canada match on ESPN this Sunday at 3 p.m. ET, you might see defender Lori Chalupny with a brace on her right hand. Seems she injured her paw in a collision with Heather O'Reilly during a WPS match. We went straight to the protagonists to get the inside scoop on the "incident" in this special WNT Blog video.

Year to the Day

2009-07-16T19:16:00.000-07:00

July 16 marks an anniversary of sorts for Abby Wambach. One year ago tonight she broke her leg against Brazil, knocking her out of the Olympic Games. In a classic case of "time heals all wounds" Wambach is back with the USA, in her hometown, in search of a win over Canada and her 100th career international goal. It's amazing the difference a year makes. Wambach is back 100%, looking fit and sharp and certainly excited about playing in front of her friends and family in Rochester. Not surprisingly, Wambach has been the focus of some media attention on the USA's first day in town, doing quite a few interviews and a live TV news shot at the end of training today. Some of the reporters have been covering her since she was a junior high school basketball star. Wambach fielded all the attention with her usual aplomb, focusing not on herself, but on her great pride in returning home to with her teammates and her joy at being back with the National Team. Keep a look out on all_access video to hear a few thoughts from Abby on her return to Rochester. Last time she played here she scored twice in a 3-0 win over Mexico.

Happy Birthday Carli!

2009-07-16T19:07:00.000-07:00

Today is the 27th birthday of U.S. midfielder Carli Lloyd, and being an international soccer player, of course she celebrated during a WNT training camp. Carli actually got the Birthday Song not once, not twice, not even three times, but FOUR times after dinner. The players sang in English before and after the cake arrived (Carvel ice cream cake, which according to Carli is "the best." Must be an east coast thing), Pia Sundhage sang in Swedish and asst. coach Hege Riise sang in Norwegian. We believe it's the first trilingual birthday celebration during a WNT training camp. You know what would be a nice birthday present for Carli? A goal vs. Canada on Sunday. However, even playing would be nice as well as the USA's Olympic hero (one of the many) missed the last Canada game on May 25 after suffering a fluky and gruesome gash on her kneecap during training. The cut has healed and Carli will be ready to go.

Rolling Into Rochester

2009-07-16T11:43:00.001-07:00

The players of the U.S. Women's National Team have been arriving in Rochester, N.Y. all day and of course that means the return of the WNT Blog. A few of the West Coasters came in late last night as it would be tough to make the 5 p.m. training today if they left this morning (and who wants to take those REALLY early AM flights anyway?). As the team hasn't been together for almost two months since the 4-0 victory over Canada in Toronto in late May, the first hours were spent catching up, chatting about their WPS seasons and just being plain happy to be together as a National Team again. Of course, the players have been seeing quite a lot of each other during the WPS season, but as the post-games usually feature a winner and a loser, that's not the time for chit-chat. With everyone on the same team now, the players reveled each other with the ups and downs of a pro season while getting ready for the first training this afternoon. The team will train once a day leading up to Sunday's clash with Canada at 3 p.m. ET at Marina Auto Stadium live on ESPN.

Happy 10-Year Anniversary!

2009-07-10T10:01:00.000-07:00

According to tradition, tin is the gift to give for a 10-year anniversary, and since 10 years ago today the U.S. Women's National Team lifted the shiny, metallic Women's World Cup Trophy at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., we'll consider that appropriate. It's hard to believe it's been 10 years since that magical moment when Brandi Chastain nailed the fifth and decisive penalty kick against China in front of 90,185 fans and 40 million more watching on TV in the United States. We shouldn't forget that the teams battled through 120 tense minutes to get to that shootout on a stifling hot day, taking everyone who was watching on the roller-coaster ride of their sporting lifetimes. On this very special anniversary of what is still the greatest women's sporting event in history, we'll let the pundits across the country describe what it means to them and those who bore witness. Please click on these special ussoccer.com features and some articles from across the USA.

Remembering '99: SI Photo Shoot

Remembering '99: Rock Star Reception

Remembering '99: MacMillan to Fawcett

Remembering '99: Tisha's Two

Remembering '99: A Special Night at Soldier Field

You can also go to ussoccer.com's special Remembering '99 page to read the memories of numerous WPS players who watched the 1999 WWC or attended matches.

Los Angeles Times

Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Richmond Times Dispatch

Boston Herald

The Oklahoman

There is also this cool photo gallery on usatoday.com. And a the USA Today story.

See you in Rochester

2009-05-28T09:24:00.000-07:00

After an excellent performance against Canada on Memorial Day, playing under the adverse conditions of a hard turf field and 10,000 hostile Canadian fans (ok, they weren't hostile. Canadians are actually really nice folks), the U.S. players have returned to their WPS clubs, where they shall stay until mid-July when the team regroups for another two matches against Canada. The first should be extra-fun as Abby Wambach (should she get called up and we think that's a pretty good bet) will be going for her 100th career goal in front of her hometown fans in Rochester, N.Y. on July 19 in front of a live television audience on ESPN. (Do you remember that Mia Hamm scored her 100th goal in Rochester in 1998? Also her 101st). Hmmm...Are the Soccer Gods trying to tell us something? There is sure to be some buzz that week in Rochester with this amazing coming together of circumstances. And we here at the WNT Blog can't wait. But we must. And so must you. We'll start up again when the team arrives in Rochester around July 15 and at that time we'll post the all_access video of the sit-down we did with Abby and Canadian Christine Sinclair, who is also on 99 goals. Until then, enjoy the WPS action.

Abby Goes for 100

2009-05-25T08:10:00.000-07:00

Today's match against Canada marks a unique moment in time for women's soccer as both Abby Wambach and Canadian captain Christine Sinclair will be shooting for their 100th career international goals in the same game, something that has never happened before. Keep checking ussoccer.com later today for a special video as we sat down the two goal scorers to talk about their upcoming milestones. For now, you can read about Abby's career as well as get a goal-by-goal breakdown of her first 99 scores, and some interesting and fun Abby goal scoring facts by clicking here. A reminder, you can watch the players' quest for 100 live on Fox Soccer Channel at 7 p.m. ET or follow on ussoccer.com's MatchTracker, or if you are so inclined and technologically savvy enough, do both. And if you haven't read the ussoccer.com feature "Abby is Back from Her 'Break'", and you have a few minutes (it's sort of long), click here.

Boxx Talks WPS

2009-05-25T07:15:00.000-07:00

With the USA preparing to play its first-ever match during a WPS season, U.S. midfielder and team leader Shannon Boxx sat down with ussoccer.com to discuss coming back into the national team from the WPS, the challenges and the positives. Read what Boxxy's had to say here.

Dinner and a Game

2009-05-24T19:35:00.000-07:00

U.S. head coach Pia Sundhage was kind enough to move up the USA's pre-game meeting tonight so the squad could go to a local sports bar and watch the WPS match between the Los Angeles Sol and FC Gold Pride. (Of course, Pia wanted to watch the game too...). Almost the entire team took in the Sol's 2-0 win, a great victory on the road any way you slice it as they played without four starters (two Americans, two Canadians) that are here in Toronto for the match tomorrow. While the whole team enjoyed the match and the ooooohs! and aaaaaaahs! were frequent, no one lived and died with each kick like the players for the Sol (Shannon Boxx and Brittany Bock) and the Gold Pride (Rachel Buehler and Nicole Barnhart). Huge kudos to back-up Gold Pride GK Allison Whitworth for a fantastic performance, but in the end the Sol picked up the three points to solidfy its lead atop the WPS standings. Tomorrow, 17 WPS players for the USA and six for Canada will lace'em up at BMO Field in a match that can be seen live on Fox Soccer Channel at 7 p.m. ET

Last Training in Toronto

2009-05-24T11:44:00.001-07:00

The U.S. team trained this morning on turf at Allan Lamport Stadium, going about 90 minutes in its final practice before facing Canada tomorrow. Following the game, the players will head back to their WPS clubs (or in the case of the college players, summer vacation!) and the national team will not come together until mid-July for two more games against Canada. A reminder that fans can watch the game live on Fox Soccer Channel at 7 p.m. ET and follow online with ussoccer.com's MatchTracker if you don't happen to be in a place that carries FSC. Fortunately, the WPS matches are carried in Canada and a bunch of U.S. players are heading to a sports bar tonight after dinner and the pre-game meeting to watch the L.A. Sol take on FC Gold Pride from Santa Clara, Calif. The result of the match may determine if Shannon Boxx and Brittany Bock or Rachel Buehler and Nicole Barnhart pay for the hot wings and spinach dip.

Matriculating to the WNT

2009-05-23T20:51:00.000-07:00

We don't know how much PT they will get on Monday, but props to the four collegiate players that U.S. head coach Pia Sundhage has called in four this event, all of whom have represented the USA at a FIFA youth Women’s World Cup. The players have just 17 caps between them, but 16 of those belong to Lauren Cheney, one of the top forwards in the country at UCLA and a member of the gold medal-winning 2008 Olympic Team. Cheney, who has scored 53 goals in three seasons for the Bruins, was a late addition to the Olympic roster, replacing Abby Wambach after she suffered a broken leg in the final pre-Olympic match. Midfielder Christine Nairn, a Penn State freshman and a member of the 2008 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup champions last fall in Chile, gets her second call up after training with the USA in January, but is looking for her first senior team cap. Sundhage also called up forward Casey Nogueira, a member of the USA’s 2006 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Team in Russia, who had a fantastic junior season at North Carolina last year, pounding in 25 goals with eight assists including both scores in the NCAA title game victory against Notre Dame. She picked up a slew of national player of the year awards after the season. Nogueira earned her lone cap at the 2007 Four Nations Tournament in China, playing the first half against England. Goalkeeper Kelsey Davis from the University of Portland also gets a call up, earning the opportunity to train alongside veterans Hope Solo and Nicole Barnhart. A long-time veteran of the USA’s youth national teams, Davis was the back-up goalkeeper at the 2004 FIFA U-19 Women’s World Cup in Thailand and the 2006 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Russia and was a member of the U.S. U-23 Women’s National Team that won the 2007 Nordic Cup in Finland. No matter how much these players get to play against Canada, with the Women's World Cup two years away, the time is now to invest in young players to see if they can make an impact down the road.

Lloyd Hurt: Gruesome, but Not Serious

2009-05-23T20:18:00.000-07:00

U.S. midfielder Carli Lloyd suffered a laceration to her left knee today in the USA's scrimmage and will not be available for the match against Canada on Monday. The injury, which was much worse looking than it actually was, occurred when she skidded on the ground after trying to cross a ball. She suffered a deep, 2.5 inch gash almost directly on the front of her kneecap. No one could figure out if it was a cleat that opened the wound, a rock, or just friction on the ground, but suffice it to say it was pretty gross. So much so that the WNT Blog has decided against posting a picture of it. But to give you visual image, it looked as if a small shark or a barracuda had chomped on her knee. She should be able to make up some good stories with the scar after she is all healed up. "So, I was snorkeling in Bermuda, and out of nowhere, a giant squid grabbed my leg!" Carli is fine, and in good spirits, but once again amazed at the freakishness of injuries she has suffered with the WNT, which includes a broken wrist after she lost her balance hitting a shot early in her career, and a broken nose. The U.S. medical staff, which did a great job cleaning, stitching (it took 5-6 stitches to close that sucker) and dressing the wound on the field, estimates about two weeks until she can get back on the field after the cut has healed and closed up well.

Turf Monsters

2009-05-23T20:03:00.000-07:00

The USA's match on Monday against Canada will be played on the FieldTurf, but the Americans should be somewhat used to it by now, having played two matches on the fake stuff in the latter part of 2008 and three games total on plastic last year. No soccer player likes to play on an artificial surface, but the U.S. team has trained on it this week in Canada and finished its domestic schedule last year at Ford Field in Detroit inside the massive dome there. As far as we can figure, the USA has never lost a match on an artificial surface, although they did tie a game in Tromso, Norway in 2000 that was played on a real grass, plastic grass hybrid. You couldn't tell to look at it, but if you bent down, you could see the plastic blades among the real ones. Makes it more durable, which is needed in a place like Tromso where it’s totally dark for half the year. But we digress...If the USA has to play on an artificial surface, it's great to be playing in a fantastic soccer venue like BMO Field. Toronto FC won it's MLS match today against the New England Revolution, so the Canadians fans will be primed and ready for another good performance from their team come Monday. A crowd of 10,000 is possible, which would make for a great environment for the USA's first match in Canada since 2001.

Goal for the Ages

2009-05-22T19:13:00.001-07:00

Here at the WNT Blog, we've unearthed a gem from the archives and we just had to share it with you. When Pia Sundhage was hired to coach the U.S. Women's National Team, part of her long soccer biography was the fact that in the 1984 European Women's Championships, she scored a goal for Sweden against England in Gothenburg in the first leg of the two-game Final. Sweden won that match, 1-0, and although they lost the return leg in England, 1-0, Sweden won on PKs to take its first and thus far only European crown. Sundhage scored the winning PK in that shootout. But back to Sundhage's goal. As you will see, it was a brave diving header that rivals anything Abby Wambach has produced in her 99 goals and Abby has scored some nasty goals for sure. Sundhage scored 71 goals in her 146 international matches, but this goal was perhaps one of her best and surely one of her most important. It also gives you a glimpse of why she finished sixth in the voting for FIFA Women's Player of the Century back in 2000. Keep in mind, this goal was scored 25 years ago! Yikes! So now, we're Gonna Fly Now. Well, Pia is.

Ghosting Past a Defender?

2009-05-22T14:50:00.000-07:00

The U.S. team trained today at Allan Lamport Stadium in Toronto, a small venue (seats just under 10,000) that was built in the mid-1970s. The stadium, named after a former mayor of Toronto from the 1950s, was built on the site of the infamous Andrew Mercer Reformatory for Women, i.e, a prison. The prison opened in 1872 with the idealistic promise of a "homelike" atmosphere for its inmates, but in it's almost 100 years of existence earned a dark and dastardly reputation, and in 1969 it was closed and demolished. There has to be some irony that the site which was not a happy place for women would one day host the top-ranked women's soccer team in the world? While some of the players were told that the stadium was haunted, no ghosts were spotted...at least not yet. The team will train there once more before the match against Canada on Monday.

Lori Chalupny just misses cutting off a pass from Lindsay Tarpley to Amy Rodriguez at Allan Lamport Stadium, former site of an infamous women's prison.

Cast Aways

2009-05-22T14:39:00.000-07:00

When you are a soccer player, it goes without saying that you'd rather hurt your hand than your foot (unless you are a goalkeeper). We're not sure what caused the rash or wrist/thumb/arm/hand injuries on the U.S. Women's National Team, but as you can see, Shannon Boxx and Marian Dalmy both are sporting some protection for injuries. Nicole Barnhart is a GK so they always are taping something, right? You can always use some extra support for the thumbs when you are fielding shots from Abby Wambach and Carli Lloyd. Boxx took a ball off the arm in a WPS training (although she says she's fine and it's looks WAY worse than it is) and Dalmy fell on her hand during a WPS practice and tore a thumb ligament. We think the U.S. team will be fine as long as Boxxy and Dalmy aren't called up to be emergency goalkeepers.

Hungry, Hungry Hippo

2009-05-21T20:26:00.001-07:00

The U.S. team trained far from its hotel this afternoon and in rush hour traffic, it took over an hour to get to the field. While the trip back wasn't nearly as long, as the bus pulled into downtown Toronto, the players were famished and Megan Rapinoe commented that she was hungry enough to "eat my arm." She was then asked if she was a Hungry, Hungry Hippo and she responded that indeed she was. The mention of the popular kids game brought back some fond childhood memories for Marian Dalmy. Said the U.S. defender: "I beat the heck out of those hippos!" Yeah, that was one fun, frantic marble munching game.

Same hair stylist?

2009-05-21T20:16:00.000-07:00

Amy LePeilbet and Megan Rapinoe showed up at national team camp with remarkable similar haircuts. Amy's has a bit more reddish tint to it, but both are using the classic pre-wrap hairband to keep the wispies in check. Truth be told, it's not only cute, but very functional for a professional soccer player who is in the sun all the time and constantly sweating. We are feeling a shampoo endorsement for these two.

Cutting it Close

2009-05-21T20:05:00.001-07:00

Just over a week ago, when the USA's two matches against Japan in Texas and Utah were changed to one match against Canada in Toronto, U.S. goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart realized that her passport was expired. Whoops! Yes, you need a passport to travel to Canada. In the words of Forrest Gump..."It's this whole other country." Barnhart had a week to get a new one, but being the conscientious Stanford grad that she is, got right on it. Problem was, she couldn't get an appointment at the ridiculously busy San Francisco Passport office. When she finally got through to a living, breathing human, they said to call back 48 hours before her flight, which she did, and finally got an appointment. Problem was, after dropping off her paperwork, she couldn't get back to San Francisco from the South Bay Area to pick it up, so she hired a courier service to bring it to her. However, when the service went to pick it up the night before she was to travel to Canada, they couldn't get it. Paperwork snafu! Barnhart made calls, resent the paperwork and threatened the courier service with bodily harm (ok, Barnie would never do that). The next morning the service got the passport, drove it back down the peninsula and delivered it to Barnhart after FC Gold Pride training and just an hour before she was going to leave for the airport. Phew! Stressful? Yes, but Barnie made it to Canada, as you can see by the photo below. There is a silver lining. Barnhart said she really needed a new passport photo. That last one was like 10 years old...

Welcome to Tex...Toronto

2009-05-21T09:04:00.000-07:00

After some big-time shuffling last week following Japan dropping out of its North American tour, all systems are go for the USA's match against Canada on Monday night in Toronto. Kudos to the behind-the-scenes U.S. Soccer and Canada Soccer staff and officials for the juggling act that brings the U.S. women to Canada for the first time since 2001 in a match that will be broadcast live on Fox Soccer Channel at 7 p.m. ET on Memorial Day. Most of the U.S. players are arriving in Canada today, although the four West Coast-based players arrived late last night as they might not have been able to make it in for afternoon training today had they left early this morning. Those players are of course Rachel Buehler and Nicole Barnhart from FC Gold Pride and Shannon Boxx and Brittany Bock from the Los Angeles Sol. Poor Boxx and Bock flew through Denver and arrived without their bags (wonderful airport Denver, but why are bags always getting lost there?), but they'll get their stuff this morning well before training which is scheduled for 5 p.m. The U.S. team is scheduled to train once a day leading up to the match at BMO Field which will be played on the FieldTurf surface.

Sports Envoys in Bolivia

2009-04-30T12:29:00.001-07:00

Former U.S. Women’s National Team player Amanda Cromwell and former U.S. Under-17 Men's National Team coach Jay Miller traveled to Bolivia for a series of soccer clinics around the South American country as part of the first Sports Envoy program of 2009. Cromwell and Miller departed for South America last week, before returning stateside earlier this week.
Launched in 2006, the Sports Envoy program pairs U.S. Soccer with the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs on a sports initiative that sends players and coaches from U.S. Soccer’s National Teams as State Department Sports Envoys to conduct clinics and spark a dialogue with local children around the world. Each program includes one male and one female Sports Envoy.
Cromwell and Miller arrived in La Paz, conducting clinics with local boys and girls in the Bolivian capital for four days. After working with historic clubs, including Boliva and the Strongest, Cromwel and Miller headed to Santa Cruz, the largest city in the country. The coaches conducted a few more clincs with local children at various soccer academies before coming back to the U.S. yesterday. Check out more information from the trip by visiting the embassy's Facebook page.

Soccer Specific Summer

2009-04-20T11:31:00.000-07:00

With today's announcement of two more friendlies, the abbreviated 2009 WNT domestic schedule is now set. The U.S. will be playing, in order: in Frisco, Texas; Sandy, Utah; Rochester, N.Y.; and Charleston, S.C. Olympic semifinalists Japan will be the opponents for the first two matches in late May, while Canada will head south for a pair of matches in July.

The common thread between all of these cities? They house stadiums built for a soccer team as their primary tenant. As far as we can tell, this is the first time that in any one year the WNT or MNT has played in only soccer specific stadiums.

The even better news is that three of the four games wedged into the middle of the WPS season will be televised. Complete details are below.

2009 WNT Domestic Tour
USA vs. Japan - May 20, 2009 - 7:30 p.m. CT
Pizza Hut Park - Frisco, Texas - Tickets

USA vs. Japan - May 23, 2009 - 4 p.m. MT
Rio Tinto Stadium - Sandy, Utah - Tickets
Live on FSC & Fox Sports en Espanol

USA vs. Canada - July 19, 2009 - 3 p.m. ET
Rochester Rhinos Stadium - Rochester, N.Y. - Tickets
Live on ESPN

USA vs. Canada - July 22, 2009 - 8 p.m. ET
Blackbaud Stadium - Charleston, S.C. - Tickets
Live on FSC & Fox Sports en Espanol

Which game will we see you at?

Out from the Algarve

2009-03-11T16:02:00.000-07:00

Well, that's it from the beautiful coast of Portugal. Thanks very much for reading the WNT Blog over the past few weeks as well as following the tournament on ussoccer.com. The WNT Blog is going to take a long hiatus and we hope you won't miss us too much, but you'll have the chance to follow your favorite players with their WPS clubs as this historic inaugural season for the new women's pro league kicks off in a few weeks. As always, we've enjoyed our stay in the Algarve and the tournament featured fantastic competition, but it's time to head back to the USA as the players will be reporting almost directly to their WPS clubs. We'll be announcing the next set of WNT matches soon so keep checking ussoccer.com and hopefully the team will be coming to a city near you. So for now, Obrigado Portugal. We are out.

Drama in the Algarve

2009-03-11T15:46:00.000-07:00

Wow. Pretty dramatic stuff in today's Algarve Cup Final, but unfortunately the USA came out on the painful end of the risky business known as the Penalty Kick Shootout. Huge credit goes to the U.S. for battling back from a poor first half to pound away at Sweden in the second 45 and finally get a 90th minute equalizer, which was the USA's second last minute goal of the tournament. (Who does that?). But missing four of seven penalty kicks was not going to get it done, with two agonizingly hitting the left post. Love'em or hate'em, penalties are pretty exciting and today was no exception as the teams went seven shooters deep before this one was over. Keep in mind, the U.S. team allowed just one goal in this year's Algarve Cup -- and that was a gift to Sweden today on a poor back pass. However, if Hope Solo hadn't have been HUGE in the U.S. goal during the match, it would have never gotten to penalty kicks, but that's what a great goalkeeper can do for you. All-in-all, a good tournament for the U.S. as a bunch of young players got to play some quality minutes, players played some different positions and the team is starting to set a good base for its run to qualifying for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. After getting a close-up look at the 2009 versions of the top European squads, the U.S. team can sit back and watch what should be a fantastic European Women's Championships this fall in Finland. Who is the favorite? Germany? Sweden? Denmark? England? A dark horse perhaps? After watching the Swedes today, the WNT Blog likes their chances.

Get Pumped Up: Algarve Final

2009-03-11T07:51:00.000-07:00

The Algarve Cup Final vs. Sweden kicks off at 12 p.m. ET today, so don't forget to follow along via ussoccer.com's MatchTracker. Here's a look at the highlights of the last game vs. Norway as we all get psyched up for today's match. And Mirela, as requested, Hope Solo's sick save in the first half is at the 1:05 mark.

Mitts 100

2009-03-11T03:48:00.001-07:00

We can't release the USA's starting lineup for the Algarve Cup championship match just yet, but we can confirm that defender Heather Mitts will be in it. That means that Mitts will become the 25th female player in U.S. history to earn her 100th cap. It's been a long road for Mitts to the century mark as she earned her first cap in 1999, but didn't break into the National Teal full time until 2004. Through a broken leg and an ACL injury, she has persevered to earn two Olympic gold medals and leave her mark as one of the top outside backs in U.S. history. So, congrats to Mitzy on cap 100!

You can read about Heather's thoughts on her 100th cap in this Q&A on ussoccer.com

Venue for The Final

2009-03-11T03:26:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of good looks at the Stadium Algarve, which was built in 2003 for just $34 million. We think Jerry Jones spent that on just the owner's suit at the new Dallas Cowboy Stadium. The 30,000-seat venue is absolutely perfect to watch a soccer match and hosted three games of the 2004 European Championships. One of those was a 0-0 draw between Sweden and the Netherlands in the quarterfinals that Sweden eventually lost in penalty kicks. The Sweden women have had a bit better fortune at Stadium Algarve, taking third place in the Algarve Cup there in 2006 with a 1-0 victory over France on a goal by Lotta Schelin, but finished fourth there in 2005 with a 3-2 loss to France.

Last Practice (Swim?) in the Algarve

2009-03-10T10:45:00.001-07:00

Today was the USA's last training in Portugal and it only featured six players who went to the field while the remainder of the squad did a pool workout to rest and regenerate the legs in advance of the Sweden match. The U.S. team will have played four tough games in eight days by the end of this tournament and winning the Algarve Cup is often a battle of team depth and attrition. Above are the six players who had a fun, albeit short training. We have to give the GKs props for winning two of the end of training finishing competitions while the field players won one. Below are the other players heading to the pool. It seems you have to wear swimming caps at this pool, so the U.S. players did. Michael Phelps, look out.

Cool Spring Break

2009-03-10T10:33:00.000-07:00

The U.S. team is sharing this hotel with three USYSA ODP Regional Teams who are here in Portugal to train, play some matches, and of course take in some Algarve Cup matches. The Region I (East), Region II (North) and Region III (South) teams are here featuring a mixture of U-17, U-16 and U-15 players. (We guess the Region IV west coast girls didn't need to come to the ocean and beach as they see it all the time). Still, it's got to be pretty cool to be so close to your heroes, as well as get to watch the National Team trainings and games from so close. It also means that the USA will have a cheering section at the Algarve Cup Final! Hopefully, these youngsters, who by virture of making their regional pools are on track to be selected to various U.S. youth national teams, can get a feel for the speed of play, athleticism and physicality of the highest levels of women's international soccer, not to mention the technical ability needed to excel this level. For now, the players are just happy to get some pics with the U.S. players. Above the Region I girls score a team photo.

I'll Have the Prawns

2009-03-10T10:28:00.000-07:00

Seeing as the Algarve region is flush on the southern coast of Portugal, the sea food is of course excellent. For those U.S. players who like sea food, they have certainly been partaking here in the Algarve. Last night, the monster prawns were a popular appetizer and a good example of the Portuguese cuisine. The pesto, mozzarella and tomato salads were also good, as were the cheese plates. Luckily, the U.S. players run a lot and needed to replenish the calories after the Norway match.

Down Goes Boxx

2009-03-10T10:16:00.000-07:00

The U.S. team had a wonderful dinner last night after the victory over Norway, eating at a restaurant overlooking the sea in Old Town Albufeira. Amid the celebration of a good win, the excellent appetizers and great food, there was an "incident." At the end of dinner, Rylie Rampone, the three-year-old daughter of team captain Christie Rampone, climbed onto the lap of Shannon Boxx and moments later, with a loud crack, Boxx' chair gave way. We're not sure how much pasta Boxx ate or if the addition of Rylie's 40-pounds (or the 15 chicken nuggets she consumed) made a difference, or if the chair was just old, but it crumpled as if some furniture demolition experts had caused it to implode. Now, while this surely is a "you had to be there" moment, the U.S. team, and Boxx, rolled with laughter as the U.S. midfielder tried to extricate herself from the wood splinters. Rylie then went over to her mom and said, "Mom, Boxxy broke the chair!" Of course, Rylie was back again a few minutes wanting Boxx to "do it again." Above you can seem the remnants of the chair, but sorry for the bad quality pic. We had to take it with a camera phone.

It Was That Kind of Game

2009-03-09T15:44:00.000-07:00

The tackles were flying in the 45th meeting between the USA and Norway, and as usual when the two teams meet, there were aerial battles galore. Rachel Buehler laid down her fair share of tackles and won almost every header, but she also got some whiplash when she was blasted from behind on a header and (above) shows the effect of accidently heading Norwegian captain Ingvild Stensland in the back of the head.

Debutant Kendall Fletcher wins this duel

That's Good Form

2009-03-09T15:16:00.000-07:00

Megan Rapinoe lets loose with her goal scoring shot in the 21st minute against Norway. The goal is just another step, albeit an exciting one, on her long way back from two ACL surgeries. You can read about her road to recovery on ussoccer.com.

The USA has scored just four goals in three games, but it hasn't allowed one either and that's how a soccer team wins games and qualifies for finals of major tournaments. While a few of the U.S. most dangerous attacking players have yet to find the net this tournament (perhaps that means they are "due" in the final vs. Sweden?), the mark of a good team is getting goals from all over. With Angie Wozunk (second career goal), Tina DiMartino (first career goal), Natasha Kai (24th career goal) and Megan Rapinoe (third career goal) getting on the board, the USA has made the final with its second least amount of goals ever in Algarve group play. In 2003, the USA made the final while scoring three first round goals, with a 1-1 tie with Canada, a 1-0 win over Norway and a 1-1 tie with Sweden, then won the final 2-0 over China.

On to Estadio Algarve

2009-03-09T15:08:00.000-07:00

The 18 group matches are over and the placement matches have been set. While the USA will face Sweden in the championship game at Estadio Algarve, there will be some other interesting matches as well. The Germans and the Danes will play for third before the USA takes the pitch in Faro, while China and Iceland will play for fifth. Portugal gets a nice match for them against Finland, host of the 2008 UEFA Women's Championships, while Norway will have to play for ninth against Austria. Wales hammered Poland today, 5-1, but the Poles will get a chance at redemption in the match for 11th. You can follow the USA-Sweden clash on ussoccer.com's MatchTracker.

Placement Matches
March 11
Teams Match Venue Kickoff Local / ET
Wales vs. Poland 11th Place Match Albufeira 11:30 a.m. / 7:30 a.m.
Austria vs. Norway 9th Place Match Loulé 11:30 a.m. / 7:30 a.m.
Portugal vs. Finland 7th Place Match Lagos 11:30 a.m. / 7:30 a.m.
China vs. Iceland 5thPlace Match Olhão 11:30 a.m. / 7:30 a.m.
Germany vs. Denmark 3rd Place Match Faro 1:15 a.m. / 9:15 a.m.
USA vs. Sweden Championship Faro 4:00 p.m. / Noon

Hello, Norge

2009-03-09T03:09:00.000-07:00

Well, it's USA vs. Norway, again. But this one has a little edge to it as it will be the first meeting between the teams since Norway downed the USA, 2-0, to open the 2008 Olympics. Sure, the USA went on to win the Olympic gold medal. And sure, Norway went on to draw New Zealand and get blown out by Japan, earning a quarterfinal match with Brazil, where they crashed out of the Olympics to the talented South Americans. And sure, the USA is already in the Algarve Cup championship game. But few teams know each other as well as it's the 45th meeting between the two countries and every match has been a knock-down, drag-out battle. The U.S. players are expecting nothing different today. With a berth in the final secured, U.S. head coach Pia Sundhage may be resting some players, but you can find out today's starters by logging onto ussoccer.com's MatchTracker at 11 a.m. ET today.

Defenders Triumph Again

2009-03-08T13:15:00.000-07:00

Lindsay Tarpley lets fly with a CK

After only half the team trained yesterday (the starters vs. Iceland did a pool workout), the whole team trained today, working on some shooting, some offensive and defensive tactics and some set plays. At the end of training, there was yet another competition, this one challenging the players (in teams of two) to shoot at the goal, which had been divided into upper and lower corners with athletic tape. Players got five points for hitting into the upper corner square and three points for lower. One point for hitting the middle of the goal. After three rounds, the team of Christie Rampone, who jacked two shots into the upper left corner, and Hope Solo, who placed two of hers into the lower right, took home the title.

(Above) The Champs rejoice

(Left)
Megan Rapinoe celebrates a 5-pointer

TKO

2009-03-08T12:23:00.000-07:00

In the navy blue trunks, weighing in at 143 pounds, fighting out of the North Shore Gym in Kahuku, Hawaii, the reigning welterweight champion of the world, please welcome the Hittin' Hawaiian!!! Natasha "The Krusher" Kai!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Actually, TK is a big softie off the field. She just had a towel so she could go to the very cold pool here at the hotel right after practice and soak her legs in the chilly water.

It was also very sunny out so she was cooling her head.

International Women's Day

2009-03-08T12:16:00.000-07:00

Annually on March 8, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate women's achievements on International Women's Day. The women of the U.S. National Team certainly have achieved much and made major strides for women's sports, so it's only fitting that each player would be presented a rose by the hotel staff today. Actually, every woman at the hotel got a rose, including every player from the other three teams based here: Sweden, Norway and Portugal. We're not sure how Hope Solo got three roses, but she's just nine short of a dozen.

Kendall at the Cape

2009-03-08T12:05:00.000-07:00

Defender Kendall Fletcher's parents are here at the Algarve Cup to watch the tournament and take in some sights, and yesterday they decided on an afternoon excursion to Cape St. Vincent, the most southwestern point of Portugal. Like most of the Portuguese coast, it is beautiful and features some magnificent rock formations, one of which Kendall decided to climb on. From that perch, she is sure to see any advancing marauders who might want to invade Portugal. Wait, that was in the 16th Century. No need for Kendall to fight them off with canons and broad swords.

Brush With Greatness

2009-03-07T13:17:00.001-08:00

Kacey White is buddies with Lindsay Tarpley, but when she was 11, she met another U.S. forward

U.S. midfielder Kacey White shared a cute story with us the other night. It seems that when she was 11 years old (in 1995), she attended the U.S. Women's National Team match vs. Canada at Lake Highlands High School in Dallas, Texas (Kacey hails from close by Arlington). The U.S. had just administered a 9-1 beating in front of what was at the time the largest crowd ever to watch the U.S. women in the United States (6,145). After the game, there were hundreds of screaming girls begging for Mia Hamm's autograph. Hamm, who spent part of her early years in Texas, was playing in one of her home states for the first time (Alabama and Virginia also count her as a local) and was just starting to become a global icon. We'll let Kacey tell the rest:

"I was pressed up against a fence, screaming like the rest of the girls and it looked like Mia wasn't going to come over to our area. My mom decided to take action and yelled Mia's name and something like 'HEY MIA, I PLAYED WITH YOU IN A TOURNAMENT WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS!' As soon as Mia heard Wichita Falls and saw my mom, she made a bee-line over to where we were standing. It turns out that my mom played with Mia when Mia was 13 years old, my mom was 24 and I was sixth months old. I don't know if Mia remembered my mom, but she definitely remembered playing in the tournament and she signed me and my friend's program and hardly anyone else got something signed because security ushered her away! In that moment, my mom was the ultimate hero. And she still is! I seriously felt so cool. It was so out of character for my mom to do something like that, but to this day I still think it was such a great thing to do for your daughter. To this day, I try to sign as many autographs as I can after games because I just remember how happy that made me."

Two words: Sand Castles

2009-03-07T12:53:00.001-08:00

The U.S. team competition continued today in a unique fashion at the Algarve Cup with a sand castle building contest. As a reminder, the players are competing in a series of on and off the field games during the Algarve Cup, earning individual points with a grand champion to be crowned at the end of the tournament. Today's winning team members got a whopping six points each. The teams were divided into groups by positions: goalkeepers vs. defenders vs. midfielders vs. forwards with three judges -- goalkeeper coach Paul "Simon" Rogers, Erica "Kara" Walsh and Pam "Paula" Durant rating each creation on the its theme, creativity, overall architecture and team work. In the end, it was the defenders who took top honors in a very, very tight race. While this competition has been settled, we are willing to open up the vote to the fans. Keep in mind, the pics do not do these sand castles justice as several (we won't say which) were quite creative and eye-catching. In fact, a few old English couples sauntered up to take a few pics and we think they thought a professional sand sculpture contest was underway. (Ok, not really). Vote away.

THE FORWARDS: We wish we would have gotten a better aerial view of the Castle of Love, but suffice it to say that this could be the prettiest castle, with excellent utilization of flowers and (claimed Amy Rodriguez) 600 rocks.

MIDFIELDERS: We swear this castle looked better in person. It was wedding theme. You can see the wedding cake to the left and the bride and groom on the right. There is also a huge church built around it. Carli Lloyd even found a really nice rock that served as a wedding ring. Said the middies: "You have to appreciate all the nuances." We're not sure the judges did.

DEFENDERS: They called this masterpiece Destiny and utilized fresh kelp, flowers and bamboo looking sticks, as well as castle turrets, sand drips and shells. Well played defenders, well played.

GOALKEEPERS: With just two goalkeepers, Hope Solo and Nicole Barnhart created this "Under the Sea" sculpture that was formulated by Barnhart. We're not sure if it was a seal, mermaid or walrus, so we'll just call it a MerHopeRus. It also had little sea creatures around it: a turtle, a seahorse and a fish.

Finally, Sun

2009-03-07T12:41:00.001-08:00

After 10 days of cloudy skies, wind and rain here in the Algarve, the sun finally came out on Saturday, bathing the south coast of Portugal in warm, comforting rays that the team has gotten to know so well at this tournament. The gusting winds even calmed and instead of providing chills, there was a nice cooling breeze. The U.S. team is hoping for a nice day on Monday for its Group B finale against Norway, especially on the wind-o-meter (is that a meteorological term?) as the wind wrecked havoc with the soccer ball in the USA's match with Iceland last Friday.

Sugar and Spice, and More Spice

2009-03-07T12:35:00.000-08:00

With two days off before the next game, almost all the U.S. players decided to indulge in another Algarve Cup ritual for dinner tonight...Indian food. While the Indian restaurant that the players usually dine at is closed this year during the tourist off-season, the players ventured to Bombay Palace and had a wonderful meal, most notably of chicken tiki marsala, butter chicken, chicken korma and chicken curry (yes, the WNT likes chicken) along with several different kinds of nan bread. Yummy. With full stomachs, the players walked back to the hotel, but not without a stop for several of them for some ice cream and crepes. Yep, it's good eatin' in the Algarve.

Kai-Tastic

2009-03-06T14:08:00.000-08:00

Natasha Kai celebrates her 90th-minute game-winner against Iceland

When watching a soccer game we must remember that it lasts 90 minutes...and the USA used every one of them today against Iceland as Natasha Kai scored a spectacular goal with about 30 seconds left in regulation time. The goal, a chest collection off a long ball, a flick over a defender and a perfect half-volley, was a work of art. Chest, bounce, flick, bounce, boom!!!

When asked after the match if it was her greatest ever goal, Kai said no, she prefers her diving header game-winner against Canada in the 2008 Olympic quarterfinal. The WNT Blog will say this, and stand by it, that while the goal against Canada was certainly great and perhaps her MOST IMPORTANT ever goal, this one was surely the GREATEST of the 24 for she has scored for the National Team. This goal was also important as it gave the USA the group title and a berth in the championship game after Denmark defeated Norway, 2-0. Had the USA tied 0-0, both Iceland and Denmark would have had a shot at the championship game depending on the results from the final group match day on March 9.

To see more videos, visit ussoccer.com's youtube page.

Ferreiras Can Be As Cold as Ice

2009-03-05T15:28:00.000-08:00

Carli Lloyd and Iceland captain Katrin Jonsdottir in the most recent match between the two sides in 2006 in Richmond, Va.

The U.S. Women's National Team plays tomorrow against Iceland at Ferreiras, a small stadium very close to the team hotel. The U.S. Women are 5-0-0 at this venue during the Algarve Cup, most recently defeating Finland there 1-0 in 2007, but the stadium is notorious for gusting, whipping winds. This is also the stadium in which more than once a stray dog has run on the field during the game, and refused to leave. The rain seems to have stopped here in the Algarve, so everyone is hoping for a nice and wind-free, not too mention dog-free, day.

The Competition Continues...

2009-03-05T14:57:00.000-08:00

The almost daily competition amongst the U.S. players at the Algarve Cup continued today with a post-practice challenge that we like to call "Closest to the Wall." The players, in teams of two, tried to get a soccer ball to stop closest to a wall adjecent to the field on what was about a 50-yard kick. The winners? A very happy Heather Mitts and Kendall Fletcher. (See above). Mitts kick stopped just a few feet from the wall. The defenders seem to be ruling the competitions this trip. Tonight, there was another competition -- WNT Trivia - that pitted the Blonds vs. the Brunettes. Each team had to answer 10 questions, five multiple choice and five in which they had to know the answers. The Brunettes edged the Blonds to earn the overall competition points for the dark-haired players. Below is an example of some of the questions from the game.

How many players have been capped in the history of the full U.S. Women's National Team?
a) 113
b) 182
c) 221
d) 302

Counting youth and senior Women's World Cups, and the Olympic Games tournaments, which player on the Algarve Cup roster has scored the most goals in world championship tournaments?

The players got both of the above correct. Can you match the WNT's knowledge?

Map Maker

2009-03-05T14:47:00.000-08:00

You might have read in a earlier blog post about the map that U.S. goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart was making for Christie Rampone's daughter Rylie to help her learn her colors (the three year-old is still sorting out her oranges from her yellows). As avid blog readers might know, Barnhart has quite an artistic side, as one of her major's at Stanford was art studio. That talent sometimes manifests itself in some unusual ways, see above. We didn't know she was so good at drawing monkeys?

Air Wozzy Flight 12 Cleared for Takeoff

2009-03-04T09:59:00.000-08:00

Hug me!

If you are a coach, you have to love young players scoring big goals in a big game, especially as they had combined for a grand total of 7 caps and 1 goal coming into the match. That's what happened today as Angie Woznuk and Tina DiMartino, incredibly skillful players not previously known as "mudders" scored in the rain in Lagos, Portugal, their second and first-ever goals respectively. Woznuk's half-volley from a near impossible angle was, dare we say, "Hamm-like" and she topped if off with her trademark airplane celebration. Give DiMartino credit for an opportunistic goal as the USA's smallest player was first to the rebound of a Natasha Kai header against the towering Danes.

Tina D sneaks in to finish smartly, nutmegging the out of frame Danish player at the left post

Game Time

2009-03-03T14:51:00.000-08:00

It's been 76 days since the U.S. team laced up the boots for a full international match and to talk to the players, it's time to get back to work. The USA will open the Algarve Cup tomorrow, March 4, taking on Denmark in Lagos, Portugal in the first match since a Dec. 17, 2008, victory over China. Fans can follow the USA-Denmark clash on ussoccer.com's MatchTracker at 7 a.m. ET. If you are on the West Coast, well, you can check the score when you get up.

There's Only One Rachel Buehler

2009-03-03T14:40:00.000-08:00

A Canadian gets Buehlered

She's the kind of player everyone wants on their team. Find out why U.S. defender Rachel Buehler makes teammates smile and opponents cringe in this special feature on ussoccer.com.

CHALUPNY NAMED U.S. CO-CAPTAIN

2009-03-03T14:29:00.000-08:00

U.S. head coach Pia Sundhage has named defender Lori Chalupny as the team’s co-captain. Defender Kate Markgraf was the team’s co-captain, but is taking time off due to her pregnancy. The honor for Chalupny comes on the eve of what will be her 88th cap for the USA when the team opens the Algarve Cup against Denmark. Defender Christie Rampone is of course the U.S. captain, and will continue to wear the armband during matches, but if for some reason she was not the on the field, the band would go to Chalupny, who will also take on more leadership responsibilities on and off the field. One of the USA’s most consistent performers over the past five years, the “Ginger Princess” has been hailed as one of the best left backs in the world and has shown to be one of the USA’s most talented all-around players.

Chalupny on being named co-captain:
“It’s obviously a huge honor and when Pia came to me, I have to admit I was a bit surprised. I am embracing the role and will do whatever Pia asks of me. It hasn’t been that long since I broke into the national team and I feel I can help the young players along in their development. Leadership is something that is shared by all the players on this team, but I am going to do my best to help us keep having success and winning.”

U.S. head coach Pia Sundhage on selecting Chalupny as co-captain:
“In my eyes, Lori has improved her game a lot. She was fantastic in ’07 but even better in ’08. She leads by example like Christie Rampone. I want all the players on the field to always speak up and communicate, but as a captain, you don’t have to be loud. Christie and Lori are excellent players, but one of their greatest strengths is that they both lead by example. It’s also good to have someone who is younger than Christie Rampone. Lori is coming from the new generation and I am very interested to see how the new generation can help improve my coaching as well.”

Decisions, Decisions

2009-03-03T14:13:00.000-08:00

If you are an Amy Rodriguez fan (and who isn't? Well, perhaps anyone who had to play against her in the Pac-10), you probably know that she often wears her trademark headband during games, especially her lucky green one. Not only is it functional to keep the wispy bangs out of her eyes, but they look good too. Damn good. As A-Rod is heading straight from Portugal to pre-season training with the Boston Breakers of the WPS, she had to bring her entire collection of head bands with her. At left, she displays her current collection. Which one will she wear tomorrow against Denmark? It could be a game-time decision. But the blue one with stars (above) is pretty cute.

Singing in the Rain (in Seville)

2009-03-03T13:54:00.000-08:00

Here is a pic of a few players on the slick streets of Seville, Spain. (How's that for alliteration?). As you can see, it rained during the visit to the more than 2,000-year old city, so the players adapted and bought some paraguas. Kendall Fletcher and Rachler Buehler even got polka dot paraguas.

Blue Hawaii

2009-03-02T15:42:00.000-08:00

After the U.S. team returned from Spain, almost the whole squad decided to go to dinner at a local eatery called The American Diner. While the food is quite good, and even somewhat like home (especially the breakfast), the decor is even better, with many slices of 1950s-era Americana decorating the restaurant. Above, U.S. forward Natasha Kai, who has been known to croon a few songs herself, hangs out with the guy who greets everyone when you walk through the door. And oh yeah, the milkshakes are quite good too.

He's No Marmaduke

2009-03-02T15:35:00.000-08:00

In the tourist off-season, the Algarve region can surely be called sleepy. And with the current economic crunch in Europe keeping tourists away even more, it's even sleepier this year. And if anything embodies that leisurely spirit, it's the Algarve dogs who seem to have very few cares in the world as they sleep away the days. Yes, past Algarve Cups have seen several dogs run on the field to delay play, but we think this big boy has better things to do. Like wait until this restaurant opens so he can get some snacks.

Pantheon of Players

2009-03-02T15:29:00.000-08:00

There are quite a few soccer pubs in Albufeira where the USA is based at the Algarve Cup and we stopped at one to snap this pic of a bunch of players who may be one-dimensional on the wall, but are certainly not on the soccer field. Can you name all the world class players in this pic? Hint: One of them was the 2007 Algarve Cup MVP and leading scorer.

RainGarve

2009-03-02T14:57:00.001-08:00

While it's nothing compared to the blizzard hitting the eastern part of the USA, it was quite rainy in the usually sunny Algarve today. Which was unfortunate, as it was the day off from training for the U.S. team. About 75% of the squad headed east to spend the afternoon in Seville, a beautiful Spanish city not far from the Portugal border. It was also rainy in Seville, but that didn't stop the U.S. players from touring around the city, doing a bit of shopping and having a nice lunch of tapas. Unfortunately, the forecast is for more rain tomorrow during the USA's final pre-Algarve practice, and then again on Wednesday for the Denmark match. The Algarve can be quite windy on any given day, but add in some rain and there could be some adverse conditions for the tournament openers on March 4. The USA-Denmark match is probably the marquee match-up on the first day as it pits the participants in the last two Algarve Cup Finals, but Sweden vs. China will also certainly be interesting.

O'Reilly's Algarve

2009-03-01T15:36:00.000-08:00

If you are an avid follower of ussoccer.com, you remember Heather O'Reilly's tour of the Guangdong Olympic Training Center in Guangzhou, China. Well, since she was such a good tour guide the first time, we had Heather show the ussoccer.com all_access video camera around Albufeira in Portugal where the U.S. team is based. We'll try to get some video up on Heather's walkabout in the near future. We think she might be a good candidate for her own show on the Travel Channel.

Long Ball Champs - SD Rules

2009-03-01T15:27:00.000-08:00

The U.S. team held another team competition after training today, this one consisting of hitting long balls into a relatively small area on a fence surrounding the field, with increased distances from each round. It was basically kicking field goals with a soccer ball. Today's champs? Rachel Buehler and Angie Woznuk, but truth be told, Buehler carried the day. The way the game works is that each partner gets a chance to make it, and just one needs to suceed to move to the next round. If the first player makes it, the second doesn't have to try. Woznuk never took a kick. Buehler made it every time, smacking her last one from 40 yards out. "This game plays to my strengths," said the central defender. Below, Heather O'Reilly does her best Cristiano Ronaldo impression as she lines up her attempt.

Hello Hege

2009-03-01T06:19:00.000-08:00

U.S. Women's National Team head coach Pia Sundhage continues to be the Barack Obama of women's soccer. First, she brought change, new ideas, and some exciting cultural diplomacy to the U.S. team and now she is reaching out to "the other side of the aisle." Everyone knows that Swedes have the same relationship with Norwegians as do Texans with Oklahomans (ok, maybe not that fierce a rivalry), but Sundhage has hired Norwegian legend Hege Riise to join her coaching staff. You can read about the appointment here. The irony of Riise, a long-time "friendly" rival of the U.S. team and of Sundhage when played internationally for Sweden, is not lost on many, but it just goes to show that in the world of international soccer, everyone can get along. Riise, one of the greatest players of her generation, earned the Golden Ball at the 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup as Norway lifted the trophy and captained her country for many years. Riise will be at Sundhage's side for the Algarve Cup, a tournament she played in many times for Norway (the first 14 years ago!) and we have to say, Hege, you look great in U.S. gear!

We're Baaaaaaaaahck

2009-02-28T13:29:00.000-08:00

Yes, the herd of sheep that always seems to make an appearance by the U.S. training fields during the Algarve Cup showed up again today. They didn't stay for the scrimmage match though, getting herded over the hill by a shepherd and several very conscientious sheep dogs. Which is a good thing, as their sheep noises sounded a bit like boos...and no one wants to get booed at a game where there are no fans.

Chups' Choices

2009-02-28T13:12:00.000-08:00

If you have ever followed the Algarve Cup, you know there is a bit of downtime that the U.S. players have to fill. Since the Nintendo Wii just got set up, that will fill a few hours, but defender Lori Chalupny has been watching some movies and TV shows. Her eclectic list includes:

The Changeling
Nights in Rodanthe
The Unit (Season I)

Meanwhile, U.S. goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart, who as studio art and pyschology major at Stanford, is designing a Dora the Explorer map of the hotel to help Christie Rampone's three-year-old daughter Rylie learn her colors. She's calling it Rylie the Explorer. Yes, things do get a bit slow in the Algarve.

Boxx from the Back

2009-02-28T12:58:00.000-08:00

Not many players can muscle Shannon Boxx off the ball, not even the FIFA World Player of the Year

U.S. midfielder/defender Shannon Boxx scored a great goal in today's scrimmage against Swedish club side Djurgården, running onto a cross on the ground from Lindsay Tarpley and hitting a first-time inside-out blast with her right foot that screamed into the right side netting from about the middle of the penalty box. Sure it was just a scrimmage, but scoring any goal is fun. Boxx, whose fantastic play in the center midfield was a key to the USA's gold medal triumph in Beijing, was slightly surprised herself, considering she hasn't scored since January of 2008 with a looping header against China at the Four Nations Tournament. That goal, like her one in the scrimmage today, was a game-winner. "I play the whole year last year in midfield and score one goal and I play one game at center back and I score!" said the amused Boxx, who has 18 career goals for the USA from the midfield.

Wozzy, Kobe and King James

2009-02-28T12:27:00.000-08:00

Angie Woznuk was talking about her sports role models today, and not surpisingly the names Zinedine Zidane, Kaka and Diego Maradona came up. But it was suprising to hear that while her two current role models play with a round ball, they don't kick it. She's really enjoying watching LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. We asked her why:

"Those are two players that inspire me. I've watched Kobe for many years and he's just unbelievable not only on the offensive end, but also defensively. It's the same for LeBron. It's really cool to be so good on both sides of the ball and it's something I hope to bring to my game. I want to make an equal impact on offense and defense. Kobe has certainly had some adversity in his life, but I think he's matured and he's more able to cope with being a superstar. LeBron has also always been very mature as he's had the spotlight on him from a very young age. The way he's handled it all has been really impressive. They are also both so consistent, and that is something all athletes should strive for. Watching Kobe and Lebron get me excited to play soccer."

Keep a lookout for Wozzy in the front row at the Staples Center or the Quicken Loans Arena (if, ummmm, somebody will give her a ticket).

USA vs. Djurgården

2009-02-28T12:08:00.000-08:00

U.S. players watch from the bench during the first period against Swedish club Djurgården

The U.S. team got in a great pre-Algarve Cup scrimmage today defeating Djurgården, one of the top teams in the Swedish First Division, by a 5-1 score. We'll try to get some highlights up of the match soon. The Swedes are in the Algarve for some pre-season training (it's a bit chilly right now in Stockholm) and the match was also the first of the year for the USA against a women's team. The teams played three 30-minute periods with U.S. head coach Pia Sundhage (who played more than a few games in the Swedish First Division herself) making several changes to the U.S. team during each period. Tina DiMartino, who played as a withdrawn forward under Amy Rodriguez, opened the scoring in the first period with a left footed shot that she cut into the lower right corner from just inside the box. Shannon Boxx, who in a position shift has been playing center back, came up from the back line to score the USA's second goal in the second period off a great assist from Lindsay Tarpley. Forward Natasha Kai tripled the U.S. lead in the third period with powerful header off a perfect Heather O'Reilly cross. U.S. captain Christie Rampone created the fourth goal with another dynamic run from a center back and her bouncing cross through the goal mouth was inadverntly knocked into the Swedish net by a Djurgården player. Midfielder Kacey White finished the scoring against the tiring European side with a spectacular upper left corner blast from 25-yards out. The U.S. team will train tomorrow (Sunday) and then have Monday off before training on Tuesday in its final practice before opening the Algarve Cup against Denmark on Wednesday.

U.S. head coach Pia Sundhage gives some tatical advice between periods of today's scrimmage

Yes, Crepes

2009-02-27T15:47:00.000-08:00

It took less than two days for the first trip to the "crepe place" for the U.S., which gorged itself on the famous crepes and ice cream that are a staple of the USA's annual pilgramage to the Algarve Cup. The Italian restaurant and ice cream palor is a short walk from the team hotel, and no doubt gets a spike in business when the U.S. team comes to town. Midfielder Tina DiMartino, who had heard all about the desserts, got her fill (below) while Kacey White and Heather O'Reilly shared the classic and most popular crepe, with chocolate and vanilla ice cream, strawberries and bananas, real whipped cream, chocolate sauce and powdered sugar. Fortunately, these women burn thousands of calories in a day.

Games before The Games

2009-02-27T14:45:00.000-08:00

Brain power in action as U.S. players try to memorize items on the table

The U.S. team has been undertaking a series of team competitions, both on the field and off, with points being earned individually and with teams, with the highest point-earner at the end of the tournament being declared the grand champion. Today after training it was time for the crossbar game, with teams of two trying to hit the bar from the top of the penalty area. In somewhat of an upset, the defender trio of Heather Mitts and Rachel Buehler came out on top. Tonight's game was a mental test, with 43 items being placed under a towel (paper clip, spoon, hair clip, just to name a few). The towel was removed and the two-player teams had 30 seconds to memorize as many as possible before the items went back under cover, then the four minutes to write down as many as they could remember. This time, the duo of Mitts and Natasha Kai proved victorious, recalling 25 items. Yesterday, the East Coast players took on the West Coast in a game called Fact or Fiction! In this game, each player wrote down four things about herself, three of which were true and one of which was false. The game was trying to guess which one was false. An example (Note: These are culled from a number of players).

1. I have broken eight bones in my body.
2. I sang the National Anthem in front of my entire school in 6th grade.
3. I have been arrested.
4. Both my in-laws are identical twins.

The game was hard, the competition was fierce, but in the end, the East came out on top.

Lori Chalupny and Hope Solo search the mind's eye to remember items. Chalupny joked that after getting accidently punched in the head by Solo against Norway during the Olympics, her memory might be lacking.

Gearing Up in the Algarve

2009-02-27T01:58:00.000-08:00

Hope Solo makes a stop in front of Megan Rapinoe during the USA's first training in Portugal

The U.S. Women's National Team has arrived in Portugal, but due to a seriously shaky Internet connection at the team hotel, the WNT Blog has been adversly affected. In fact, unless there is some technical wizardy accomplished, this may be be the first and last post of the trip! Suffice it to say, it's very possible the blog may be spotty and intermitent, but we shall do our best. All you really need to know is that the U.S. team arrived in Lisbon on the morning of Feb. 26 and took its usual three-hour bus ride down to the Algarve region. For the veterans who have been to this tournament many times, it's like the family vaction to the same spot year after year. For the rookies here for the first time, they are ready to experience all the good things the Algarve Cup has to offer (quality Internet not being one of them). Said once-capped midfielder Tina DiMartino, who is at her first Algarve Cup, "I heard the crepes and ice cream were great." Oh, they are, Tina, they are. The U.S. team had its first training on Thursday afternoon and while there were some wobbly legs, the 6 v 6 games were of suprising quality for players who just stepped off a transcontinental flight a few hours before. The U.S. team will train almost every day leading up to its March 4 opener against Denmark, a match pitting the particpants of the last two Algarve Cup Finals.

Tina D is looking forward to the crepes and ice cream

See You in Portugal

2009-02-04T13:56:00.000-08:00

Above is a pic from this morning of the team warming down after the final training of this 17-day camp. Christie Rampone's daugther Rylie decided to join the team on the jog. She looks happy, perhaps because her mom made the roster for the Algarve Cup? Or perhaps because she was going to Disneyland in the afternoon? (We heard a rumor that she was in fact going to meet Mickey). Either way, we'll probably release the entire Algarve Cup roster tomorrow and the team leaves for Portugal on Feb. 25. The WNT Blog will pick back up when the team arrives in Europe, so for now, consider this the "warm down post" and we'll get back with you in a few weeks. As they say in Portugal, Até logo.

Finishing Up...

2009-02-04T13:47:00.001-08:00

The U.S. team finished its 17-day training camp this morning with a spirited hour-long session that ended with a four-team small-sided tournament featuring one field with big goals and goalkeepers and one with small goals. Awards were giving out for team champion, golden ball, golden glove, fair play and most spirited (Abby Wambach won that one). There were also some consolation awards for the teams that didn't...how shall we say... fare so well. It was a nice way to end a long, but extremely productive training camp. Above is the locker room before the final training. And before you think the players leave their cleats and guards nicely lined up after the previous training, that is the work of team equipment manager Andrew "A.D." Dessert. The A.D. stands for "All Day" because as we've said in the past, that's how he rolls.

Small Gesture, Big Cause

2009-02-04T13:32:00.001-08:00

Christie Rampone and Marian Dalmy fill out paper work to become part of the National Bone Marrow Registry.

Almost all of the members of the U.S. Women's National Team took 10 minutes out of their busy days yesterday after the morning training to become a part of the National Bone Marrow Registry. It's a cause near to the heart of U.S. legend Mia Hamm, whose foundation is focused on providing support for two important causes: raising funds and awareness for families needing marrow or cord blood transplants and continuing the growth in opportunities for young women in sports. Hamm's brother passed away in 1997 from complications related to aplastic anemia. The Bone Marrow Drive, organized by the The Home Depot Center Charitable Foundation, the LA Galaxy Foundation, the LA Galaxy, Chivas USA and Chivas de Corazón, was in part trying to find a donor for the wife of Real Salt Lake midfielder Andy Williams as Marcia has been diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia and is in need of a bone marrow transplant. While it is unlikely that any of the U.S. players would be a match for what is a rare blood type, the players are now in the registry and may be contacted if they are a match for someone in need. Click these links for more information about Andy and Marcia as well as bone marrow donation.

And the Boots Belong to...

2009-02-03T15:03:00.001-08:00

An amazing amount of guesses on whose boots graced the below Blog post. Well done. Most of you got it right. The 9.5 (M) Vapor on the top has scored 99 goals for the USA (well, the foot that goes in it has contributed to the 99, along with the right foot, the head and sometimes a knee). The size 6 (W) Tiempo on the bottom has just one cap for the USA, but it could be more should she make the Algarve Cup roster. (She can also squeeze into a 5.5 W). So, mystery solved.

If the Shoe Fits...

2009-02-02T22:26:00.000-08:00

The U.S. WNT players comes in all shapes and sizes, which means of course, so do their boots. As you can see, these two cleats don't belong to the same player. (That would be really weird if they did). It might be tough to guess which belongs to whom, but it's not that hard if you put some analytical thought into it. And no, one does not belong to a hobbit and the other does not belong to a balrog. This is not Middle Earth, people, this is The Home Depot Center. We invite you to take a guess...if you dare.

Camp Winds Down

2009-02-02T21:27:00.000-08:00

For 15 days, the players have trained...and Pia has watched

(well, and coached, but watched made for a more dramatic cut line).

With just one and a half days and three trainings left in this 17-day "pre-season" camp, the hard work has been done, the players - veteran and rookie - have left their impressions on Pia Sundhage and soon it will be time to choose a roster for the upcoming Algarve Cup. The camp has been marked by some fantastic weather, a few sore muscles here and there, certainly some intense trainings and also some solid performances by some of the newer players. The players that make the Algarve roster will have about three weeks to prepare on their own before the team leaves for Europe while the rest will start focusing on the WPS training camps, which are set the open at the beginning of March. That of course does not include the few players who are still collegians, who have papers, labs and college hoops waiting for them back on campus.

Angela Answers

2009-02-02T09:31:00.000-08:00

Thanks again for the questions for Angela Hucles. She took some time out of her busy training camp schedule to answer a few...

Faye asked: Where is your favorite place to go or do when you have a chance to go back home to Virginia Beach , aka the 757?

Angela Hucles: “Hmmm...good question. Normally when I get back to Virginia Beach it's only for a quick visit or during the holidays. Because I don't get back as often as I'd like, I tend to spend most of the time with my family and friends in the area, and sometimes visit my high school and see my old teachers and coaches. I also like that my parents live close to the beach even though I don't take advantage of it as much as I should.”

Emily asked: In your career when did you actually realize that you had the potential to be on the Olympic Team, and when you realized this what did you do to get there?

AH: “Thanks for your question Emily. I feel very fortunate for the career I've had in soccer and how things have progressed. I told my parents and a news reporter when I was 12 that I wanted to be in a World Cup and Olympics, but the irony is I didn't know what it really took until I was with the national team and saw how high the level of play was. Up until that point I had worked hard and had much success, but whatever I thought before, I knew it would take at least twice as much work and dedication to continue on to the path of making the goal I set as a 12 year old a reality.”

fyasko7 asked: I just wanted to know what you're state of mind was before you were starting on the Olympic Team and if that changed after the Olympics? I know it’s important to be a team player and play the roles but did you ever feel frustrated by not being out on the pitch?

AH: “There are different mentalities that players possess depending on whether they are about to start a game versus coming off the bench. I guess for me, throughout the year, I never felt like it was out of the realm of possibility for me to start on the Olympic Team and I held on to that until it happened. So in essence I was preparing myself for that to happen. I think I also was in a mind set of not being frustrated just because I wasn't starting or playing and that helped me focus on just playing the best I could and trust in the coaching staff to use my abilities how they saw fit to best help the team. Over the years I've learned it's just a waste of energy to get frustrated over things I have no control over, so put the energy into things I can control.”

Smitty asked: How often have you had to, for the good of the team, play in a position that you felt was not your natural position, and how have you handled that situation?

AH: “I've played on every line now for the national team, with the exception of one, goalkeeper, and I'm not expecting to be called to play there at any time soon ;) However, playing different positions can give me a different perspective on how to play my "normal" position more effectively. I guess the way I handle it is one of a challenge and a way to make me a more complete soccer player.”

just miri asked: I always admired you for going to South Africa. I have been on several mission trips to Russia to the same orphanage. Actually, the organization I go with now travels and help Swaziland ! You are such an amazing person, soccer-wise and your humanitarian actions. What made you choose to go on that trip last year?

AH: “How wonderful that you are able to take trips to these orphanages! I jumped at the opportunity to go to South Africa and use soccer, a sport that's given me so much, to try and help other people. I decided to go on the trip to help support my friend who started the non-profit, TRIAD Trust, and also to expand the areas that I reach out to. I've always enjoyed traveling and thought it would be a great experience to go to Africa, a place I've never been to before. It was a great decision!”

Marjory asked: You have definitely scored plenty of important goals across all friendlies, games and tournaments! My question to you is...which was the most important goal amongst all for you and why?

AH: “Thanks Marjory. That's a tough question for me because being able to score a goal at this level for me is very special and I treasure the goals I've been able to score on the national team. However, if I choose one I would say the first goal I scored in this past Olympics in our second against Japan during the semifinal. It tied the game and we went on to win 4-2. It was a good boost to get us on the right track!”

Super Sunday

2009-01-31T19:30:00.001-08:00

The WNT Blog will not be posting on Sunday, Feb. 1, due to the day of gluttony and couch surfing known as Super Bowl Sunday. It also happens to be an off day from training for the U.S. WNT after some hard scrimmages today. Swedish head coach Pia Sundhage may not know much about the Super Bowl, but she knows it would be a good idea to let the players watch it...and watch it they will. Abby Wambach is hosting a Super Bowl party for the team at her place and surely there will be food, fun and laughs for all. But certainly no wagering. Certainly. The consensus from the players is that the Pittsburgh Steelers will win football's ultimate prize, but many would like to see the underdog Cardinals pull it out. It's a tough game to watch for the several Philadelphia Eagles fans on the team. The Cardinals beat the Eagles in the conference title game and off course the Steelers are Pennsylvania's other team. Still, all the players are hoping for a competitive contest...and a whole bunch of funny commercials.

Abby on Studio 90 News

2009-01-31T19:00:00.000-08:00

Today's edition of Studio 90 News on ussoccer.com checks in with U.S. forward Abby Wambach, who is in her first WNT training camp since breaking her leg just before the 2008 Olympics. To see Abby talk about how her training camp is going and her thoughts on being back with the National Team, click here or watch below.

Caption That

2009-01-31T09:57:00.000-08:00

We thought we'd give you, the WNT Blog reader, the chance to work for ussoccer.com, if only for a moment. Now, Nicole Barnhart is known for throwing her body in front of any shot from any distance and she probably gets blasted in the midsection at least once per training. Often the U.S. attackers show little or no remorse for their point-blank strikes, but we know that Leslie Osborne certainly wouldn't drill her on purpose. Barnhart saved this one. Can you think of a good caption or what either player might be saying at this moment? We will only post funny, creative or entertaining captions so put on your caption writing caps before you post.

Ponytail Named

2009-01-30T22:38:00.000-08:00

We gotta admit..."Name That Ponytail" was a big success. So much so that we decided to wait not even a day before we named that ponytail. Give props to Gregory Smith who more than correctly stated: "The Ginger Princess." Yes, that was Lori Chalupny's ponytail. We have to say that the WNT Blog won this one, as the majority did not choose Chups. Perhaps you'll do better next time...and oh yes, there will be a next time for Name That Ponytail.

55% said Heather O'Reilly
29% said Lori Chalupny
8% said Christie Rampone
8% said Tobin Heath

All Hail the Ginger Princess...

It's a Bird, It's a Plane...

2009-01-30T21:03:00.000-08:00

...It's SuperHAO! We really have nothing to go with this picture, we just thought it was really cool. We are not sure if Heather O'Reilly finished this chance, but we do know that if we had any doubt before (we didn't) that Ms. O'Reilly is blessed with tremendous athleticism, we now have some more visual proof. Rumor is that the control tower at LAX cleared Heather for landing soon after this shot.

Pinkberry Gooooood...

2009-01-30T20:50:00.000-08:00

The team went out to dinner tonight, which they do at least once per training camp, and following the meal, almost the whole squad sauntered over to Pinkberry for some scrumptious frozen yogurt. Most of the players are big Pinkberry fans, led by midfielder Angie Woznuk, a self-proclaimed Pinkberry fanatic. In fact, if you are ever at a game where Wozzy is playing and you want her autograph but there are hundreds of other people waiting, just wave a Pinkberry gift card and Wozzy is sure to come right over. We hope there are some Pinkberrys in St. Louis, where she will be playing for the St. Louis Athletica in the WPS or she'll be one sad midfielder. Wozzy got a small original with strawberries and chocolate chips. Suffice to say, the fro-yo was a nice capper to a nice meal and a good but healthy sweet snack before the team plays its final scrimmages of the training camp tomorrow afternoon.