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
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Time to Change Your Bookmarks for the New WNT Blog
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
25 Random Things
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.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Abby Wambach - 100 Goals Tribute
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.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Add Nairn
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
04/29/1999 vs. Japan (9-0 W)
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Let's Hear it for the Kid!
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
Here's today's lineup from head coach Pia Sundhage:
Loooong Day
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
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.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
The Double
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
Monday, July 20, 2009
Dinner Out
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
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
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
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.Sunday, July 19, 2009
She's Done It!
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!Saturday, July 18, 2009
198 Goals Between Them
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
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
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
Abby signs for some young fans at the Univ. of Rochester after the USA's weight-lifting sessionWhat 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
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.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Rock Hard Abs
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.
