Mia Fischel and Jaedyn Shaw both scored their first USWNT goals in a a statement victory in San Diego on Sunda
After the U.S. women's national team's disastrous World Cup, it was abundantly clear that changes were coming. Several came swiftly: Vlatko Andonovski was dismissed, legends like Megan Rapinoe and Julie Ertz stepped aside and a search for a new coach and leader got underway.
The USWNT, for years, had been trying to gradually evolve. The World Cup proved that gradual would now need to become swift.
When we look back at that evolution in five, 10, 20 years time, maybe we'll look back at Sunday's win over Colombia as a key moment. Maybe we'll look back at it as the time several USWNT stars got their start.
Mia Fishel and Jaedyn Shaw scored their first USWNT goals in the 3-0 win as both made their case for the Olympic team. Will they be in that squad under whoever the next manager is? It's too soon to say, but it's clear to say that there time is coming sooner or later.
GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from Snapdragon Stadium…
GettyWINNER: The next generation
You wanted the USWNT's next generation? Well, you saw it on Sunday.
Three goals, two from players making just their second USWNT appearances. One of those goals was assisted by a teenager that is a "veteran" with eight caps and a World Cup on her resume.
Don't look now, but the kids are alright.
We'll start with Fishel, who continues to look like a natural goalscorer on every level. She lit things up at Tigres and is already off the mark at Chelsea. Now with a goal in a USWNT shirt, it appears she is ready to compete for minutes going forward.
Up next? Shaw, who also scored her first goal in her second USWNT cap. What a moment it was for the 19-year-old attacker, who scored in front of a hometown crowd in San Diego. It was an ideal "Welcome to the USWNT" moment that, in theory, will have plenty more in the years to come.
And, not to be overshadowed, there's Alyssa Thompson, who is very much ahead of schedule after her World Cup call-up. The Angel City star teed up Shaw's goal, making her own mark on a game that was defined by young stars.
Overall, it was a show headlined by those that are up next, and the world will be watching as we wait to see more of them.
AdvertisementGettyLOSER: Alex Morgan
She may not be concerned, to be fair. The USWNT, meanwhile, probably won't be too worried either.
However, the longer this goes on, the more the narrative about Morgan will take hold. And, the more that narrative takes hole, the more discussion there will be about her future.
It was another tough night for Morgan, who added another game to her goalless run. Once again, she had her chance. Once again, she couldn't put it in the back of the net. In all alone, Morgan couldn't quite pick out a corner, allowing Natalia Giraldo to get a palm to the shot to keep it out.
She's still got the NWSL playoffs coming up, so there are more chances for her to score, but, until she does so in a USWNT shirt, the chatter will continue.
GettyWINNER: Emily Sonnett
She'll be a bit overshadowed by the young guns, but this was a big performance from the USWNT midfielder.
Sonnett did just about everything right in the heart of midfield, making contributions in just about every facet. As a leader, she appeared to be key in organizing everyone from that No. 6 position. She got her big offensive moment, too, finding Fishel for her goal to open the scoring.
Sonnett is something of a Swiss Army Knife that can play in a few different spots, but she seems like she can be a real factor in this midfield spot. We got a look at it in the summer, but this was the best look yet at how good she can be.
The U.S. has struggled with that spot for some time. Can Sonnett be a locked-in starter by the time the Olympics roll around ? Why not?
GettyLOSER: Twila Kilgore's starting XI selection
The moment the lineup was released, social media made one collective noise: a sigh.
It was more of the same. After enduring 90 dull minutes that didn't teach us much of anything on Thursday, it looked like Sunday would be more of the same.
For 45 minutes, it was. The XI was filled with familiar faces, even if Kilgore did add to it a bit. Yes, Sophia Smith was back, Casey Murphy started Savannah DeMelo's introduction was nice, but, just a few months out from the Olympics, the goal of this camp had to be to learn more.
Knowing that, it feels like the first 45 minutes was another waste. The attack, one that we saw plenty of times over the last year, looked a bit flat. The defense, one that we'd seen play together just about every game over the last few months, provided more of the same.
Heading into halftime, that aforementioned sigh felt justified, but then…
