The U.S. Women's Soccer Team Clinches a Bronze Medal In Tokyo

The U.S. women's national team (USWNT) kicked off the Tokyo Olympics as good as gold: In addition to being ranked No. 1 in the world (which, by the way, is a spot they've held since 2015), the top-of-its-game soccer team is also the reigning World Cup champions—not to mention they were undefeated in 44 straight matches, the second-longest unbeaten streak in team history.

And on August 5, they added yet another medal to their collection: The team won bronze in a 4-3 third-place match against Australia—marking the USWNT's sixth overall medal win and maintaining their lead as the women's soccer team with the most medals in Games history. The victory was especially sweet for veterans Megan Rapinoe and Carli Lloyd, who who both scored two goals in what might have been their final game in a major tournament. Not to mention that Lloyd's goals gave her 10 total at the Olympics, which is the most of any USWNT player in history.

“We found that joy," Rapinoe told reporters. "We found that freedom. And we just settled into the game early, which is great.”

The win comes after the USWNT struggled to come out on top early on in the Games, leaving the squad short of the anticipated gold medal. In their opening match against Sweden (the team that knocked the Americans out of the 2016 Rio Olympics in the quarterfinals), Team USA suffered a disappointing defeat, losing 3-0. “Did we expect this result tonight? No,” Rapinoe told the New York Times. “It’s frustrating, and it’s frustrating that it’s Sweden.”

While the team's relentless, never-give-up attitude helped them turn things around in the remaining group match games (they rebounded with a 6-1 win against New Zealand and a tie against Australia), as well at the quarterfinals (they defeated the Netherlands 4-2 in a nail-biting penalty kick shootout), the team lost to Canada in its semifinal match on August 2. "It hasn’t flowed for us. It hasn’t been easy," Rapinoe said in an interview after the game. "It’s not for lack of effort…it just didn’t click for us."

To help you get your head in the game, we've compiled everything you need to know about the U.S. Olympic soccer squad.

Who was on the USWNT roster for the 2021 Olympics?

Under previous rules, 18 players could be named to the Olympic roster, as well as four alternates who could only be used as replacements for injured players. In light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, though, the International Olympic Committee expanded the Olympic soccer rosters from 18 to 22 players—meaning that alternates can be called on at any time. The U.S. women's soccer team roster for the Olympics included:

• Goalkeepers: Adrianna Franch, Alyssa Naeher, Jane Campbell

• Defenders: Abby Dahlkemper, Tierna Davidson, Crystal Dunn, Kelley O’Hara, Becky Sauerbrunn, Emily Sonnett, Casey Krueger

• Midfielders: Julie Ertz, Lindsey Horan, Rose Lavelle, Kristie Mewis, Samantha Mewis, Catarina Macario

• Forwards: Tobin Heath, Carli Lloyd, Alex Morgan, Christen Press, Megan Rapinoe, Lynn Williams

Who are some of the biggest names on the U.S. women's national team?

Megan Rapinoe

Even if you've never watched a USWNT game before, chances are, you know Megan Rapinoe—and you probably also know her iconic power pose. Though Rapinoe, who is a three-time Olympian, two-time World Cup champion, and a forward with OL Reign, has received some of the most prestigious athletic honors (like the World Cup's Ballon d'Or Féminin, FIFA's Best Women's Player in the World, and Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson of the Year), she's become equally famous for her bold activism. In addition to advocating for racial equality and LGBTQ rights (her fiancée is WNBA star Sue Bird), Rapinoe was one of the major figures behind a gender-discrimination lawsuit that was filed against the U.S. Soccer Federation.

Carli Lloyd

At 39 years old, Carli Lloyd is the oldest U.S. women's team player to go to the Olympics—and one of just three people in USWNT history to compete four times. During her previous Olympic appearances, Lloyd, who's a two-time World Cup champion and a forward with NJ/NY Gotham FC, became the only player, male or female, to score the game-winning goal in two finals, and in April, she became the third soccer player in history to earn 300 caps (translation: play in 300 international games). While many speculate that this could be Lloyd's last major tournament before retiring, the soccer star has yet to confirm her plans. "I think a lot of athletes, when they get a little bit older, they start to have injuries, their body breaks down, they may be a step or two behind. I have never felt better. I keep saying that, but it's the truth. I feel good, you know? I'm coming down my stairs better than I was two years ago, and it's great," she told NPR in June. "But at some point, all good things come to an end. It's not going to be a physical thing for me. It's more so going to be a life decision, of wanting to start a family with my husband and spend time with my family and friends."

Alex Morgan

Orlando Pride striker Alex Morgan is one of the few athletes who undoubtedly benefitted from the Olympics postponement. That's because on May 7, 2020, just weeks before the original Tokyo dates, Morgan welcomed her first child, daughter Charlie. "If the Olympics had taken place it would have been an incredible challenge and I definitely wanted to do my best to be on the field at Tokyo in 2020," Morgan said earlier this year. "But I knew some of it honestly wasn’t up to me. It was up to just how my body was going to recover." Now, the two-time Women’s World Cup Champion and Olympic gold medalist—who, along with Rapinoe, was one of the loudest voices in the USWNT's fight for equal pay—is the fifth mom to make a U.S. Olympic soccer team.

Rose Lavelle

Tokyo may be Rose Lavelle's first Olympic appearance—but the 26-year-old OL Reign midfielder has already made a name for herself on the world stage. During the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup, Lavelle scored three times in six starts (as well as the last goal in the final against the Netherlands) and won the Bronze Ball as the third-best player.

Tobin Heath

After spending six months on the sidelines due to ankle and knee injuries, some speculated that Tobin Heath might not make the Olympic soccer squad. But on June 23, the two-time World Cup Champion was named to the Tokyo team, becoming one of just three people in USWNT history (along with Lloyd and retired soccer player Christie Pearce Rampone) to make four Olympic appearances. A week later, Heath confirmed that she was back in fighting shape, when she returned to the USWNT field during a match against Mexico—and scored just 52 seconds later.

What about the men's soccer team? Will they be competing in the 2021 Olympics?

A word of advice for any new U.S. soccer fans: When it comes to the Olympics (and the FIFA World Cup, for that matter), the women's team generally outperforms the men's national team. This summer, like the 2016 Olympic Games, the U.S. men failed to qualify.

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