A video clip of the United States women’s national soccer team belting the Cheetah Girls’ “Strut” on a shuttle packed with Olympians encapsulates the program’s new era under manager Emma Hayes – there’s joy again. The team swiftly atoned for last year’s early FIFA Women’s World Cup exit by earning gold at the 2024 Summer Olympics. Their first post-Olympics match comes against the No. 13 squad in FIFA’s current world rankings, Iceland. This match also marks a full circle moment of sorts for star forward Mallory Swanson, who tore her left patella tendon at Q2 Stadium during an April 2023 friendly. – Derek Udensi
