The United States Soccer Women’s National Team suffered a surprising loss on Monday against Canada, knocking them from the Olympic final.
After more than 70 goalless minutes, Canada snagged a 1-0 win thanks to a penalty.
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The USWNT was hoping to clinch the Olympic gold as a follow-up to their 2019 Women’s World Cup victory — something that’s never been done before. However, after the loss, the USWNT will be forced to compete for bronze.
Heartbreaking but hard-fought. Good luck to Canada in the final. pic.twitter.com/Er92S6M6cF
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) August 2, 2021
The USWNT has won the Olympic soccer tournament four times and had not lost to Canada since March 2001.
“Honestly, if you’ve seen their games throughout the course of this tournament … you could see that maybe some things weren’t clicking the way that sometimes they do with the U.S.,” Christine Sinclair, captain of the Canadian team, said.
The USWNT has made headlines over the past few years for their political demonstrations and outspoken members, most notably captain Megan Rapinoe, who has become famous for her social activism.
Wow. The women’s soccer team really blew it AGAIN. Losing to Canada ? Probably SORE KNEES from all their KNEELING. I love it when America wins the Gold—but the “bronze” lining here is we won’t see as much of the purple hair chick MEG @mPinoe during the “off season” pic.twitter.com/DNJdnFMxMl
— Greg Kelly The PROJECT is a Secret (@gregkellyusa) August 2, 2021
Conservatives seized on the loss to mock the team for their previous political demonstrations, including kneeling during the U.S. National Anthem.
I support watching Megan Rapinoe lose.
They kneeled. They shouldn’t represent America.
— Nick Adams (@NickAdamsinUSA) August 2, 2021
The USWNT preemptively refused an invitation to the White House after their 2019 Women’s World Cup victory. They have also publicly feuded with former President Donald Trump.
Rapinoe has made equal pay a cornerstone of her public activism. She has spoken extensively about the gap in salary between male and female professional athletes and has attributed the much smaller pay for women in sports to misogyny.
I do love it when Megan Rapinoe loses because even though she’s ON Team America, she’s not FOR Team America ?? https://t.co/SVBR2JxkqF
— Lavern Spicer (@lavern_spicer) August 2, 2021
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“You know, still a lot to compete for, that’s what I told the girls,” Rapinoe said. “We talked about it in the huddle. It’s not the color we want, but there’s still a medal on the line, so that’s a huge thing, and we want to win that game.”
