SI:AM | The USWNT’s Cruel Exit and What Comes Next

Good morning, I’m Dan Gartland. I guess I shouldn’t really be surprised that Lionel Messi’s MLS debut has been this incredible.

In today’s SI:AM:

???? An overlooked aspect of the Pac-12’s demise

⚾ A rookie’s dream MLB debut

???? When the Packers knew Jordan Love was ready

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A historic defeat

The USWNT’s run of World Cup dominance is over. After finishing no lower than third in each of the first eight tournaments, the team was bounced in the round of 16 in a penalty shootout against Sweden yesterday.

Michael Rosenberg wrote that the early exit “was shocking in the context of history, not shocking after the Americans’ poor group-stage performance, and borderline unjust after the way the U.S. played all night.”

It was a cruel result after the Americans played their best game of this World Cup. Following a lackluster group-stage performance, the U.S. thoroughly outplayed an elite opponent over the course of 120 minutes. Well, more accurately, it thoroughly outplayed 10 of Sweden’s 11 players. Goalie Zećira Mušović had the game of her life, making a stunning 11 saves as the game was scoreless after extra time to necessitate a shootout.

And that shootout was brutal for the Americans. The always reliable Megan Rapinoe sent her attempt over the bar, and Sweden’s deciding goal went over the line by a fraction of an inch so tiny it’s imperceptible to the naked eye.

So what went wrong? It really boils down to the team’s poor showing in the group stage, beating Vietnam but managed only draws against the Netherlands and Portugal— finishing second in the group behind the Dutch. That second-place finish set up a challenging first knockout-stage game against Sweden rather than an easier matchup against South Africa. There aren’t many easy games at the World Cup, but winning the group would have made the path smoother for the Americans.

As for why the U.S. struggled in the group stage, that’s the issue that the team needs to solve moving forward. Coach Vlatko Andonovski drew criticism for his conservative approach during the early games of the tournament, but he took a chance against Sweden that paid off, Clare Brennan writes:

In an unexpected move, the typically conservative Andonovski called Emily Sonnett into the midfield, creating a double pivot with No. 6 Andi Sullivan. The shift allowed Lindsey Horan to charge into the attack, while providing outside backs Crystal Dunn and Emily Fox the ability to spring forward on the flanks. Connecting in the midfield and building up through the lines, the USWNT’s attack was humming, with the squad creating plenty of dangerous chances. Still, one thing eluded to the U.S., the thing that’s plagued the team all tournament: finishing. For that reason, the adjustment was simply too little too late.

Still, the early exit from the World Cup, combined with a disappointing third-place finish at the Olympics two years ago, means that Andonovski’s time in charge is probably over.

Much has been made during this World Cup of the increased quality of competition. While other countries have improved their women’s programs, there is no doubt the Americans can reclaim their status as a dominant team. National teams inevitably go through up and down cycles. We already knew this was a transitional year for the USWNT after several players from the last World Cup team aged out of their prime. But a new generation of American stars has arrived. Players such as Naomi Girma, Sophia Smith, Trinity Rodman and Alyssa Thompson will carry this team. And after a crushing exit this summer, they’ll be motivated by revenge.

The best of Sports Illustrated

• After Jake Paul’s match against Nate Diaz, Greg Bishop reflects on the current state of boxing and whether stunt fights like this are truly the future of the sport.
• The collapse of the Pac-12 at the expense of Cal and Stanford could have serious implications for the U.S. Olympic program, Pat Forde writes.
• As the Packers prepare to turn the reins over to Jordan Love, Albert Breer writes that one play in November proved to the team that the young quarterback is ready to take over for Aaron Rodgers.
• Gilberto Manzano checks in from Rams training camp, where Matthew Stafford is focused on his chemistry with a new crop of receivers.
• Matt Verderame was at Bengals camp, where, not surprisingly, Cincinnati’s offense looks lost without the injured Joe Burrow.
• Julie Ertz’s comments after the U.S.’s loss suggest she could be retiring from international duty.
• Bryson DeChambeau shot a 58 in the final round of this weekend’s LIV Golf event.
• The Penguins acquired Erik Karlsson in a blockbuster NHL trade yesterday.

The top five...

… things I saw yesterday:

5. Sabrina Ionescu’s 31 points to hand the Aces just their third loss of the season.

4. The story behind Blue Jays rookie Davis Schneider’s glove. (After seven years in the minors, Schneider finally made his big league debut this weekend and picked up nine hits in three games.)

3. The ump cam view of Freddie Freeman’s home run.

2. The teamwork by the Royals’ middle infielders on this amazing put-out.

1. Yet another clutch free-kick goal by Lionel Messi.

SIQ

Who is MLB’s career leader in wins among pitchers born in Latin America? (Today is the anniversary of the day he set the record.)

• Pedro Martínez
• Bartolo Colon
• Juan Marichal
• Luis Tiant

Friday’s SIQ: On Aug. 4, 2007, eight days after his 32nd birthday, Alex Rodriguez became the youngest player in MLB history to hit 500 home runs. Who did that record belong to before him?

• Mickey Mantle
• Willie Mays
• Ken Griffey Jr.
• Jimmie Foxx

Answer: Jimmie Foxx. A-Rod was 32 years, eight days old when he hit No. 500. Foxx was 32 years, 338 days old when he hit his 500th on Sept. 24, 1940.

Rodriguez had to wait longer than he would have liked for the milestone homer. He knocked No. 499 more than a week earlier July 25, but then found himself mired in a terrible slump. He went 22 at bats before his next hit, the worst hitless streak of his career to that point, before finally getting two hits Aug. 2. Having broken out of the slump, Rodriguez hit his historic homer in the first inning of a game against the Royals on the first pitch he saw from Kyle Davies.

Coincidentally, Rodriguez hit his 600th career homer exactly three years later, on Aug. 4, 2010. He’s also the youngest player to reach that milestone, passing Babe Ruth by about a year and a half.