Can Things Get Any Worse for The USWNT?

It was an insightful international window for the USWNT if not frustrating and draining. The players were wearing the exhaustion that comes from reliving trauma on an international stage. Trying to will themselves into competitive games against the European Champs and a Spain team playing through their own turmoil.

It’s a less than ideal situation.

Especially while results on the field haven’t been consistent enough to act as an escape for stressed out players.

The play saw the US lose back to back games for the first time in 5 years while playing a style that didn’t yield many high quality attacking chances. Accruing less than 1 expected goal throughout both games — although the best sequence from either game was ultimately ruled offside through questionable line drawing.

It’s important to understand the context and timing of this window. The US need to find a groove ahead of facing Germany next month and must find a playing style that fits this team right now. USWNT coach Vlatko Andonovski is quick to point out the amount of regular starters missing from this squad — including a Julie Ertz that now appears pivotal to this team’s setup given her dominance at the 6… has anyone’s stock ever risen this much after a year long injury?

The US, for all of its’ strength, have yet to find a midfield trio that fits in well together in Ertz’s absence. We can all agree that talent isn’t the issue but the trio of Horan, Lavelle, and Sullivan was…