The 10 most iconic moments in USWNT Olympic history

Mykenna ManieceAug 10, 2024, 03:52 IST

Abby Wambach scored the game-winning goal against Brazil in overtime to win the gold medal at the 2004 Olympics in Athens.Ron Antonelli/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images<ul class="summary-list"><li>The US Women's National Soccer Team will face Brazil in the Olympic finals on Saturday.</li><li>This is the third time in Olympic history that the US and Brazil will face off for the gold medal.</li></ul>For the first time since 2012, the <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/uswnt-netflix-docuseries-world-cup-closure-lynn-williams-alyssa-thompson-2023-12">United States Women's National Team</a> (USWNT) has a chance to go for gold in the <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/streaming/how-to-watch-olympics-live-stream-paris-2024">Olympics</a>.But to reach its fifth gold medal in Olympic history, the team must first defeat Brazil, led by <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/video-brazil-marta-goal-first-player-score-5-olympic-games-2021-7">women's soccer legend Marta</a> in the final international tournament of her career.Per <a target="_blank" class href="https://affiliate.insider.com?h=ef43c6f5580d2776f4136b3280f60ec7cad0d7d030831f13f902f4a826489b0d&postID=66b3d1dc7d61a86c185f0ef4&postSlug=best-moments-uswnt-olympics-trinity-rodman-2024-8&site=bi&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.espn.com%2Folympics%2Fstory%2F_%2Fid%2F40778711%2Fuswnt-trinity-rodman-brazil-marta-olympics-2024-gold-medal-final">ESPN</a>, USWNT forward Trinity Rodman, 22, told reporters in a pre-game press conference that "Marta has changed the game of soccer around the world," but the US wants to win gold."I love her, but we want to win," she said.In honor of these groundbreaking teams' third gold-medal matchup in Olympic history, here's a look back at 10 of the USWNT's most <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/olympic-paris-records-you-missed-2024-8">iconic Olympic moments</a>.

In 1996, the USWNT won the first gold medal for women's soccer.

The USWNT won the first gold medal for women's soccer at the Olympics in 1996.Ruediger Fessel/Staff/Bongarts/Getty Images

The USWNT lost to Norway 3-2 in the final of the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, but the game was one of the sport's best.

Mia Hamm's cross to Tiffeny Milbrett allowed the USWNT to tie the game in the 90th minute.Shaun Botterill/Staff/Getty Images

Athens 2004 saw a young Abby Wambach rise over the Brazilian defense in extra-time to give the US its second Olympic gold medal.

Abby Wambach scored the game-winning goal against Brazil in extra-time to win the gold medal at the 2004 Olympics in Athens.Ron Antonelli/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images

Carli Lloyd scored the game-winning goal in extra-time to win gold against Brazil in Beijing 2008.

Carli Lloyd scored the game-winning goal to win the gold medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.Mike Hewitt/Staff/Getty Images

Sydney Leroux scored her first Olympic goal in the quarterfinal game against New Zealand during London 2012.

Sydney Leroux was the youngest member of the USWNT 2012 Olympic squad in London.Stanley Chou/Stringer/Getty Images

Alex Morgan scored in the 123rd minute to lift the US over Canada 4-3 in the semifinal of the 2012 Olympics in London.

Alex Morgan scored the game-winning goal against Canada in extra-time during the semifinal match of the 2012 Olympics in London.Stanley Chou/Stringer/Getty Images

Goalkeeper Hope Solo made major saves in the 2012 Olympics final.

Hope Solo made a number of crucial saves during the USWNT's gold medal match against Japan in London 2012.Ronald Martinez/Staff/Getty Images

In what was otherwise remembered as a disappointing 2016 Olympics for the USWNT, Mallory Pugh was a shining star.

In 2016, Mallory Pugh became the youngest American woman to score an Olympic goal.Bruno Zanardo/Stringer/Getty Images

Megan Rapinoe scored two goals to help the US defeat Australia 4-3 in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

Megan Rapinoe scored two goals to help the US defeat Australia 4-3 for the bronze medal at the 2020 Olympics.Naomi Baker/Staff/Getty Images

Sophia Smith's extra-time goal against Germany helped send the USWNT to its first gold medal match since 2012.

Sophia Smith scored the game-winning goal against Germany in the Olympic semifinal.Claudio Villa/Staff/Getty Images

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