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<ul class="summary-list"><li>The <keyword id="44173" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Netherlands">Netherlands</keyword> faced <keyword id="6355478" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="australia">Australia</keyword> at home in a friendly between two top-ranked women's national teams.</li><li>Ahead of the match, the Dutch starters held iPads to welcome virtual mascots to the field.</li><li>Netherlands superstar <keyword id="2894200" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Vivianne-Miedema">Vivianne Miedema</keyword> couldn't keep her composure and broke into a fit of giggles.</li><li>The Dutch clobbered their Australian opponents 5-0, delivering the <keyword id="3838472" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="matildas">Matildas</keyword>' worst loss in 13 years.</li></ul>

The world's top soccer player couldn't stop giggling when her team had to hold virtual mascots on iPads during the national anthem

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The US Women's National Team faces the Netherlands in its toughest test of the World Cup so far.</li><li>The two sides have played several high-stakes games — including the 2019 World Cup final — in recent years.</li></ul><p>The US Women's National Team faces its biggest test of the 2023 World Cup so far on Wednesday night — or Thursday afternoon, if you're on hand in Australia or New Zealand for this summer's tournament.</p><p>The reigning champions kick off against the Netherlands — FIFA's ninth-ranked squad — in a blockbuster rematch of the 2019 World Cup final. The sides have faced off twice since then, and on all three occasions, one player has forged a reputation as the Netherlands' Achilles heel: Rose Lavelle.</p><p>Lavelle, a star midfielder who <a href="https://www.insider.com/rose-lavelle-still-nervous-us-womens-national-soccer-team-2022-1">began making her mark for the USWNT</a> in 2017, does not fit the conventional mold of a supervillain. She's slender and stands at just 5-foot-4, with pale skin and a young-looking face that belies her 28 years. She often makes reference to her beloved English Bulldog — Wilma Jean Wrinkles — and has called having <a href="https://www.insider.com/rose-lavelle-cow-rose-cowbelle-forward-madison-fc-2021-1">a cow named in her honor</a> one of the greatest accomplishments of her life.</p><div type="image" title="Rose Lavelle holds a fan-made sign of her dog, Wilma Jean Wrinkles." height="1452" width="1936" msid="102151412" hostid="261" sizebytes="259446"></div><p>Somehow, the very same Rose Lavelle has found her way into the collective nightmares of the Dutch national team since 2019, when the then-24-year-old appeared in her first major international tournament. During that year's closely watched World Cup final in France, Lavelle burst onto the scene with a <a href="https://youtu.be/_6VeZAZdff0?t=77">spectacular second-half goal</a> that secured the USWNT's title defense and destroyed the Netherlands' hopes of winning their first-ever World Cup.</p><p>A little more than a year later, Lavelle and her USWNT teammates traveled to Europe for a friendly against the Netherlands on their home turf. Once again, the crafty star <a href="https://www.insider.com/video-rose-lavelle-goal-vs-netherlands-left-footed-rocket-2020-11">tortured the Dutch</a>; she launched a rocket off of her left foot to open scoring in the 41st minute and help the US to a 2-0 road win.</p>  <p>The US and Netherlands met once more in the quarterfinals of <a href="https://www.insider.com/rose-lavelle-olympics-world-cup-differences-uswnt-star-2021-6">the Tokyo Olympics</a>. With their hopes for a medal on the line, the rivals battled to a 2-2 draw through regulation. After two scoreless 15-minute periods of extra time, the match came down to penalty kicks.</p><p>Vivianne Miedema — the Netherlands' all-time leading scorer — stepped to the line first, but longtime <a href="https://www.insider.com/uswnt-wins-in-penalty-kicks-in-tokyo-redeems-2016-olympics-loss-2021-7">USWNT keeper Alyssa Naeher</a> made a diving save to keep the Dutch off the board. Up next for the US was none other than Rose Lavelle, who coolly converted her shot and gave the Americans a lead they'd never relinquish.</p><p>Now, the Netherlands have to face their nemesis from Cincinnati in yet another high-stakes game. The two sides are battling Down Under for the top spot in their group of four, with the victor likely earning a preferable draw for the knockout stage of the tournament.</p><div type="image" title="rose lavelle" height="1666" width="2222" msid="102151415" hostid="261" sizebytes="113132"></div><p>And as fate would have it, Lavelle is fully healthy and <a href="https://justwomenssports.com/reads/2023-womens-world-cup-digest-uswnt-netherlands-canada-ireland/">available to start</a> for the first time since April 8, when she tweaked her knee in a friendly against Ireland. </p><p>"We know every time we play the Netherlands, it's going to be a great game," Lavelle said, <a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/38072083/uswnt-rose-lavelle-clear-start-vs-netherlands-world-cup">per ESPN</a>. "They have a lot of experience on the field."</p><p>"I think it's going to be fun."</p><p>The US-Netherlands game kicks off at 9 p.m. ET Wednesday (1 p.m. Thursday local time) at Sky Stadium in Wellington, New Zealand. Fans stateside can tune in to watch the action unfold on FOX.</p>

Rose Lavelle has a history of torturing the Dutch, and she'll be crucial to US women's soccer's big test against the Netherlands

<ul class="summary-list"><li>FIFA's annual Best Awards on Monday were a strange, somewhat confusing affair.</li><li>They were riddled with odd choices and omissions, such as naming four strikers in the team of the year.</li></ul><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/category/cristiano-ronaldo">Cristiano Ronaldo</a> was given a special award and was named in the FIFPRO Men's World11 at a controversial, somewhat shambolic FIFA Best Awards in Zurich on Monday night. </p><p>The <keyword id="11895952" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="manchester-united" source="Orion">Manchester United</keyword> star was given the "FIFA Special Award" for becoming the top scorer in the history of men's international <keyword id="11897666" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="soccer" source="Orion">soccer</keyword>.</p><p>In September, Ronaldo <a href="https://www.insider.com/cristiano-ronaldo-international-scoring-record-every-goal-scored-mapped-2021-9">broke the record set by former Iran striker Ali Daei when he scored his 110th goal for Portugal.</a></p><p>FIFA unveiled the accolade for the 36-year-old during the ceremony with the forward describing it as the "pinnacle" of his "individual achievements."</p><p>Ronaldo was also named in the FIFPRO Men's World11, which was presented in a strange 3-3-4 formation, with four strikers, a team configuration that would almost certainly never be used in an elite soccer match.</p><p>As well as Ronaldo, the team included great rival Lionel Messi, Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Braut Haaland, and Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski, who scooped the FIFA Men's Best Player award for a second year running.</p><p>Liverpool's Mohamed Salah missed out, despite the Egyptian making the shortlist for the Men's Best Player and Ronaldo being omitted. </p><p>The strange line-up also saw Paris Saint-Germain's Gianluigi Donnarumma placed in goal. That came despite the fact that Chelsea's Eduoard Mendy scooped FIFA Men's Best Goalkeeper prize on the night. </p><p>David Alaba, Leonardo Bonucci, and Ruben Dias made up a three man defence, while Chelsea duo Jorginho and N'Golo Kante, and Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne, were named in midfield.</p><p>There were similar controversies in the FIFPRO Women's World11 too.</p><p>FC Barcelona midfielder Alexia Putellas won the Best FIFA Women's Player of the Year, but was not included in line-up for the team of the year. In fact no Barcelona players featured, despite the club winning the Champions League and retaining its Primera Division title by dropping just three points all season.</p><p>27-year-old Putellas, who also won the Ballon d'Or in November and has been the standout player in the all-conquering Barca side, was delighted with her award, regardless of her omission from the team of the year.</p><p>"This belongs to everyone," Putellas said after receiving the award. "I hope we can continue with the same or even more motivations this year and we can be very successful again.</p><p>"This is the work of many years. 2021 was perfect. We only hope to finish this year the same way."</p><p>The FIFPRO Women's World11 comprised of Christiane Endler in goal; Lucy Bronze, Wendie Renard, Millie Bright, and Magdalena Eriksson in defence; and Estefania Banini, Carli Lloyd, and Barbara Bonansea in midfield.</p><p>Vivianne Miedema, Marta, and Alex Morgan made up the front three.</p><p>PSG star Stephanie Labbe and Manchester City's Janine Beckie both hit out at the line-up.</p><p>"This is a prime example of why we need more investment, media coverage and visibility for women's soccer," tweeted Labbe.</p><p>"Popularity shouldn't win awards. Performances to win club and/or international championships should be rewarded but if you don't see it you can't award it."</p><p>Beckie tweeted: "How does the player who won the Ballon D'Or &amp; FIFA Best not make this team??? No Canadian players, won the Olympics… No Barca players, won the champions league… If we're gonna say this is the BEST 11 from 2021… that doesn't make sense."</p>

FIFA invented a new award to give Cristiano Ronaldo during a bizarre, shambolic end of year gala filled with odd choices and omissions

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The US Women's National Team survived the first stage of the knockout round at the Tokyo Olympics.</li><li>After regulation and 30 minutes of overtime, the <keyword id="9096091" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="uswnt">USWNT</keyword> bested the Netherlands 4-2 in penalty kicks.</li><li>The steely performance comes after the team lost in the same round in PKs at the 2016 Rio Olympics.</li></ul><p>The US Women's National Team was in this position before.</p><p>For most of the soccer stars who traveled with <keyword id="418425" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Team-USA">Team USA</keyword> to Tokyo, the heartbreak of the 2016 Rio Olympics is forever etched in their minds. With a chance at making history on the line, the reigning World Cup champions and gold-medal favorites lost in penalty kicks against Sweden in the quarterfinal match - the first game of the knockout stage - and headed home without any hardware in tow.</p><div type="image" title="USWNT players react to their loss to Sweden in penalty kicks at the 2016 Olympics." height="1632" width="2500" msid="84896333" hostid="261"></div><p>Not this time. In a Tokyo Olympics quarterfinal contest laden with déjà vu for the US players and their fans, the USWNT <a href="https://www.insider.com/video-abby-wambach-stressed-while-watching-uswnt-overtime-at-olympics-2021-7">survived penalty kicks against the Netherlands</a> - their 2019 World Cup final foes - to advance to the semifinal of the Olympic tournament for the first time in nearly a decade.</p><p>Goalkeeper <keyword id="7811151" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Alyssa-Naeher">Alyssa Naeher</keyword> added on to her already stellar performance in the final moments of Friday's contest. She opened up penalty kicks by extending for a masterful save against Vivianne Miedema - an international superstar who is, as of the Tokyo tournament, the record holder for most goals within a single Olympic Games.</p><p>Rose Lavelle was the first to step to the penalty spot for the Americans, and the 26-year-old kept her composure to slot the ball into the back of the net. Alex Morgan was up next for the USWNT, and she coolly followed suit to put her squad up 2-1.</p><p>Dutch defender Stefanie van der Gragt nearly missed the third shot for the Netherlands, but her shot ricocheted off the post and into the far-side webbing to tie the score. Christen Press then redeemed herself for a brutal miss in 2016 with a made penalty kick this time around, and then the spotlight was back on Naeher.</p><p>The 33-year-old guessed correctly for the third time in the match and the second time during PKs to block a bullet from Aniek Nouwen:</p><div type="image" title="Alyssa Naeher." height="1687" width="2500" msid="84896334" hostid="261"></div><p>From there, it was up to <keyword id="2890306" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Megan-Rapinoe">Megan Rapinoe</keyword> - the calm, cool, and collected pink-haired forward who led the USWNT to its 2019 World Cup victory. She stepped to the line, placed her ball, and rocketed a shot into the upper 90 of the right side of the goal to keep the United States on its path to gold.</p><p>And she celebrated in a similarly cool fashion.</p><p>The USWNT will quickly shift its focus to its semifinal match, where the team will face a <a href="https://www.insider.com/video-canada-goalkeeper-steph-labbe-penalty-kick-save-vs-brazil-2021-7">familiar foe in Team Canada</a>. Many American stars play alongside Canadian national teamers for their National Women's Soccer League clubs, but they'll set amiability to the side in pursuit of gold - and history.</p><p>Vlatko Andonovski's squad is set to take the next step on its journey to becoming the first team to earn gold directly after winning the World Cup, with a kickoff for the USWNT vs. <keyword id="6356687" type="LOCATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="canada">Canada</keyword> on Monday at 4 a.m. ET.</p>

The USWNT redeemed its heartbreaking 2016 Olympics loss with a steely performance through penalty kicks in Tokyo

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="6355005" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="news">News</keyword> of a new <keyword id="381358" type="SPORT" weightage="60" keywordseo="European-super-league">European Super League</keyword> has rocked the <keyword id="3071" type="SPORT" weightage="60" keywordseo="Soccer">soccer</keyword> world.</li><li>The new league will take 12 elite clubs from their longstanding domestic leagues.</li><li>The announcement of the new framework hardly accounted for the clubs' existing women's teams.</li></ul><p>A dozen of the largest and most influential soccer clubs on the planet have joined forces to form <a href="https://www.insider.com/european-super-league-gary-neville-rips-apart-new-competition-plans-2021-4">the European Super League - a new competitive infrastructure that promises to tear apart the framework of European soccer</a> as we've long known it.</p><p>But where the women's game factors into these grand plans is anybody's guess.</p><div type="image" title="lucy bronze sam kerr" height="1874" width="2500" msid="82152396" hostid="261"></div><p>Each of the 12 clubs - Premier League's Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur; Atlético Madrid, Barcelona, and Real Madrid of Spain's La Liga; and Italian Serie A's AC Milan, Inter Milan, and Juventus - released a joint statement outlining ambitions for the new league on their respective websites.</p><p>And despite the fact that all 12 of those franchises feature women's teams of their own, Sunday's European Super League release hardly acknowledged the existence of women's soccer. The clubs simply cast away their women's teams as afterthoughts and essentially left players with an "IOU" in lieu of fleshing out plans for a women's wing of the new competition.</p><div type="image" title="jenni hermoso" height="1666" width="2222" msid="82152399" hostid="261"></div><p>"As soon as practicable after the start of the men's competition, a corresponding women's league will also be launched, helping to advance and develop the women's game," <a href="https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/first-team/431801-leading-european-football-clubs-announce-new-super-league-competition">the statement said</a>.</p><p>And that's it. That's all the release had to say on the matter of women's soccer.</p><p>Shortly after the statement from the European Super League on Sunday, UEFA and other soccer governing bodies - as well as the English, Spanish, and Italian domestic leagues - <a href="https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/mediaservices/mediareleases/news/0268-12121411400e-7897186e699a-1000--statement-by-uefa-english-fa-rfef-figc-premier-league-laliga-le/">released a joint statement</a> to condemn the plans. The backlash extended as far as threats to <a href="https://www.insider.com/european-super-league-lionel-messi-cristiano-ronaldo-banned-international-football-2021-4">ban participating players from the FIFA World Cup</a> and other international competitions with their national teams.</p><div type="image" title="sara gama juventus.JPG" height="2395" width="3193" msid="82152401" hostid="261"></div><p>Between the European Super League utterly failing to account for the women's game and the current powers of the soccer universe waging war on member institutions, the women's teams and players involved have been given absolutely no insurance policy.</p><p>If the European Super League fails to implement a timely framework for competition on the women's side and athletes are barred from national team appearances and competition in their current domestic leagues, some of the top women's players on the planet may be left without a place to play altogether.</p><div type="image" title="sam kerr.JPG" height="1665" width="2221" msid="82152405" hostid="261"></div><p>No more Sam Kerr backflips after hat tricks. No more clinical Vivianne Miedema finishes. No more Lucy Bronze defensive masterclasses, Jennifer Hermoso screamers, or Ellie Roebuck high-flying saves.</p><p>And American stars aren't immune to the repercussions, either. Five US Women's National Team players - Sam Mewis, Rose Lavelle, Abby Dahlkemper, Tobin Heath, and Christen Press - could also find themselves caught in the crossfire between the European Super League and the traditional powers of the soccer world.</p><div type="image" title="tobin heath christen press" height="1452" width="1937" msid="82152407" hostid="261"></div><p>The European Super League devoted just 27 of 761 words in its release to addressing plans - or lack thereof - for the women's game, but that was enough to threaten the future of women's soccer for many of the most elite athletes and teams on the planet.</p><p>It's certainly a questionable approach to "helping to advance and develop the women's game," as the release promised, but surely we'll know whether or not it's effective "as soon as practicable after the start of the men's competition."</p>

The new European Super League taking the soccer world by storm is treating the women's game as an afterthought

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="2900455" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Sam-Kerr">Sam Kerr</keyword> notched her first hat trick for <keyword id="6355517" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="chelsea">Chelsea</keyword> against West Ham Sunday.</li><li>The dominant striker found the back of the net in the 15th, 55th, and 68th minutes to extend the Blues' record undefeated streak in the <keyword id="10056419" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="fa-wsl">FA WSL</keyword> to 28 games.</li><li>But before Kerr could launch into her signature back flip celebration, she collided with an Irons defender and hurt her hip, forcing an early substitution in what constituted her best-ever game in blue and white.</li></ul><p>Sam Kerr is widely considered one of the most lethal offensive weapons on the planet, and on Sunday, she reminded the world why.</p><p>The prolific striker notched her first hat trick for Chelsea in the Blues' first game with fans at Kingsmeadow since February. Kerr's trio of goals - which came in the 15th, 55th, and 68th minutes - propelled Emma Hayes' side past West Ham 3-2 to extend Chelsea's record 28-game undefeated streak in the FA WSL.</p><div type="image" title="sam kerr" height="1551" width="2069" msid="79612520" hostid="261"></div><p>But the Australian international suffered an injury before she could celebrate the impressive feat with <a href="https://twitter.com/TheMatildas/status/910310662731055104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E910310662731055104%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.refinery29.com%2Fen-us%2F2019%2F06%2F235225%2Fsam-kerr-australian-soccer-backflipflip">her signature backflip goal celebration</a>. Upon slipping her third <keyword id="1934" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Goal">goal</keyword> of the day into the back of the net, the 27-year-old collided with an Irons defender, smashing her left hip and limping away from the goal in obvious pain.</p><p>Kerr's stunning performance Sunday came after the <keyword id="3838472" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="matildas">Matildas</keyword> captain faced considerable criticism for her lack of finishing in recent Chelsea matches. Her first goal against West Ham broke a three-game scoring drought for the all-time goals leader in both the National Women's <keyword id="3071" type="SPORT" weightage="60" keywordseo="Soccer">Soccer</keyword> League in the United States and the W-League in her native <keyword id="6355478" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="australia">Australia</keyword>. Kerr now paces the Blues in scoring for the year and ranks third in the FA WSL in total goals on the season behind Arsenal's Vivianne Miedema and Jill Roord.</p><div type="image" title="sam kerr.JPG" height="1665" width="2220" msid="79612523" hostid="261"></div><p>But Kerr's knock after her third goal of the day forced an early substitution in what constituted her best scoring performance in blue and white since joining the club in November 2019. Chelsea has not yet publicly spoken to the severity of Kerr's injury, so it remains unclear whether or not she'll be available for the first leg of the Blues' Champions League matchup against Portuguese side S.L. Benfica on Wednesday.</p><ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/nwsl-mvp-sam-kerr-learns-about-award-minutes-before-winning-2019-10">International soccer star Sam Kerr didn't know her league's MVP award was being announced until minutes before she won it</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/uswnt-lawsuit-players-us-soccer-settle-working-conditions-travel-fields-2020-12">Agreement will give US Women's National Team access to similar resources as the men's team, but they are still fighting for equal pay</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/uswnt-sophia-smith-abby-wambach-childhood-photo-2020-12">The USWNT's youngest player posted an adorable throwback photo with Abby Wambach, and the national team legend applauded her for being an inspiration</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/syracuses-tiana-mangakahia-returns-post-breast-cancer-chemo-surgery-2020-12">A Syracuse basketball star is back on the court after breast cancer, chemo, and a double mastectomy derailed her senior season</a></li></ul>

One of the world's top strikers scored her first hat trick for Chelsea but collided with a defender and was injured before her signature goal celebration

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The US Women's National Team released its latest roster, and some big names were not included for October training camp.</li><li>US <keyword id="3071" type="SPORT" weightage="60" keywordseo="Soccer">Soccer</keyword> opted not to bring the stars currently playing abroad — including <keyword id="480510" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Alex-Morgan">Alex Morgan</keyword>, Christen Press, Tobin Heath, Rose Lavelle, Sam Mewis, and Emily Sonnett — back to the states amid the pandemic.</li><li>Morgan told Insider that it was "the right decision" and that head coach <keyword id="10108530" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="vlatko-andonovski">Vlatko Andonovski</keyword> called each player to assure them that the move was "not performance-driven in any way."</li></ul><p>The US Women's National Team <a href="https://twitter.com/USWNT/status/1314234401312641024">released its most recent roster</a> on October 8, and some huge names were not on the list.</p><p>Alex Morgan was one of them.</p><p>The Olympic gold medalist, two-time World Cup champion, and co-captain of the <keyword id="9096091" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="uswnt">USWNT</keyword> since 2018 signed a one-year deal with FA Women's Super League side <keyword id="62094" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Tottenham-Hotspur">Tottenham Hotspur</keyword> in September. As such, she and her five-month-old daughter, Charlie, packed their bags and headed across the Atlantic amid the coronavirus pandemic to begin the next stage of Morgan's club career and help her best prepare for the Tokyo Olympics next summer.</p><div type="image" title="alex morgan" height="1708" width="2277" msid="78667467" hostid="261"></div><p>But when USWNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski and US Soccer were formulating plans for the national team's October training camp — the team's first gathering in 7 months — they decided "it just did not make sense for the players in Europe to leave their club environments." So Morgan and a handful of her 2019 FIFA World Cup-winning teammates in Christen Press, Tobin Heath, Rose Lavelle, Sam Mewis, and Emily Sonnett were all left off the roster — a decision Morgan herself agrees with.</p><p>"I think that it's the right decision not to bring players back because we are in another country that is handling the pandemic different," she told Insider while promoting <a href="https://www.insider.com/alex-morgan-uswnt-gogo-squeez-accessible-youth-sports-initiatives-2020-10">her Fun Comes First campaign with GoGo squeeZ</a>. "Obviously health and safety is of utmost priority for each player. Each player needs to decide what's best for them, but in US Soccer making the executive decision not to bring us over, it's because of us getting consistent training and games here."</p><p>"[They're] really minimizing the unnecessary travel for us to come meet the team for a training camp that we could be really doing here instead with our respective teams," Morgan added.</p><div type="image" title="alex morgan" height="961" width="1281" msid="78667469" hostid="261"></div><p>Since her first call up in 2010, Morgan has been a stalwart on the USWNT and has seldom missed team events barring injury or her recent pregnancy. Though she noted that "there aren't any games involved" in the upcoming USWNT camp which "was really the deciding factor in not bringing players back," it'll undoubtedly be strange for the superstar striker to miss a national team event she's eligible for. </p><p>But even without joining her teammates in Colorado, Morgan has a great opportunity to prepare for the Olympics with Tottenham. The <keyword id="9977529" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="fawsl">FAWSL</keyword> — which includes several sister teams to Premier League clubs — has rapidly bridged the gap in skill level between itself and the women's leagues traditionally thought to be the best on the planet, including the National Women's Soccer League and Australia's W-League. She'll face stiff competition in the form of international superstars such as Australia's Sam Kerr, Denmark's Pernille Harder, England's Lucy Bronze, and Ellen White, France's Valerie Gauvin, and Holland's Vivianne Miedema, all of whom have recently joined the <keyword id="10056419" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="fa-wsl">FA WSL</keyword>'s ranks.</p><div type="image" title="alex morgan" height="1666" width="2222" msid="78667472" hostid="261"></div><p>"It's pretty exciting just seeing so many international players play here as well as so much top talent domestically," Morgan said.</p><p>With the Tokyo Olympics less than a year away, the American international will undoubtedly use the next few months with Hotspur to get back up to speed after her post-World Cup maternity leave hiatus. She's confident that her time in the UK will be enough "to get my touch back, to get my speed back, [and] to feel good about going in with the National Team."</p><p>But Andonovski assured Morgan that her absence from his most recent USWNT roster was neither a reflection of her own abilities nor an indication of what's to come in 2021.</p><div type="image" title="alex morgan" height="1400" width="1866" msid="78667475" hostid="261"></div><p>"Vlatko called each one of us to let us know that it's not performance driven in any way," Morgan said. "It's because of the pandemic, the amount of players in Europe, and the ability for us to continue to get a consistent training and game environment."</p><p>Morgan could make her Tottenham debut as early as next week, as Hotspur take on a league-leading Arsenal squad on Sunday. If not, Tottenham's November 4 matchup with Chelsea will more than likely feature Morgan's first live action of the year.</p><ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/alex-morgan-tottenham-hotspur-prep-for-tokyo-olympics-with-uswnt-2020-10">The pandemic pushed Alex Morgan to move to the UK so that the new mom could get back in match-shape for the Tokyo Olympics</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/alex-morgan-uswnt-gogo-squeez-accessible-youth-sports-initiatives-2020-10">Alex Morgan is making youth sports fun again</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/catarina-macario-uswnt-call-up-us-citizen-same-day-2020-10">A budding USWNT star credited the American dream after earning her first national team call up and becoming a US citizen in the same day</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/christen-press-tobin-heath-manchester-united-jerseys-outsell-mens-2020-10">Manchester United jerseys for 2 American women's soccer stars outsold all of the players on the men's side</a></li></ul>

Alex Morgan says it was 'the right decision' for US Women's National Team to leave some top stars off latest roster

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Newly-minted <keyword id="62094" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Tottenham-Hotspur">Tottenham Hotspur</keyword> and new mom <keyword id="480510" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Alex-Morgan">Alex Morgan</keyword> has taken her talents overseas on a one-year deal.</li><li>The US Women's National Team superstar spoke to Insider about her quick decision to join the FA Women's Super League side and uproot her life to the UK.</li><li>With the Tokyo Olympics mere months away and the US still struggling to contain the spread of COVID-19, Morgan said she felt it'd be best "to get back to full fitness" and "get my touch back" abroad.</li></ul><p>A lot has changed for Alex Morgan — a new mom with a new team in a new country.</p><p>The US Women's National Team superstar signed a one-year deal with Tottenham Hotspur less than six months after giving birth to her first child. Now she's adjusting to life in the UK with her daughter, Charlie, while preparing to return to competition for the first time in a year.</p><p>It's a lot to take on for anyone — even an Olympic gold medalist and two-time World Cup champion — but Morgan's love of the game trumps all.</p><p>"I want to play, you know? I want to play <keyword id="3071" type="SPORT" weightage="60" keywordseo="Soccer">soccer</keyword>," Morgan told Insider while promoting <a href="https://www.insider.com/alex-morgan-uswnt-gogo-squeez-accessible-youth-sports-initiatives-2020-10">her Fun Comes First campaign with GoGo squeeZ</a>. "This is what I love. It's my passion, and regardless of it being my job, it's what I love to do every single day."</p><div type="image" title="alex morgan" height="1400" width="1866" msid="78643592" hostid="261"></div><p>That wouldn't have been so easy back in the United States. Since 2013, Morgan has played club soccer in the National Women's Soccer League, the top women's league in America that, before the pandemic, featured all of the active players on the <keyword id="9096091" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="uswnt">USWNT</keyword> roster.</p><p>Though her Orlando Pride have been active in recent weeks, they did not partake in the <keyword id="4451139" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="nwsl">NWSL</keyword>'s Challenge Cup this summer due to a COVID-19 outbreak within their own ranks. The Pride will have played just four games in 2020 when their NWSL Fall Series schedule is all said and done this Saturday. Between the limited opportunities for competitive play and the outsized risk of contracting the virus while traveling to North Carolina and Texas, Morgan opted to try something new.</p><p>"I have to look at when the last time I played a competitive match was. A full match? That was the World Cup ... it's been a year," Morgan said. "I need to get back to full fitness, and I need to get games ... Not being able to do that in the US because of the season really wrapping up with the NWSL mid-October and not starting back up until a to-be-determined date next year, I knew that I needed more."</p><p>"An individual training environment just wasn't going to be enough for me to get my touch back, to get my speed back, to feel good about going in with the National Team," she added. "Whether that be in November or January, I wanted to be in a team environment consistently so I can feel good going into 2021 — which is hopefully when we'll be going to Tokyo."</p><div type="image" title="alex morgan" height="1708" width="2277" msid="78643596" hostid="261"></div><p>The FA Women's Super League provided her with the best opportunity to do just that. The league — which includes several sister teams to Premier League clubs — has rapidly bridged the gap in skill level between itself and the women's leagues traditionally thought to be the best on the planet, including the NWSL and Australia's W-League. International superstars such as Australia's Sam Kerr, Denmark's Pernille Harder, England's Lucy Bronze, and Ellen White, France's Valerie Gauvin, and Holland's Vivianne Miedema have all recently joined the FA WSL's ranks.</p><p>Plus, some of <a href="https://www.insider.com/european-soccer-clubs-poaching-american-stars-covid-19-pandemic-2020-9">Morgan's USWNT teammates have also taken the trip across the pond</a> to compete for various sides in the UK's top league. Strikers Tobin Heath and Christen Press both joined Manchester United, while midfielders Rose Lavelle and Sam Mewis signed with crosstown rival Manchester City.</p><p>"I feel like the decision is made so quickly, so it took me like a week or two to settle down here, but I feel good about my decision that I made," Morgan said. "It's pretty exciting just seeing so many international players play here as well as so much top talent domestically."</p><p>Though Morgan has yet to debut across the pond, her Hotspur squad has already played six matches this fall and has another eight on its schedule before the end of the year. She acknowledged that Tottenham might not have been the most obvious landing spot for a three-time FIFPro World11 star like herself. Morgan said she sees joining a team that "isn't really seen as one of the top two or three powerhouses in the WSL" gives her a unique opportunity to make an immediate impact for the club.</p><div type="image" title="alex morgan" height="1666" width="2222" msid="78643599" hostid="261"></div><p>"It gives me a challenge to really step in and get back to where I was before at an accelerated rate," Morgan said. "And also to bring my playing leadership and experience as well to try to help my team to more success."</p><p>But until she's match fit, Morgan will continue getting her lay of the land in North London. Though her husband, Servando Carrasco, didn't make the initial trip to the UK with her, Morgan said she's looking forward to his arrival at the end of the month.</p><p>As for Charlie, Morgan says the now-five-month-old has been remarkably adaptable to her new surroundings, which has undoubtedly made it easier for the 31-year-old to make the most of her time on the pitch.</p><p>"She's a total rock star and has been sleeping well, which gives me a lot of rest and helps me feel good for training and getting back in with the team," Morgan said. "We've also been doing a lot of day trips to parks and into the city. It's been fun to explore."</p><div type="image" title="alex morgan" height="732" width="976" msid="78643601" hostid="261"></div><p>Morgan could make her Tottenham debut as early as next week, as Hotspur take on a league-leading Arsenal squad on Sunday. If not, Tottenham's November 4 matchup with Chelsea will more than likely feature Morgan's first live action of the year.</p><ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/alex-morgan-uswnt-gogo-squeez-accessible-youth-sports-initiatives-2020-10">Alex Morgan is making youth sports fun again</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/european-soccer-clubs-poaching-american-stars-covid-19-pandemic-2020-9">European clubs are poaching US Women's Soccer stars thanks to the coronavirus pandemic</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/alex-morgan-uswnt-tea-celebration-backstory-kelley-ohara-podcast-2020-7">Alex Morgan revealed the origin story behind her iconic World Cup tea-sipping celebration and how she was surprised she remembered to do it at all</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/alex-morgans-competitive-drive-makes-her-uswnt-icon-2020-4">20 examples of Alex Morgan's competitive drive that has made her a soccer icon</a></li></ul>

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