Carli Lloyd Claims No Teams Fear The USWNT After Its First Loss To Mexico In 13 Years, And Why Would They?
The USWNT has been trending in the wrong direction for years now, but the team's 2-0 loss to Mexico on Monday night is a low we haven't seen in well over a decade. Former captain Carli Lloyd thinks the loss serves as an example that the USWNT simply isn't feared by teams around the globe as it once was.
The USWNT's loss to Mexico in the final match of the group stage of the Gold Cup marked the first time La Trí had beaten its rivals in 13 years. It was also the first time the USWNT had lost to a North American foe on U.S. soil - the game was played in California - since the year 2000.
There are a handful of players on the USWNT squad who weren't even born the last time the team suffered this sort of defeat.
This wasn't the United States' ‘B Team’ squad, either, Trinity Rodman, Alex Morgan, Lindsey Horan, Cyrstal Dunn, and other very experienced players were all on the pitch on Monday night.
There has been this built-in storyline over the last few years regarding the USWNT's struggles that the rest of the world has simply caught up to the team that dominated the global stage for so long.
Lloyd, who retired from the USWNT in 2021, agrees that narrative is real, but is also in the camp that teams that once feared taking the field against the Americans no longer feel that way.
Carli Lloyd Criticisms Of The USWNT Are More Than Fair
It's the classic case of two things being able to be true at once, and it's hard to argue with either of Lloyd's points.
Lloyd has been on the receiving end of some serious criticism dating back to the 2023 Women's World Cup when she was the only former player and one of the very few in the media who criticized the team's performance.
The 2023 Women's World Cup was the worst in USWNT history as it failed to get out of the Round of 16. Those criticizing her simply failed to accept the reality that the World Cup squad was filled with massive egos who failed to live up and play to the expectations Lloyd helped build during her playing days.
Lloyd has earned every right to be critical of the USWNT. Her criticisms aren't shocking, what's shocking is that she's the only one connected to the team willing to speak out.
The USWNT was upset by Canada in the semi-finals of the 2020 Olympics, lost to Sweden in the first knockout stage of the 2023 Women's World Cup, and just lost to Mexico for the first time in 13 years. Why would other teams fear this bunch?