The U.S. women’s national team defeated Iceland 3-1 in its first match following its gold medal run this summer at the Paris Olympics. Alyssa Thompson and Jaedyn Shaw, both still teenagers, scored first before Sophia Smith provided a late dagger to seal the result.
Thompson was the only player to start Thursday night who did not play in this summer’s Olympics. The 19-year-old was widely expected to be called back into the national team following an excellent run of form with Angel City in NWSL. She did not disappoint in Austin, providing the opening goal, which was also her first international goal.
Absolute LASER from the teenager ☄️
🇺🇸 USA 1-0 ISL 🇮🇸#USWNT x @VW pic.twitter.com/7Mv7QKdEUk
— U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team (@USWNT) October 25, 2024
“I get in those situations a lot in games, so I knew what to do: put it in with my right,” Thompson said during her half-time interview.
Since the NWSL’s return from the Olympic break, Thompson has scored five goals with Angel City and noted that she’s spent extra time after training working on cutting in off the wings with an eye for goal alongside her NWSL teammate Christen Press. Thursday night, she got another perfect opportunity to show what those extra reps have unlocked.
Thompson last played for the U.S. in 2023, featuring in the final match of the year in Texas. Despite her inclusion in the 2023 World Cup roster, she missed out on an Olympic spot under head coach Emma Hayes.
4 – Four teenagers (Olivia Moultrie, Jaedyn Shaw, Lily Yohannes, Alyssa Thompson) have scored for the #USWNT in a single calendar year for the first time since 2000 (6). Future. pic.twitter.com/b5vw9hQlUD
— OptaJack⚽️ (@OptaJack) October 25, 2024
“Just coming onto the field and wearing the jersey in the beginning, I was like, ‘This is surreal,” Thompson said during halftime. “Being able to get my first goal, I can’t describe how I feel. I’m just so happy.”
Iceland equalized in the second half when Selma Magnúsdóttir scored in the 56th minute with an effort from outside the box that beat goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher in the bottom left corner. But the tie didn’t last.
Shaw was a second-half substitute, but that didn’t stop her from scoring. While her Olympics went in an unexpected direction after she picked up a muscle injury in France, Shaw had no issues returning to her scoring ways with the national team having fully recovered.
Jae was NOT to be denied!!! 😤#USWNT x @VW pic.twitter.com/9roWnlXp2b
— U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team (@USWNT) October 25, 2024
Smith also picked up some USWNT minutes, after finally making her NWSL return for the Portland Thorns in a limited capacity last weekend. Smith had an ankle injury resurface in September and had missed out on multiple Thorns matches. Smith, one-third of the “Triple Espresso” forward line at the Olympics, added the exclamation point in Austin with her goal in the 88th minute.
⚡⚠️ ¡QUÉ GOLAAAZO DE SOPHIA SMITH!
En los últimos minutos apareció la delantera, que llega a 24 goles con @USWNT
🇺🇸 Estados Unidos 3-1 Islandia 🇮🇸
EN VIVO 📺 @NBCUniverso y 📱 Telemundo APP ➡️ https://t.co/M7Gx2k0ggN#USWNT #FutbolUSA #USWNTenUniverso pic.twitter.com/7BqKfoZuQ1
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) October 25, 2024
Gotham FC’s Yazmeen Ryan earned her first U.S. cap Thursday night, subbing on Mallory Swanson in the 66th minute alongside Shaw and Casey Krueger. Hal Hershfelt of the Washington Spirit also finally earned her first cap for the USWNT in this match, after traveling with the team to France this summer as an alternate. Head coach Emma Hayes called up six uncapped players as part of her 26-player roster for the October window, though only 23 players can dress for each match.
GO DEEPER
Hayes names 26-player USWNT roster for October friendlies
The USWNT still has two more matches in this international window. They play Iceland again on Sunday in Nashville (5.30 p.m. ET, airing on TNT, truTV, Max, Universo and Peacock), before their final match on U.S. soil this year next Wednesday against Argentina in Louisville (7 p.m. ET, airing on TNT, truTV, Max, Universo and Peacock).
(Top photo: Brad Smith / Getty Images)