Press, Rapinoe score, US beats Brazil 2-0 in SheBelieves Cup
The United States sits atop the SheBelieves Cup standings with two wins. But not only a goal, the way we played our attack in the first 20 minutes," Brazil coach Pia Sundhage said. It was Press' 10th goal in her last 13 national team games and 59th international goal. Alex Morgan made her first start for the national team since giving birth to daughter Charlie last year. The U.S. beat Canada 1-0 in its SheBelieves Cup opener on Thursday, while Brazil beat rival Argentina 4-1.
U.S. Soccer president addresses repeal of anthem policy
U.S. Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone apologized Saturday for the federation's lack of leadership in the fight against racism as she addressed its decision to repeal a policy that required players to stand during the national anthem. We are committed to doing better to help fight racism and discrimination in all its forms, Parlow Cone said. It was the first board meeting Parlow Cone has led as president. The U.S. Womens National Team Players Association also called for an apology from U.S. Soccer and a plan to substantively address racial inequities. Rapinoe kneeled during the anthem at a pair of national team matches in 2016.
US Soccer repeals rule that banned kneeling during anthem
U.S. Soccer's board of directors has voted to repeal a 2017 policy that required national team players to stand during the national anthem, a rule adopted after Megan Rapinoe kneeled in support of Colin Kaepernick. The board made the decision during a conference call, U.S. Soccer announced Wednesday. The U.S. Soccer Athletes' Council, which includes current national team players Alex Morgan and Ali Krieger, as well as former players like Landon Donovan, called on U.S. Soccer to also apologize for the policy to foster a "positive relationship to exist going forward." The U.S. Women's National Team Players Association also called for an apology from U.S. Soccer and a plan to substantively address racial inequality. Rapinoe took a knee during the anthem at a pair of national team matches in 2016.
US women's soccer team defeats Ireland
Alex Morgan, Ali Krieger and Megan Rapinoe celebrate during a victory ticker-tape parade for the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team on July 10, 2019, in the Manhattan borough of New York City. (CNN) - The US women's soccer team, still World Champions and emerging advocates for women's rights, returned to center stage with flair Saturday night. On the field, the Americans dispatched Ireland 3-0 in a friendly at the Rose Bowl, their first match since winning the World Cup last month in France. Off the pitch this weekend, the US Women's National Team Players Association announced a partnership with Time's Up activists to raise funds to help fight for pay equity in various industries. "I think it's part of what this team is about, what these players are about," coach Jill Ellis said after the game.
Rapinoe stands by comments about not visiting White House
The US Women's National Team forward, speaking ahead of Friday's blockbuster Women's World Cup quarterfinal match against host nation France, reiterated Thursday that she would not visit the White House. On Tuesday, Eight by Eight, a soccer magazine, released video of Rapinoe telling a reporter in January, "I'm not going to the f*****g White House" if the US wins the Women's World Cup. "I stand by the comments that I made about not wanting to go to the White House -- with the exception of the expletive," Rapinoe said in Paris on Thursday. Alex Morgan, Ali Krieger opt out of White House visitIn a series of tweets Wednesday, President Donald Trump claimed that sports teams "love coming to the White House" and attacked Rapinoe, saying she "should WIN first before she talks!" In a story released in May by Time Magazine, Alex Morgan also said she would not visit the White House.