USWNT: 3 things we learned from Olympic qualifying

CARSON, CA - FEBRUARY 09: Captain Carli Lloyd (C) #10 of USA holds the trophy and celebrates with his teammates after wining the Final game between Canada and United States as part of the 2020 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying at Dignity Health Sports Park on February 9, 2020 in Carson, California. (Photo by Omar Vega/Getty Images) /

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CARSON, CA – FEBRUARY 07: Samantha Mewis #3 of USA celebrates with his team mates after scores 2nd goal during the semifinals game between Mexico and United States as part of the 2020 CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying at Dignity Health Sports Park on February 7, 2020 in Carson, California. (Photo by Omar Vega/Getty Images) /

1. Potential for history

This group of USWNT players has already cemented themselves in the history books as the first American team to win back-to-back World Cups, becoming the second-ever team to do it after Germany won in 2003 and 2007.

The team came as close as you can get to winning both the Olympics and World Cup in the 2011-2012 cycle when they lost in the WC final to Japan in a penalty shootout but followed that with Olympic gold. The following chance, the USWNT won the World Cup in Canada but had their worst-ever Olympic performance in the infamous Sweden defeat.

2020 presents another shot to do what has never been done before: winning the gold medal in the immediate year following the World Cup victory. And there is no reason to believe this year’s USWNT cannot be the ones to break the spell.

As of right now, eight of the 12 teams who will join the U.S. in Japan have been determined. The USWNT defeated three of the eight in last summer’s World Cup and recently defeated Canada 3-0. They will get to see England again in the SheBelives Cup in less than a month and will take on Japan less than a week later before all three teams go to Tokyo for the summer games.

Next. USWNT: Team of the Decade. dark

The USWNT has shown that they have talent and depth at every position to pull off a historic feat. They now just need to go out and produce.

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