USWNT's future is now as Big Three produce big results at Paris Olympics
MARSEILLE, France – The future of the United States women’s national team, at least when it comes to scoring goals, rests with forwards Mallory Swanson, Sophia Smith and Trinity Rodman.
The Front Three. The Big Three. Whatever they’re called, if the trio plays like they did Sunday in the Americans' 4-1 victory over Germany, the signs are positive for the USWNT moving forward.
Through two games and six points at the Paris Olympics, Rodman (one), Smith (two) and Swanson (three) have accounted for six of the Americans’ seven goals.
“You can see, I’m not making many changes to the lineup, because they have to build connections,” said head coach Emma Hayes, who was much cheerier than after the Zambia match.
Hayes added: “I think the front three in general were dynamic as hell, really fun to watch. Most importantly they enjoyed themselves.”
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Swanson scored twice in the opener against Zambia, a 3-0 victory. Then it was Smith’s turn to double up against Germany. Rodman has been the tone-setter. She scored the first goal against Zambia and she set up the opening tally against Germany when she drove with the ball to the right side of the box and her perfect cross found Smith’s boot.
The best part about that goal, Swanson said, was it proved they can take the work they put in on the training ground directly into their play – not necessarily an easy task as the players adjust to Hayes’ preferences.
Hayes said she’s still trying to figure out the tendencies of her front line and that the players are still learning about one another too. Smith, 23, and Swanson, 26, played for the same club while growing up and have chemistry on and off the field.
“Honestly, it’s kinda like sisters, but everyone, too,” Swanson said. “This group we have right now is special and we’re having a lot of fun.”
Smith left the loss against Zambia early after being banged up and felt fresh Sunday because of that decision.
“I love Soph. She’s my type of player,” Hayes said. “She gives to the team.”
The intricacies of playing the “nine,” or center forward, are coming to Smith, Hayes said. The coach enjoys working with her in that respect.
“Because she absorbs it,” Hayes said.
The on-field bond between Smith and Swanson went on hold last April when the latter tore her left patella tendon. A year passed before her return. But over the past few months, a healthy Swanson and Smith have revitalized their pitch connection. The 21-year-old Rodman fits right in.
“I feel like we’re clicking really well, really fast,” Smith said. “This is only like 70 percent of what we can do. The more games we get together, the more we’re going to be playing off each other and just learning each other’s tendencies. It’s so much fun playing with them.”
On Thursday, Rodman said they’ve been improving every match they play together. Doing it on the Olympic stage will only help, she said.
“I think our connections have been so good,” Rodman said after the Zambia win.
Rodman added that the nerves heading into her first Olympics, despite playing in last year’s World Cup, were real.
“It felt so good, to get that goal was amazing, to get it on that big of a stage was great,” Rodman said.
The respective skill sets of the three allow for all to play to their strengths.
Smith can threaten from behind, hold up the ball or hop off the line, Swanson said. Rodman excels in the one-on-one game. Swanson can play in the “pocket” and still also be effective behind the play.
“When you have all of that in your back pocket,” Swanson said, “it’s super special.”
Perhaps it was fitting then that Swanson’s goal came on a rebound of a shot from Smith.
“Because she’s Mal,” said Lynn Williams, who entered as a sub and scored the fourth goal with an assist from Swanson, in response to why the Chicago Red Stars forward has been off to a hot start in France. “I just think that there’s a belief within herself. There’s a belief within the team that we’re going to get the job done. But not just her. I think that collectively we are finding her in great spots and she is making amazing runs and touches and creating for herself but creating for others as well.
“She’s obviously an amazing player, and I think amazing players score amazing goals.”