PARIS — Mallory Swanson made a crucial call in the final moments of the women’s soccer tournament at the Paris Games, telling her teammate Sophia Smith to stay away from the ball, knowing that she was offside. Swanson was not, and following her instructions, she scored the game’s only goal in the 57th minute, leading the U.S. women’s soccer team to a 1-0 victory over Brazil and securing their fifth Olympic gold medal.
This triumph marks the first gold for the U.S. Olympic soccer team since the 2012 London Olympics and completes an undefeated tournament run under new coach Emma Hayes. In a dramatic finish, goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher made a key one-handed save on a header from Brazil’s Adriana during stoppage time, solidifying the win as “Born in the U.S.A.” played to celebrate the victory.
“We’ve grown so much,” said Swanson, who celebrated her 100th appearance for the national team. “We’re playing with joy, we’re having so much fun, and I’m just so happy.”
The defeat adds to Brazil’s Olympic heartache, particularly for its star player Marta, who has yet to secure a gold medal or a Women’s World Cup victory in her career. This tournament is expected to be her last major international competition.
The U.S. women’s soccer team has now beaten Brazil three times in Olympic finals, also claiming victories in Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008. They previously won gold medals at the inaugural Olympics for women’s soccer in 1996 and in 2012.
Hayes, tearfully reflecting on the achievement, expressed gratitude to her father for encouraging her coaching journey. She praised the team for their acceptance of her strategies, stressing their skill and camaraderie.
The U.S. team had previously faced challenges, securing only a bronze medal in Tokyo three years ago and being eliminated in the quarterfinals at the 2016 Rio Games.
Among the spectators at Parc des Princes were celebrities like Tom Cruise and former stars Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird. Marta, playing in her sixth Olympics, had to begin the match on the bench due to a suspension following a foul in the group stages.
Though Hayes was hired as coach in November, she only joined the team in May after leading Chelsea to a Women’s Super League title. She aimed to rebuild a squad that underperformed at the last Women’s World Cup and quickly developed strong team dynamics.
With ten out of the twelve goals scored by forwards Sophia Smith, Trinity Rodman, and Swanson, the U.S. maintained a strong defense, allowing only two goals throughout the tournament.
Early chances favored Brazil, with Ludmila’s close attempts being thwarted by Naeher. After Swanson’s goal, the U.S. continued to press, with Smith nearly scoring a second goal before the match concluded.
The U.S. team made one adjustment for the final, starting Korbin Albert instead of Rose Lavelle, fielding one of the youngest Olympic lineups in history. Brazil entered the final after finishing third in its group and narrowly defeating Spain in the knockout stage.
The U.S. squad, having previously battled through the knockout stages, demonstrated their confidence in winning the tournament.
“We always believed,” defender Naomi Girma stated when asked about their faith in clinching gold medals.