The United States women’s national team has reaffirmed its status as a leader in women’s soccer by clinching the Olympic gold medal once again. The USWNT triumphed over Brazil with a narrow 1-0 victory in the finals of the women’s soccer event at the 2024 Paris Olympics, thanks to a goal from Mallory Swanson.
This marks the end of a 12-year gold medal absence for the U.S., which previously dominated the sport by winning four of the first five golds since women’s soccer was introduced at the 1996 Games. This year’s performance was significant for the squad, as they sought to overcome recent setbacks, including failing to medal at the Rio 2016 Olympics, securing only a bronze in Tokyo 2020, and a disappointing round-of-16 exit in last summer’s World Cup.
New head coach Emma Hayes led a revitalized team filled with eager young talent, giving them a chance to pursue gold without the overwhelming expectations that have clouded previous tournaments. The USWNT impressed by finishing their Olympic journey undefeated.
“I’m very emotional. It’s been a dream of mine to be in this position,” expressed Hayes, who hails from London. “I have to thank my dad because he’s the one who pushed me to this point to be able to come and coach an unbelievable group of players that have received me so well. They are tremendous people and players and role models. Yeah, I love them.”
Swanson’s decisive goal came in the 57th minute after she connected with a through ball from Korbin Albert, deftly placing the shot into the net. Although Brazil dominated possession in the first half, they struggled to maintain pressure after halftime. U.S. goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher played a crucial role in the win by making a vital one-handed save off a header by Adriana in the fourth minute of added time.
The celebration erupted shortly after the final whistle, highlighted by Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.” resonating throughout the stadium as the USWNT secured its fifth gold medal.
“We’ve grown so much,” said Swanson, who celebrated her 100th national team appearance. “And that’s really cool to me seeing that. We’re playing with joy. We’re having so much fun and I’m just so happy.”
Brazil, having previously faced defeats to the U.S. in the finals of 2004 and 2008, aimed for its first gold medal in women’s soccer. For the legendary Marta, Brazil’s captain at 38 years old, this match marked the end of her Olympic career, as she announced plans to retire from international football after 2024.