The United States women’s national soccer team reaffirmed its dominance in the sport by clinching the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The decisive moment came on Saturday when Mallory Swanson scored the only goal in a nail-biting 1-0 victory over Brazil in the final.
This triumph marked the end of a 12-year wait for an Olympic gold, a period seen as lengthy by U.S. standards given their historical success, including four gold medals in the first five Olympic tournaments since women’s soccer was introduced in 1996. The current team sought to redeem itself after failing to finish on the podium in recent tournaments, such as the disappointing round-of-16 exit in last summer’s World Cup and a third-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics.
Guided by new coach Emma Hayes and featuring a blend of rejuvenated younger players eager for their first Olympic success, the squad overcame pressures that previous teams often faced. The USWNT completed an undefeated run through the tournament, continuing their legacy of excellence.
Swanson’s moment of glory came in the 57th minute when she converted a through ball from Korbin Albert, sending it into the net. While Brazil held most of the possession in the first half, they struggled to maintain that momentum after halftime. U.S. goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher played a crucial role in securing the win, making a spectacular one-handed save from a header by Brazilian player Adriana in the dying moments of the match.
The victory marked the USWNT’s fifth Olympic gold medal, further solidifying their status at the pinnacle of women’s soccer. Brazil, on the other hand, was left searching for its first Olympic gold after facing defeat against the U.S. in previous finals in 2004 and 2008. This final match also marked the end of an illustrious career for legendary player Marta, Brazil’s 38-year-old captain, who announced her retirement from international football slated for the end of 2024.