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2020 Tokyo Olympics: USWNT Narrowly Defeats Netherlands in Quarterfinals After Early Struggles

The U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) is officially in the soccer semifinals of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The team narrowly beat the Netherlands through penalties earlier today during the quarterfinals after early struggles in the tourney.

Speaking about the exciting win at the Olympics, one of USWNT’s most outspoken teammates, Megan Rapinoe, states that the team just never quits. “We’re still going out there and play as hard as we can.”

Megan further discusses this year’s Olympics team by revealing, “We just wanted to put it all out there. Obviously, it’s a tough tournament and tough conditions, on and off the field.”

USWNT goalie Alyssa Naeher also chimes about the victories so far at the 2020 Olympics. “We always believe we are going to find a way to win. I think you saw that tonight,” she explains. Rapinoe also spoke about Naeher’s skills during this year’s Olympics. “She’s been huge this whole tournament,” she explains.

Naeher adds, “I just want to help my team win a gold medal. Tonight, I’m proud of what I was able to do to get us one step closer to that goal.”

USWNT Rookie Lynn Williams Talks Her First Olympics Experience

USWNT rookie Lynn Williams also shares details about her experience at this year’s Olympics.

“When everything first happened I don’t think I was ever going to see the field. Then the rule changed, and I still didn’t think I was going to see the field after the Australia game. To come and have my teammates believe in me, the goal and the assist was just the cherry on top.”

Williams notably earned her first Olympics assist and scored her first Olympics goal within minutes of each other. She originally was an alternate for the team. Williams goes on to add that her teammates are incredible but she just wants to be able to get out to the field and do what they need her to do to win the game.

USWNT Lost to Sweden at the Beginning of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics

Following their first game’s 3-0 loss to Sweden at the beginning of the 2020 Olympics, Rapinoe addresses the reporters.

“We got our a— kicked, didn’t we?” Megan proclaims. She also states that she thought the team was a little tight as well as nervous and doing “dumb” stuff. 

“There’s no time to dwell and think about if Sweden is living in our heads and or not. We’ve got another game in three days,” the Olympics athlete states. “It is what it is. We got bopped.”

USWNT Manager, Vlatko Andonovsky, then adds, “We put ourselves in a big hole but we are the only ones who can [get] ourselves out of it. [It’s] not going to be easy. We have to get positive results in the next two games.”

The USA Women’s National Team then bounced back after the disappointing loss to Sweden and beat New Zealand during their second match of the 2020 Olympics.