Emma Hruby
May 18, 2023
Ashlyn Harris doesn’t miss soccer.
“Not a f–ing second,” Harris said when asked on the most recent episode of Snacks. “I don’t miss it for a second.”
The former U.S. women’s national team goalkeeper, who also became the first NWSL player to reach 500 saves, retired at the end of 2022 after 12 professional seasons. She made 25 appearances for the USWNT and is a two-time World Cup winner. But she is enjoying her retirement to the fullest.
“I am living my best life,” she told Snacks co-hosts Lynn Williams and Sam Mewis. “I don’t have schedules. I don’t have to (say), ‘Oh, I can’t, I have to be in bed by 9:30. I have training early.’
“I just live. If I need to fly home to Florida to see someone, I fly home to Florida to see someone. These days, they’re forever behind me.”
Harris is finally doing the things that she never had time to do, from dancing to grabbing cocktails with friends. She is also serving as the creative director for Gotham FC, the club for which she played her last NWSL season and for which her wife Ali Krieger still plays.
“The amount of pressure we live under, it’s just not sustainable forever,” she said. “Everyone has an opinion of, I mean the dumbest shit. … It’s just exhausting. And now it’s like, I don’t care what people think of me. I don’t have to worry about performing. I don’t have to worry.”
While she gets stressed watching the national team play – to the point that she’s “literally picking and peeling back every nail and cuticle I have on my body” – she isn’t going to miss being in the heat of the moment for the USWNT.
“Soccer was just kind of something I did. It’s not really who I am,” she said. “It’s always been about the people for me and the journey and the process and living life like extraordinary. So I’m excited for this opportunity for a lot of young people.”
Women’s sports, straight to your inbox
Start your morning off right with Just Women’s Sports’ free, 5x-a-week newsletter.
JWS Staff
Jul 26, 2024
Welcome back to The 91st, your one-stop-shop for all things USWNT at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times for the USWNT against Zambia to open up Olympic play in Nice, France. The US dominated the first half — getting the vibes back — but left a lot to be desired with a lackluster second-half performance. Which version will we see on Sunday when the USWNT goes up against Germany in their second match of group stage play?
Hosts Jordan Angeli, Duda Pavao and retired USWNT forward Jess McDonald break the Zambia match down and preview the heavyweight clash against Germany. Plus, we debate crepes vs. french toast and prove a full update on all the action from the rest of the Paris Olympics soccer tournament.
Subscribe to Just Women's Sports on YouTube to never miss an episode.
Claire Watkins
Jul 26, 2024
Like the US, Germany — the USWNT's next opponent — alsoemerged from Thursday'sgroup stage play on top, becoming the only other women's soccer team at the 2024 Paris Olympics to win their first game by three or more goals.
Germany took down Australia 3-0 in their opening match, setting the stage for a blockbusterweekend showdownwith the US as both teams vie for group stage dominance. With both earning three points and a +3 goal differential on Thursday, the US and Germany will strive to render their respective third games as meaningless as possible.
A win on Sunday by either Germany or the US — combined with a draw betweenAustralia and Zambia— would guarantee a quarterfinal berth for whichever team finishes the weekend with six points in Group B.
Injuries could affect USWNT vs. Germany outcome
Availability will be a key factorin the USWNT's success, with the status of strikers Sophia Smith and Jaedyn Shaw still unclear after Thursday's substitutions.
Germany is still adjusting to the loss of starmidfielder Lena Oberdorf to apre-Olympics ACL injury, but they looked in fine form against Australia with goals from Marina Hegering, Lea Schuller, and Jule Brand sealing the shutout win.
Sunday's match will be the first between the pair since splitting two friendly results in November 2022. Notably, in the second half of their last head-to-head, forwards Sophia Smith and Mallory Swanson fueled acomeback winafter an early goal from Brand.
Elsewhere at the Paris Olympics soccer tournament
On a mission to avenge their 2023 World Cup group stage loss, Spain looked as sharp as ever in their 2-1 victory over Japan. In the other Group C match, Brazil held on to defeat Nigeria 1-0 in an end-to-end battle featuring a goal from Gabi Nunes and an assist bysoon-to-retirelegend Marta.
Meanwhile in Group A, a troubledTeam Canadabounced back from 1-0 down against New Zealand to win it 2-1, but their off-the-field scandal continues to brew as head coach Bev Priestman wassent home on suspensionfor the remainder of the Summer Games.
Current Group A leaders France eked out a 3-2 victory over Colombia, nearly giving up their 3-0 lead behind a brace from star Marie-Antoinette Katoto.
How to watch the USWNT vs. Germany
The USWNT will take the Olympic pitch against Germany at 3 PM ET on Sunday, with live coverage onNBC networks.
Claire Watkins
Jul 26, 2024
The USWNT earned a comfortable winin their opening match of the2024 Paris Olympicson Thursday, defeating Zambia 3-0 behind atrio of first-half goals.
Opting to keep her starting XI fairly the sameas the team'ssend-off matches, head coach Emma Hayes's USWNT got their attack flowing early, scoring all three goals before the 26-minute mark.
Trinity Rodmanopened the scoring off an assist from Lindsey Horan, beforeMallory Swansonscored a brace in the span of 66 seconds, with assists by Horan and Sophia Smith. Zambia played the majority of the match a player down, as defender Pauline Zulu wasshown a red cardin the 34th minute for denying a clear and obvious goal-scoring opportunity.
USWNT alternate Croix Bethune now Olympics medal-eligible
The day began with a big switch, as Hayes tapped her newly sanctioned abilityto temporarily activate an alternate in place ofJaedyn Shaw, who was deemed out with a lower leg injury. Recent call-upCroix Bethunetook Shaw's place on the bench, becoming medal-eligible should the US take home any hardware.
If her fitness allows, Shaw will be allowed to return to the USWNT's official 18-player roster before the team's second group stage match on Sunday.
Second-half subs spotlight USWNT defense
After a knock to the ankle,Smith was subbed out of the matchjust before the halftime whistle blew. Rose Lavelle was also substituted at halftime, as she continues to return to full fitness following a late scratch in the team'sfinal tune-up match.
With substitution patterns somewhat disruptingthe flow of attack, US center-backs Naomi Girma and Tierna Davidson successfully fended off talented forwards Barbra Banda and Rachael Kundananji to secure the clean sheet.
Ultimately, after the USWNT's dominant first half, the front line appeared to stall, allowing the defense to take centerstage as they crossed off thatcrucial first steptoward the knockout stages.
Dee Lab
Jul 25, 2024
In just its second Olympics as an official sport,skateboarding will touch down in Paris for thesingle-day street eventon Sunday, July 28th.
Twenty-two skaters representing 11 countries are gearing up to show off their best tricks to five judges, who will assess their performances on a scale of 0-100 points.
How the street competition works
Street competitionsreplicate an urban environment, with obstacles like ledges, handrails, and stairs integrated throughout the course.
Athletes attempt five tricks in each of two 45-second runs. However, only their best run and top two tricks will count toward their overall score. The top eight skaters after the preliminary round will advance to the final, which follows the same format.
Team USA's medal-hunting skateboarding trio
Countries are held to a maximum of three skatersfor each competition (street and park). In the 2024 Olympic street contest, five nations qualified a full trio — including the US.
Under USA Skateboarding coach Alexis Sablone — who placed fourth in the Tokyo Olympics' street competition — the lone competing Olympic veteran is27-year-old Mariah Duran, who hopes to add an Olympic medal to the six X Games honors already in her trophy case.
Joining Duran — and repping Olympic skateboarding’s sizable youth contingent — are19-year-old Poe Pinsonand16-year-old Paige Heyn,who snagged bronze at the 2023 Pan Am Games.
Top contenders look to improve upon Tokyo Olympics
The US will undoubtedlyface steep competition in Paris,led by perennial top contenders Japan.
With six of the world's top 10 street skateboarders hailing from Japan, the three-skater rule forced them to leave behind some big names. That includesMomiji Nishiya, who won the sport’s first-ever Olympic gold medal in Tokyo at 13 years old. With Nishiya failing to qualify, Japan’s 19-year-old reigning bronze medalist Funa Nakayama and 14-year-old world No. 1 Coco Yoshizawa are primed to take her place on the podium.
Another major threat is Brazilian phenom Rayssa Leal. The 16-year-old wasimpressing Tony Hawkat age eight, and looks poised to one-up her silver medal performance in Tokyo on Sunday.
Where to watch USA Skateboarding's Olympic street team
Both the 6 AM ET prelims and 11 AM ET final will go down on Sunday, July 28th, with live coverage onNBC platforms.
