This was a changing of the guard in women’s soccer. For decades, ever since that first World Cup win in 1991, the US has been the standard-bearer in women’s soccer, the dominant force on the pitch, its leading voice off it. Three of the four former World Cup winners are no longer in the tournament, while the so-called underdogs have thrived. As the US team itself posted on social media after the match, “This year’s Women’s World Cup is a testament to the growth of women’s soccer on a global scale …”The penalty shootout went to sudden death. But there is light to add to these dark days for US women’s soccer because this is a team which promises to have a better future.

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Persons: Alyssa Naeher, ” Alex Morgan, Jill Biden, country’s, “, Robert Cianflone, Megan Rapinoe, Vlatko, would’ve, Carli Lloyd, ” Rapinoe, could’ve, Zećira Mušović, Lindsey Horan, Lina Hurtig’s, Naeher, William West, Becky Sauerbrunn, Mallory Swanson, Trinity Rodman, Alyssa Thompson, Naomi Girma, –, Julie Ertz, Anson Dorrance, Horan Organizations: CNN, Fox Sports, US, Portugal, CNN Sport, Getty, Tokyo Olympics, England, Wembley, Women’s Super League, Sweden, High School Locations: Sweden, soccer, Thailand, France, England, Netherlands, Portugal, Melbourne, AFP, Spain, Australia, New Zealand