FootyPop: The Debut of a Wonderkid

July 5, 2021
By Hannah Lichtenstein

Happy 245th birthday, United States of America! *throws confetti* *blows birthday horn* For all those digesting hot dogs still and/or rubbing aloe vera on sunburns, here’s a nice, easy FootyPop to get you goin’ this week. Let’s dive into the latest women’s soccer news.

High of the Weekend

15-year-old Olivia Moultrie logged her first minutes as a pro soccer player this past Saturday in Portland’s 2-0 win over Racing Louisville. It was a debut several years – and court filings – in the making and marks a moment that has forever changed pro women’s soccer in the US.

Low of the Weekend

This story sound familiar? Media makes some remark about how a male player is the first or the best to do something. Turns out, nope, a female player already did that and it just never gets acknowledged. It’s been happening a lot throughout Euro 2020 in discussions about Cristiano Ronaldo inching his way to the international goal-scoring record…. which is wrong because he’s actually acres away from Christine Sinclair’s tally.

Anyway, this weekend, more specifically, it happened in Sweden. The Swedish Football Association tweeted about Emil Forsberg being the first Swede to score four goals in a Euros. Wrong. Lotta Schelin scored five goals at the Euros in 2013.

Player of the Weekend

It. Meant. Everything. To Jasmyne. To us.@Jas_It_Up | #HoldItDown pic.twitter.com/1h6A5vcKVd

— Houston Dash (@HoustonDash) July 3, 2021

Jasmyne Spencer, take a bow. Not just for the goal against the OL Reign – which was Spencer’s first for the club and was, no doubt, class – but for the goal celebration. One of the best celebrations you’ll see all year.

What To Look Forward To This Week

July 5: US WNT vs. Mexico WNT at 2pm PST/5pm EST (Watch on ESPN)

July 9: Orlando Pride vs. Racing Louisville at 4pm PST/7pm EST (Watch on Twitch)

Our Fav. WoSo Social Media Post of the Weekend

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by U.S. Soccer WNT (@uswnt)

This Weekend in WoSo History…

On the very day you are reading this FootyPop, six years ago, the USWNT clinched their third World Cup with a 5-2 win over Japan in Canada. Carli Lloyd scored a famous hat trick.

Featured Image via @ThornsFC on Instagram