The U.S. women’s national team is back in action for its first match since the conclusion of the 2021 Olympics, where it came away with the bronze medal on Aug. 5. The first contest in its four-match post-Olympic tour comes against Paraguay on Thursday night in Cleveland.
The game marks the Americans’ first meeting at the senior level with the South American nation, which is ranked No. 50 in the world. The USWNT, which held onto its No. 1 ranking despite finishing third at the Tokyo games, will be looking to extend its 20-match home winning streak.
With the Olympics in the rearview mirror, the USA’s focus now turns to the 2023 Women’s World Cup, which will be staged in Australia and New Zealand. Regional qualifying will start in July 2022 at the CONCACAF W Championship.
WATCH: USWNT vs. Paraguay on fuboTV (free 7-day trial)
All eyes will be on USWNT legend Carli Lloyd, who will be playing her final four matches for the national team before her retirement. The 39-year-old has the second-most appearances in the program’s history (312) and 128 goals.
The USA and Paraguay will face off for a second time in Ohio on Sept. 21, when the teams travel about 250 miles south to Rose Lavelle country —Cincinnati — for a first match at recently opened TQL Stadium.
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Sporting News will follow Thursday’s match live and will be providing score updates, commentary and highlights throughout the night.
USWNT vs. Paraguay live score
| 1H | 2H | Final | |
| USWNT | — | — | — |
| Paraguay | — | — | — |
Goals:
(All times Eastern)
7:17 p.m.: Mal Pugh getting comfortable with that left wing ahead of the match:
7:13 p.m.: Out for warmups:
6:57 p.m.: Get pumped for the game:
6:06 p.m.: The USWNT is in the house:
5:24 p.m.: A view of FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland:
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USWNT vs. Paraguay: Starting lineups
Head coach Vlatko Andonovski has called up a new-look roster that features three NWSL players who were not part of the Olympic team: Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns) and Mallory Pugh (Chicago Red Stars).
USWNT star Christen Press opted out to focus on mental health. Out due to injury are goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, midfielders Julie Ertz, Samantha Mewis and Lindsey Horan, and forward Megan Rapinoe. Naeher, Mewis and Horan are with the team for evaluation and rehabilitation.
USWNT projected lineup (4-3-3, left to right): 18-Adrianna French-GK — 19-Crystal Dunn, 12-Tierna Davidson, 4-Becky Sauerbunn, 5-Kelley O’Hara — 22-Kristie Mewis, 25-Andi Sullivan, 16-Rose Lavelle — 11-Mallory Pugh, 10-Carli Lloyd, 6-Lynn Williams
USWNT subs (8): 21-Jane Campbell-GK, 2-Abby Dahlkemper, 20-Casey Krueger, 14-Emily Sonnett, 17-Catarina Macario, 13-Alex Morgan, 7-Tobin Heath, 27-Sophia Smith
Paraguay coach Epifania Benitez called up 18 players for the matches against the United States (players who feature for clubs outside Paraguay are noted). The team has played one match in 2021, a 7-0 loss to Japan. Paraguay’s top scorer is Fabiola Sandoval (25 goals in 43 appearances):
Goalkeepers (2): 1-Cristina Recalde (Juan Grande Femenino/Spain), 12-Alicia Bobadilla (San Lorenzo de Almagro/Argentina)
Defenders (7): 15-Sofía Almiron (Sol de America), 5-Tania Riso (Deportivo Capiata), 3-Limpia Fretes (Cerro Porteno), 2-María Martinez (Olimpia), 4-Daysy Bareiro (Juan Grande Femenino/Spain), 8-Lorena Alonso (Sol de America), 13-Fiorela Martínez (Libertad-Limpeno)
Midfielders (5): 10-Fanny Godoy (Juan Grande Femenino/Spain), 14-Deisy Ojeda (Olimpia), 17-Yanina Servín (Cerro Porteno), 16-Monserrath Ayala (Minas Brasilia Futebol/Brazil), 6-Fany Gauto (Santa Fe/Colombia)
Forwards (4): 18-Ramona Martínez (Olimpia), 11-Mirta Pico (Sol de America), 9-Natalia Pena (Libertad-Limpeno), 7-Fabiola Sandoval (Esporte Clube Bahía/Brazil)
How to watch USWNT vs. Paraguay
- Date: Thursday, Sept. 16
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- TV channel: ESPN2
- Live stream: fuboTV, ESPN app
The match will be broadcast on ESPN2, which can be streamed on fuboTV (free 7-day trial).
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