Photo Credit: Jen Flores- Fantasy Sports Cave

Los Angeles, CA | August 3 | Kelly Landaverde – @Kel_landaverde

Last night, 37,040 fans of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team gathered at the Rose Bowl to watch them defeat Ireland 3-0 in the first game of the Victory Tour. The crowd included five veterans – Joy Lynn Fawcett who made history with the World Cup winning 1991 team, Mia Hamm, Tisha Venturini and Saskia Webber who all three took home the Cup with the 1999 team, and Lauren Holliday who won the prestigious World Cup in 2015. Among the attendees were ex basketball Lakers player Kobe Bryant and FIFA President Gianni Infantino too. As Jill Ellis mentioned yesterday in a press conference, these players are part of a catalyst movement to push women forward. They don’t just sit at a table. They lead.

Every women on earth has a story to tell whether good or bad, and so do these famous athletes. Holliday overcame some of her own hurdles in 2016. She was diagnosed with a brain tumor midway through pregnancy in June. Doctors had to wait for her to give birth before operating. She gave birth to a healthy baby girl and had the benign tumor removed. Three years later we see her with her daughter on the field.

During the 1st half of yesterday’s match, the USWNT were up by 3 goals. In the 16th minute, Tobin Heath, filling in for Mallory Pugh, scored the first goal with a stupendous header from the six-yard box off of a volley from Christen Press. Next, in the 31st minute, Lindsey Horan doubled the lead with a right-footed shot from the left side of the six-yard box after receiving a well-placed pass from Samantha Mewis.

Photo Credit: Jen Flores- Fantasy Sports Cave

The third goal was a fulminating header from Carli Lloyd in between two defenders; off a great cross into the middle of the box were the captain was. With this goal she sums 114 career goals.

During the second half Ellis made a lot of substitutions to try to give almost every player some minutes. Ashlyn Harris and Ali Krieger were on the field together. Rose Lavelle also played some minutes, and during the press conference she mentioned that Lavelle is at her pinnacle. During the 85th minute fans started shouting “Equal Pay…Equal Pay. “

The players will return to their respective clubs with the NWSL, and will return to the national team when they play in Philadelphia and Minneapolis. As of the three players that are injured Ellis said she won’t jeopardize a players health, they will play when they are ready to do so.