Thompson banger lifts…

HARRISON, N.J. — In a thrilling finish, forward Alyssa Thompson scored a late goal that secured a 1-0 victory for the United States women’s national team over Colombia on Saturday at Sports Illustrated Stadium, clinching their eighth SheBelieves Cup title.

Thompson reflected on her growth, stating, “Talking to Emma, I want to improve my decision-making in the final third—knowing when to shoot, when to pass, and making the right play for the team. In that moment, I felt it was right to shoot.”

– Emma Hayes’ vision for the USWNT ahead of the 2027 World Cup is taking shape

This goal marked Thompson’s fourth for the USWNT and was her most significant yet, earning her the tournament’s MVP award. She executed a powerful right-footed shot from outside the penalty area that hit the underside of the crossbar and went in, leaving Colombian goalkeeper Katherine Tapia with no chance.

USWNT captain Lindsey Heaps praised the goal, calling it an “absolute banger.” “That’s her bread and butter,” she said. Thompson joyfully celebrated by performing what she called a “scuba dance,” inspired by TikTok.

This moment capped off an impressive second half for the Americans, following what head coach Emma Hayes described as a “sluggish” first half. Hayes had to substitute reliable center-back Naomi Girma at halftime due to calf tightness, a recurring issue for Girma since January 2025, resulting in limited appearances last year.

Girma confirmed the substitution was precautionary. Tara Rudd took her place, injecting energy and speed into the game. Rudd won several duels against Colombian playmaker Linda Caicedo and helped fasten the pace of play for the Americans.

Hayes made significant changes around the hour mark, substituting in Heaps, Shaw, Olivia Moultrie, and Emma Sears, which further energized and streamlined the USWNT’s attacking play.

Hayes expressed satisfaction with her team’s diverse winning strategies throughout the tournament, highlighting earlier victories over Argentina and Canada.

“We’ve proven we can win even when we’re not at our best,” Hayes noted. “We’ve demonstrated versatility, depth, and maturity, which makes me proud as a coach.” She pointed to the substitutes’ contributions as pivotal for Saturday’s success, yet acknowledged Thompson’s ability to deliver the decisive goal as crucial for her continued growth.

“Alyssa has had an outstanding year for both club and country,” Hayes remarked. “Her ability to maintain consistent performance over 90 minutes, game after game, especially in clutch moments like today, has been remarkable. She’s been doing that all year with Chelsea.”

The USWNT holds a historic record of 12 wins and 2 draws against Colombia, with the only goals conceded occurring during a 2-2 draw in the group stage of the 2016 Olympics.

This match also marked the eighth consecutive shutout for the USA, who have not allowed a goal since a 3-1 win over Portugal in October.

Earlier on Saturday, Canada secured a 3-2 victory over Argentina in a penalty shootout following a scoreless draw.

Canada finished the tournament in second place after their loss to the US, while Colombia took third. Argentina placed last, failing to score any goals in the tournament.

Before the match, the USWNT honored former midfielder Tobin Heath, who retired last year after battling a persistent knee injury. Heath, a two-time Women’s World Cup winner in 2015 and 2019, last appeared for the national team in 2021, amassing 181 caps and scoring 36 goals in a span of 13 years.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.