USWNT: A New Era

Chapter 16: Behind Closed Doors

In Sophia Smith's hotel room, the lights were dimmed low, and the cool breeze from the balcony door kept the room comfortable. The faint sounds of laughter and chatter from other rooms could be heard as the core group of the USWNT sat around, legs stretched out on the bed and floor, letting the weight of the day's grueling training fade. It was a rare moment of peace amidst the intensity of the Olympic preparation.

Sophia sat cross-legged on her bed, scrolling through her phone. Trinity Rodman, leaning against the wall near the window, was combing her fingers through her braids, while Mallory Swanson stretched out on the carpet, her arms tucked behind her head. Jaedyn Shaw sat in the corner, quiet but attentive, while Naomi Girma leaned on the bed's edge, glancing at Sophia's phone every now and then.

"She's pushing us hard," Trinity said, shaking her head but with a glint of admiration in her eyes. "But you gotta admit, it feels good. I can already tell—we're ready for this. Gold's coming home with us."

The group murmured in agreement, nodding. The intensity of the training camp was undeniable—relentless drills, tactical sessions that left their legs burning, and a mental toughness that had been drilled into them day after day. It was brutal, but there was something in the air, something tangible. They could feel it.

Sophia sighed, tossing her phone aside. "Yeah, it's tough, but you can't argue with results. Even though the sessions are crazy hard, I think we're exactly where we need to be. You see how sharp we are? And the way the boss is pushing us... we're going to be unstoppable."

"I mean, that halftime talk during the Canada match?" Mallory added, a grin pulling at her lips. "I thought she was gonna tear the locker room apart, Y/N was so pissed. But it worked. We needed that wake-up call."

"Yup," Naomi chimed in, "it's all about setting the tone. There's no room for softness with Y/N. No room for slipping up. You either keep up or get left behind." She laughed a little, glancing at Jaedyn, who gave a small nod. "I kinda love it though. Feels like we're gonna bulldoze anyone in our way."

Sophia looked up, a smirk crossing her face. "Speaking of the boss, has anyone else noticed how she's constantly on their phone between drills?"

Trinity perked up, her eyebrows raised. "Oh, you've noticed too? She's glued to that phone, but it's not like she's talking to staff."

Mallory rolled over on her side, grinning. "Come on, we all know what that is. Or should I say, who that is? You saw the articles, right? All the rumors about Sakina?"

Jaedyn's eyes widened. "Wait, are we really talking about this?"

Naomi laughed softly, "Come on, Jaedyn, everyone's talking about it. It's all over Twitter. The brunch, the way she was on the pitch together after that game... it's gotta be something, right?"

Sophia grabbed a pillow and hugged it to her chest, lowering her voice as if sharing a secret, even though the door was locked. "I think there's definitely something going on. I mean, we're not blind. The way they text during training sometimes... I don't know, it's kind of hilarious."

"Right?" Mallory added, giggling. "It's like she's trying to be sneaky, but we all see it. I bet Sakina's in their phone right now."

Trinity leaned forward, curious. "But for real, if it is Sakina, what does that mean? I mean, it's gotta be tough, right? Coaching us, prepping for the Olympics, and then having a... 'thing' with someone else prepping too. Conflict of interest, anyone?"

"Or," Naomi pointed out, "it could just be motivation. Imagine coaching us to gold and then meeting up with your girl after, both of you with gold medals around your neck. Kinda iconic, if you ask me."

The room erupted in laughter, the tension easing for a moment as the girls joked about the situation.

"Whatever it is," Sophia said, her tone more serious, "it doesn't really matter. If anything, I think it's pushing them even harder. You see how she's been in training. No distractions. Just focus, intensity. That kind of drive is contagious."

Trinity nodded, leaning back against the wall. "And I feel it too. This whole team is dialed in. Sure, it's tough, and the way they push us might seem crazy to outsiders, but I think that's what's going to set us apart in Paris. We're not just training to win—we're training to destroy."

Mallory stretched her arms above her head, a determined look crossing her face. "We're going to win. I can feel it. And the boss, for all the craziness, is making sure of that. We'll get through this together, and when we do, no one's gonna question it."

Sophia nodded, glancing at her teammates. "No mercy, right?"

The girls laughed again, echoing the phrase their coach loved to scream from the sidelines. But there was a truth to it—beneath the jokes and gossip about who they were texting and the harshness of training, they all felt it. This was their moment, and they were being shaped into champions.

As the conversation lulled and they relaxed into the quiet of the room, each of them knew that this was just the beginning. The Olympics were on the horizon, and they were ready—toughened, bonded, and driven by a singular goal.

Gold.

A moment of silence passed before Jaedyn, who had been listening quietly the entire time, suddenly perked up. "Hey, has anyone thought about just asking Coach?" she said, glancing around the room.

Mallory tilted her head. "Asking her what?"

"You know, about Sakina," Jaedyn continued, lowering her voice even though no one was around. "I saw her earlier in the dining hall. Maybe we just casually ask..."

Sophia looked up, intrigued. "You mean, like... just go up and be like, 'Hey, what's going on between you and Sakina?'"

Jaedyn shrugged. "I mean, maybe not that direct, but why not? We're dying to know anyway, and it's not like she's being super discreet about it."

Trinity sat up, eyes widening. "Actually... she's at the dining hall now?"

"Yeah, I saw her earlier," Jaedyn confirmed. "If we're quick, we could catch her."

The group exchanged glances, a mix of excitement and nerves spreading through them. The speculation had been fun, but now they were actually considering confronting the coach.

Mallory grinned mischievously. "I'm down. Let's do it. Worst case, she just don't answer, right?"

"Or she gives us that look that says, 'Don't ask,'" Naomi added, laughing.

Sophia stood up, tossing a pillow at Naomi. "Alright, let's go before we lose our nerve."

The group made their way down the hall, hearts racing with curiosity. As they entered the dining hall, they spotted you sitting at a table, quietly eating and scrolling through your phone.

Sophia, as the unofficial leader of the group, approached first, the others following closely behind. "Hey," she started casually, trying to keep her tone light. "Mind if we sit?"

Y/N looked up, offering a nod as they gathered around the table. After a few moments of small talk, Mallory nudged Sophia, who took a deep breath and went for it.

"So, uh... we've been wondering," Sophia began, her voice a little hesitant. "What's the deal with you and Sakina?"

Y/N looks up, pausing for a second before a sly smirk spread across her face.

The room fell silent as the tension built, the group hanging on to the edge of your response... but nothing came.