USWNT: A New Era

Chapter 19: On Edge

The day before the opening ceremony was a whirlwind of emotions and excitement. Having already tasted victory with two Olympic gold medals in my playing days, I felt the weight of those experiences as I prepared to lead the ceremony with the legendary Serena Williams. We were set to glide on the Seine, a symbol of excellence and determination. But first, we had to focus on our opening group stage match against Zambia that night.

As the clock ticked down to game time, I walked into the locker room, the air thick with a mix of anticipation and tension. The team was buzzing, but there was an undercurrent of unease. I took a seat at the end of the row, adopting a relaxed demeanour as I observed the dynamics unfolding.

Lynn and Trinity's argument escalated quickly, their voices rising above the chatter of the other players. Lynn, clearly fuming about not starting, shoved Trinity hard enough to send her stumbling back a step.

"Why do you get to start when I've been busting my ass in training?" Lynn spat, her face flushed with anger.

"Because I actually show up when it counts! Maybe if you worked harder, you'd be in my shoes!" Trinity shot back, glaring daggers at her.

Lynn shoved her again, this time harder, and I could see other players glancing over, intrigued by the brewing confrontation. "You think you're all that just because you scored a couple of goals in practice? You're nothing but a benchwarmer in the big games!"

"Watch your mouth, Lynn! You're the one who can't handle the pressure! I'd rather take my chances than choke like you always do!" Trinity retorted, the tension reaching a boiling point.

"Both of you, knock it off!" I finally intervened, my voice slicing through the chaos. "Save it for the field! If you want to argue, do it in the game. We need that fire, but don't take it out on each other!"

The tension hung in the air as we wrapped up our pre-game speeches. I knew they needed to channel that energy into the match ahead, but I also hoped they'd find a way to resolve their differences quickly.

The whistle blew, and we were off to a great start. Within the first 30 minutes, we had already put three goals on the board. Trinity scored the first, her finesse on display as she weaved through defenders. Swanson followed up with a brace, showing her prowess and determination. The energy was electric, and it felt like a statement match.

However, the second half was a different story. It became apparent that we had lost some of our momentum. Despite a strong start, we became complacent, failing to capitalise on our opportunities. As the clock ticked down, I couldn't help but feel a sense of frustration building within me.

"Come on! You can't be serious!" I shouted from the sidelines, my voice cutting through the murmurs of the crowd. "You're better than this! Take your shots! Make your runs!" I shot stern looks at players who hesitated or made poor decisions on the field. They needed to understand that we couldn't afford to slack off, especially with Germany looming in three days.

My frustration peaked when I noticed Lynn still fuming over her earlier argument with Trinity. I couldn't hold back. "You're all playing like fucking amateurs! Do I need to babysit you? Get your heads in the game or pack your bags!"

The intensity of my words, shouted in earshot of the Zambia coach, carried a weight that I hadn't anticipated. As the final whistle blew, we celebrated the 3-0 win, but the joy was tempered by the knowledge that we could have done better in the second half.

"Good job on the win, but we all know that wasn't our best," I addressed the team in the locker room. "We can't dominate in the first and then drop off in the second. It's unacceptable. We have to play with that intensity for the entire match, especially against Germany. Let's focus on maintaining our level, not just coasting through."