Lindsey Horan Walks Back Freudian Slip. USWNT Preparing for Argentina.

CARSON, Calif. – United States Women’s National Soccer Team (USWNT) captain Lindsey Horan is human. A few weeks ago she spoke loud and clear about the grasp fans in American soccer have, or rather lack there of.

Speaking with The Athletic, Captain Horan stated “American soccer fans, most of them aren’t smart. They don’t know the game. They don’t understand. But it’s getting better and better.” 

Hard and fast, the Rush Colorado alumni then added, “I’m gonna piss off some people, but the game is growing in the U.S. People are more and more knowledgeable, but so much of the time people take what the commentators say, right? My mom does it.”

Horan elaborated, “My mom says, ‘Julie Foudy said you had such a good game!’ And I’m here, just going, ‘I was f—ing s— today.”

SHAZAM! Piss off a massive fan base she did. It didn’t take long for the cordial Horan to realize her colossal slip-up. I have to believe that soon after she spoke out, Horan reflected on certain Colorado Rush Core Values that she took an oath to appreciate and live by.

The first of the eleven m sound values is accountability. It is defined as, “be accountable for your actions and hold others accountable for their actions. Who am I ultimately accountable to, and who judges my work?” 

The fifth is humility.  It is explained as, “apologize when you make a mistake. Forgive others and do not look back.”

A week ago she applied these two values during press conference ahead of the Concacaf W Gold Cup Tournament.

“First and foremost, I would like to apologize to our fans. Some of my comments were poorly expressed, and there was a massive lesson learned for me. When I think about our fans, I love them so much. The team loves them so much, and I can’t begin to explain how much they mean to us. Every time we step out and train, every time we step out and play in games, you know we play for you guys,” Horan said.

“You’re our inspiration, our motivation, and seeing you wear our jerseys and seeing you screaming our names, and chanting USA, that’s what we play for and I never wanted to take any of that away.” 

She took a deep breath and added, “Continuing on that, the soccer culture in America is changing and growing so much in such a positive way. For me to experience that firsthand, playing for this U.S. women’s national team but also in the NWSL and for the Portland Thorns, is something just so amazing. It is my absolute honor, and I will always say that, to be able to put on this crest every single day. To be in this environment, to go out and play in front of our fans and represent this national team, that is something again, it is my greatest honor.”

Horan concluded, “The last thing I ever wanted to do was to offend anyone in that manner. …So again, I deeply, deeply apologize.”

O Captain! My Captain Horan didn’t pull and punches during her virtual meeting with members of the media. If anything, after taking it on the chin, she got up and exemplified her innate good character as an international role model to girls and boys, women and men, alike.

Moving on. Horan’s Lady Yanks pummeled the Dominican Republic, 5-0 on Tuesday night on the waterlogged turf at Dignity Health Sports Park.

Horan did not start, nor even have a front row view from with the team’s seating box adjacent to the pitch.

Expect all that to change tomorrow night when Team USA hosts Argentina in game two of their Group Stage play. The first whistle is set to blow at 8:15 pm MT. The match will be carried by Paramount+ in English and in Spanish on ESPN Deportes and ESPN+.

The U.S. currently leads Group A with three points (1W-0D-0L; +5 goal differential) while CONMEBOL’s Argentina is in second with one point following a 0-0 draw against and very strong Mexico-side that the U.S. will face on Monday.

According to U.S Soccer’s media guide, the USWNT is unbeaten in its last 25 matches against CONMEBOL competition and has won 16 of its last 17 games against South American opponents. Argentina played in its second consecutive Women’s World Cup Tournament last summer in the Down Under. They finished an impressive fourth overall.

Tomorrow’s showdown will be the fifth meeting between the Yanks and La Albiceleste. The U.S. has won each of the previous four meetings, the most recent of which came in February 2021, during the annual SheBelieves Cup here in the United States. 

The USWNT won that match 6-0 in Orlando, behind a brace from Megan Rapinoe and goals from Carli Lloyd, Kristie Mewis, Christen Press and Alex Morgan. Coloradan’s Sophia Smith and Horan both delivered picture-perfect assists.

Hopefully, tomorrow the duo will keep building on their recent successes and make Americans proud.

Photo Credit: John Babiak

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