First W Gold Cup Title: Lindsey Horan Rises to Occasion to Lead USWNT

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Approximately 40 years ago, I was working at the Institut Merieux in Lyon, France as a young biotechnologist. One evening, I walked to the city’s highest point, the Tour métallique de Fourvière, with my laboratory partner. I was impressed by the vividly illuminated tower and noticed that the hulking steel work of architectural art appeared to be a near carbon-copy of the Paris’ Eiffel Tower, located some 425 km to the northwest. 

The landmark still graces the city, as does one of her residents, Lindsey Horan who plays for Olympique Lyonnais. As do the regions Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes rise tall, so does Horan, on more occasions that one can count.

Last night while proudly playing for her United States Women’s National Soccer Team in the first-ever W Concacaf Women’s Gold Cup Championship match not only did Horan rise above all, she catalyzed over 30,000 superpatriotic fans to stand at attention and roar, when she perfectly headed a lofty right-to-left crossing ball from one of her bestie, Emily Fox, into the back of the net. 

With that goal in the 46th minute of play, coupled with unforgiving defensive play, Captain Horan’s Lady Yanks hung on for dear life and defeated a stubborn Brazil side, 1-0. Her goal and stellar front to back play as both a 9 and 10 position player earned her Woman of the Match honors.

Sixty-plus minutes later, Horan raised the championship silverware on a packed stage alongside her dancing teammates. The stadium’s lingering fan club came out of their red, white, and blue party suits.

The match was played in San Diego’s picturesque Snapdragon Stadium, that just three days prior hosted two semifinal games: Brazil against Mexico and the United States hosting Canada. The stadium’s pitch was far from pleasing to the eye and players. Numerous elongated pools of water, muddy puddles and a dangerous pulpy grass turf disfigured the playing surface.

After missing three attempts at scoring, she delivered a brilliant strike during the game’s tense penalty shootout. Not only did she score, so did Windsor, Colorado native, Sophia Smith. The Yanks went on to trumped Canada in PKs and advance to play Brazil who beat Mexico, 3-0.

The championship did not come easy for the United States. They were outplayed in the Group Stage of the tournament by a determined Mexico team. Our south of the-border neighbors humiliated the Team USA, 2-0 in downtown Los Angeles.

After the victory over Brazil, a delighted Horan reflected on the match and team effort that led to the first W Gold Cup title:

And as they do in Horan’s adopted city of Lyon, fine champagne was liberated from several cases and consumed by the merry Lady Yanks.

Horan’s four goal contributions (3 goals, 1 assist) tied with Jaedyn Shaw (4 goals) for the most on the team this tournament. Horan has now been directly involved in a goal in 4 of her 5 appearances for the USA in competitive finals.

Hopefully she will remain on target through the Summer Olympics to be played throughout France.

The team will now disperse to all parts and catch up with their respective club teams. Horan will leapfrog to France and resume play there. 

The next reunion will take place in Atlanta, Georgia and Columbus, Ohio when the USWNT hosts the 2024 SheBelieves in early April. Burgundy Wave will be covering the games from a comfortable photographer’s stool behind the goal frame netting.

Photo Credit: John Babiak

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