USWNT seals SheBelieves Cup title with Alyssa Thompson goal

HARRISON, N.J. — Forward Alyssa Thompson delivered a spectacular, last-minute goal, securing a 1-0 victory for the United States women’s national team over Colombia on Saturday at Sports Illustrated Stadium, thereby clinching their eighth SheBelieves Cup title.

“Speaking with Emma, one area I’m focused on improving is my decision-making in the final third — discerning when to shoot, when to pass, just making the optimal play for the team,” Thompson shared.

“In that particular moment, I felt taking the shot was the correct choice.”

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The goal marked Thompson’s fourth for the USWNT and her most impactful yet, surpassing even her debut score from over a year prior. This pivotal strike also earned her the tournament’s Most Valuable Player accolade.

Thompson linked up with second-half substitute Jaedyn Shaw before unleashing a powerful right-footed shot from beyond the penalty area. The ball ricocheted off the underside of the crossbar and dipped perfectly into the upper corner of the net, eluding Colombia’s goalkeeper Katherine Tapia.

USWNT captain Lindsey Heaps lauded it as an “absolute banger,” adding, “That’s her specialty.”

A joyous Thompson sprinted towards the corner flag to celebrate with what she referred to as a “scuba dance” originating from TikTok.

The goal capped off a significantly improved second half for the Americans, contrasting sharply with what head coach Emma Hayes described as a “sluggish” and “average” opening 45 minutes.

Hayes was compelled to substitute veteran center-back Naomi Girma at halftime due to calf tightness. Girma has experienced multiple calf issues since January 2025, limiting her to just six of the USWNT’s 15 matches last year.

She later confirmed post-match that the substitution was merely a precautionary measure.

Tara Rudd came on for Girma, immediately injecting vigor and pace into the game. She emerged victorious in several one-on-one duels against Colombia’s talented young playmaker Linda Caicedo and helped the Americans establish a quicker tempo from the backline.

Hayes implemented a quadruple substitution at the hour mark, introducing Heaps, Shaw, Olivia Moultrie, and Emma Sears. This further accelerated the tempo, pushing the USWNT onto the offensive with intricate passing combinations.

Hayes expressed satisfaction with her team’s capacity to secure victories in diverse manners throughout this tournament, following earlier wins against Argentina and Canada.

“I believe we’ve demonstrated how to triumph even when not at our peak; we’ve exhibited adaptability, showcased our squad depth, and displayed maturity. As a coach, I’m content with these aspects,” she stated.

Hayes attributed the game’s turning point on Saturday to the impact of the substitutes, though Thompson ultimately delivered the decisive goal, marking a continuation of her milestone year.

“I think Alyssa has had a phenomenal year for both her club and country,” Hayes remarked. “The consistency in her performances truly stands out to me, particularly her ability to perform effectively for 90 minutes, game after game, including a crucial moment like today. She’s been doing that consistently for Chelsea all season.”

The United States boasts an all-time record of 12-0-2 against Colombia. The only occasion Las Cafeteras have scored against the Americans was during a 2-2 draw in the group stage of the 2016 Olympics.

Saturday’s outcome also represented an impressive eighth consecutive shutout for the United States, who haven’t conceded a goal since their 3-1 victory over Portugal in October.

Earlier that day at Sports Illustrated Stadium, Canada overcame Argentina 3-2 in a penalty shootout after their match ended in a scoreless draw.

Canada secured second place after their 1-0 defeat to the United States on Wednesday, with Colombia finishing third. Argentina concluded the four-team, round-robin tournament in last place, having failed to score any goals.

Prior to the match, the United States paid tribute to former midfielder Tobin Heath, who formally retired last year following a persistent knee injury.

Heath, a two-time Women’s World Cup winner with the United States in 2015 and 2019, played her final national team match in 2021. Her illustrious 13-year career saw her make 181 appearances for the national team, netting 36 goals.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.