The US Women’s National Team starts play in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games on July 21, 2021! COVID forced a year long delay. So the actual games take place in 2021, but the event is still using “2020” in its name.
The US Women are the current World Cup champions, but they were knocked out in the quarter-finals of the most recent Olympics (the Rio 2016 games).
Quick links:
Team USA Tokyo 2021 TV schedule (DVR alert):
Game times listed below have been converted into Eastern Daylight Time. Games take place in Japan, so the vast time zone difference means this is a DVR alert! tournament.
The USA plays a 3-game guaranteed group round-robin schedule. They advanced into the knock-out stage (the “medal round”) by finishing 2nd place in their group.
- Bronze medal match vs. Australia: Thursday, August 5 @ 4:00 AM. TV coverage on the USA Network and Telemundo, streaming via the NBC Sports app and NBCOlympics.com (USA wins 4-3 to finish as bronze medalists)
- Semi-final vs. Canada: Monday, August 2 @ 4:00 AM. TV coverage on the USA Network and Telemundo (Canada wins 1-0)
- Quarter-final vs. Netherlands: Friday, July 30, 7:00 AM. TV coverage on NBC SN and Telemundo (USA ties 2-2, then wins a penalty shoot-out 4-2)
- Game 3 vs. Australia: Tuesday, July 27, 4:00 AM on the USA Network or streamed (via the NBC Sports app or NBCOlympics.com). (USA ties 0-0)
- Game 2 vs. New Zealand: Saturday, July 24, 7:30 AM on NBC SN, Telemundo and the USA Network (USA wins 6-1)
- Game 1 vs. Sweden: Wednesday, July 21, 4:30 AM on the USA Network and Telemundo (Sweden wins 3-0)
Viewing tips:
We encourage the girls to watch part of each game to see what high level soccer looks like. Many young kids get bored watching sports — they would rather play! But they are more likely to watch a game if they have specific viewing goals. Things to look for:
- Do players keep the ball moving while they play, or do they stop the ball and look around?
- Do players get their heads up and turn away from defenders, or do they play with heads down and dribble into defenders?
- Do players keep the ball through dribbling and passing, or do they kick the ball and chase it?
Georgia connections:
Team USA’s tournament roster includes three Georgia girls:
- NTH Academy alumna Emily Sonnett (top row, center in the 2004 photo on the left)
- NTH Academy alumna Jane Campbell (holding the ball in the 2005 photo on the right)
- Another Georgia girl in the squad is Kelley O’Hara, who grew up in Peachtree City.