After months of doubt and questions surrounding the USWNT, they opened their campaign in Paris with an emphatic win over Zambia.

The USWNT’s first match of the tournament didn’t come without its fair share of excitement and goal scoring opportunities for the United States. Zambia, a nation surrounded by scandal, entered this tournament hoping to leave all of their troubles behind them. However, the US looking to do the same, kicked off the tournament with a bang.

Minutes into the first half of the match the United States had several opportunities to knock a goal or two into the back of the net. Several chances hit off the cross bar, were saved on the line, and were stolen from the United States. However, looking to notch her first goal since December, Trinity Rodman used her brilliant skill to take a quick turn and slip one past Zambia’s goal keeper. Minutes later Mallory Swanson capitalized on one of her first opportunities of the match and then less than a minute later scored her second. While these 3 goals would be the only ones scored in the match, this was the best the United States has looked since their disappointment in 2023.

Was this win enough to propel them over Germany and Australia?

While this was arguably the best the USWNT has looked since they bowed out last summer, there are definitely still a lot of things that Hayes and co. need to shore up. The USA made a lot of small mistakes in the match that against squads like Germany and Australia would be enough to capitalize and put one in the back of the net. The stars and stripes’ midfield looked the best it has looked in quite some time but the attacking core has many fans worried. With Sophia Smith’s early exit, questions loom over the United States’ goal scoring capabilities.

With their emphatic win, many are questioning if USWNT fans should still be worried about their upcoming matches. While they scored three quick and early goals, the US wasn’t able to break through after Zambian star Pauline Zulu was sent off for stopping an obvious goal scoring opportunity. While questions still loom about the attacking core, the defense looked solid and certainly didn’t let the likes of NWSL top-scorer Barbra Banda get through. Girma and Fox truly put on a beautiful display of the defensive prowess we used to know.

The United States will be back in action in Paris against Germany on Sunday, July 28th at 2PM CST.