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Jeff Kassouf
Multiple Authors
HARRISON, N.J. — A stunning, late goal from forward Alyssa Thompson lifted the United States women’s national team to a 1-0 win over Colombia on Saturday at Sports Illustrated Stadium and clinched an eighth SheBelieves Cup title for the Americans.
“Talking to Emma, something I want to get better at is my decision-making in the final third — knowing when to shoot, when to pass, just making the right play for the team,” Thompson said.
“I feel like in that moment, it was the right decision to shoot.”
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The goal was Thompson’s fourth in a USWNT shirt and her most emphatic — even more so than her inaugural tally over a year ago. It also earned her the tournament’s MVP award.
Thompson combined with second-half substitute Jaedyn Shaw and ripped a right-footed shot from outside the box. The ball pinged off the underside of the crossbar and down into the goal precisely in the upper corner and out of the reach of Colombia goalkeeper Katherine Tapia.
It was an “absolute banger,” as USWNT captain Lindsey Heaps described it. “That’s her bread and butter.”
An exuberant Thompson ran toward the corner flag to celebrate with what she said is a “scuba dance” from TikTok.
The goal punctuated a vastly improved second half from the Americans after what head coach Emma Hayes called a “sluggish” and “average” first 45 minutes.
Hayes was forced to sub off stalwart center-back Naomi Girma at halftime due to calf tightness. Girma has dealt with multiple calf issues since January 2025, and they limited her to action in only six of the USWNT’s 15 games last year.
She said after the match that it was just a precaution.
Tara Rudd replaced Girma and added tenacity and speed to the match. She won several 1-v-1 duals with talented young Colombian playmaker Linda Caicedo, and Rudd helped set a faster pace of play for the Americans out of the back.
Hayes made a quadruple change at the hour mark, bringing on Heaps, Shaw, Olivia Moultrie and Emma Sears. The pace of play increased further and put the USWNT on the front foot with combination play.
Hayes said she was pleased with her team’s ability to win in different ways throughout this tournament after earlier victories over Argentina and Canada.
“I think we’ve shown how to win when we’re not our best, I think we’ve shown the versatility, I think we’ve shown the depth, I think we’ve shown maturity and as a coach, I’m happy about those things,” she said.
The difference in the game was on Saturday was the substitutes, Hayes said, but Thompson ultimately delivered the winner to continue a year of milestones.
“I think it’s been a tremendous year for Alyssa for both club and country,” Hayes said. “The consistency in her play is the standout for me in terms of being able to do things over 90 minutes and do it game after game, including a clutch moment like today. She’s been doing that for Chelsea all year.”
The United States is 12-0-2 all-time against Colombia. The only time Las Cafeteras have scored against the Americans was in the group stage of the 2016 Olympics, a 2-2 draw.
Saturday’s result was also an eighth straight shutout for the United States, which hasn’t allowed a goal since a 3-1 victory over Portugal in October.
Earlier in the day at Sports Illustrated Stadium, Canada overcame Argentina 3-2 on penalties after a scoreless draw.
Canada finished second after a 1-0 loss to the United States on Wednesday, and Colombia was third. Argentina finished the four-team, round robin tournament in last place with no goals scored.
Before the match, the United States honored former midfielder Tobin Heath, who formally retired last year after struggling with a nagging knee injury.
Heath, who won the 2015 and 2019 Women’s World Cups with the United States, played her last national team match in 2021. She made 181 appearances for the national team in a career spanning 13 years, scoring 36 goals.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
