Give boost to NWSL
we were getting at the stadiums,” she said. “And hopefully, clubs and owners and everyone sees that.”
Following high school, Horan headed overseas to play in France for Paris Saint-Germain for several years. She moved back to the United States to join the Thorns in 2016. Fellow Thorns Tobin Heath, Emily Sonnett and goalkeeper Adrianna Franch are also on the U.S. squad in France.
National team players are allocated across the league’s nine teams and U.S. Soccer pays their salaries.
Horan, who has 74 appearbench ances with the national team and 10 goals, came off the for the team’s first two knockout matches between Spain and France, before starting in the 2-1 U.S. semifinal victory over England. She served Alex Morgan the goahead goal.
“I think after the semi I was very emotional, that’s because this has been everything a little girl’s dreamt of, and that goes for everybody on the team,” she said. “I think at that moment we won and the whistle was blown it was so surreal and all the emotions kind of came out. Now it’s just realizing this is real and now we still have a final to go push for. This tournament’s not over.”
Horan jokes that because of her time in France she’s the best French speaker on the team, throwing a bit of shade at Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe and the others who have also played for club teams in France.
She’s clearly having the time of her life.
“Absolutely,” she said. “I think this obviously has been the best experience of my life. Playing in a World Cup and doing as well as we’ve done, it’s been absolutely amazing.”