USWNT to kick off SheBelieves Cup in Orlando against England
The United States women's national team will open the first round of the SheBelieves Cup, facing off against England at 7 p.m. March 5 at Exploria Stadium in Orlando.
The first day of the tournament will feature two matches. Spain will play Japan earlier that day at 4:15 p.m.
This will mark the fifth year of the SheBelieves Cup, a four-team invitational tournament hosted in the United States. The tournament is round-robin style, with each team playing each other over a series of venues in three different cities.
Although the Americans have won the tournament twice, they came in second to England last year as both teams prepared for the 2019 World Cup in France. The U.S. performance in the SheBelieves Cup sparked concern among fans, but the team went on to win the World Cup.
This year's SheBelieves Cup will serve as the first major test for the USWNT as it gears up for the 2020 Olympics. The tournament will also provide a challenge for new coach Vlatko Andonovski in his first non-friendly competition since he took over the role from Jill Ellis at the end of 2019.
The England match will mark the second time Exploria Stadium hosted the teams for the SheBelieves Cup. Last year the U.S. and England drew a crowd of 12,351 to the stadium.
The USWNT also played in Orlando at what is now known as Camping World Stadium in front of an announced crowd of 20,274 for a 2013 friendly against Brazil. Exploria Stadium has also hosted the men's national team, most recently seeing 13,103 for a Concacaf Nations League match against Canada in November.
Tickets for the day will be available on the U.S. Soccer website and will allow admission to both matches.
Sky Blue lands Purce
In the latest National Women's Soccer League blockbuster trade this week, Midge Purce is heading to Sky Blue FC along with the Portland Thorns' natural firstround draft pick in 2021. In exchange, the Thorns acquired midfielder Raquel Rodríguez, it was announced Wednesday.
The moves come as both teams attempt to improve on their 2019 league finishes. The Thorns season ended in a disappointing run of one win in five matches, a third-place finish in the table, and elimination in the playoff semifinal. Sky Blue improved from 2018 by moving up from ninth place to eighth, but the team has aimed to be truly competitive in 2020.
Purce is a versatile player, used by the Thorns as a fullback in 2018 before moving up the pitch in 2019. She went on a streak of scoring five goals in five matches last season with eight overall goals in the 2019 season. Purce joined the Thorns after the Boston Breakers folded in 2017.
“She is incredibly skilled and will play an integral part in our success this season,” Sky Blue head coach Freya Coombe said in a club statement. “We look forward to welcoming her talents to Sky Blue.”
Additionally, Purce's trade allows Sky Blue to continue its transformation over the last year. General manager Alyse LaHue told Pro Soccer USA in December many of its notable moves, from a venue switch to Red Bull Arena to hiring Coombe, were part of a mission to attract players.
“We want to make this club a destination club and a place that players want to come to, both domestic players and international players,” LaHue said, “so this has been a work in progress for us.”
Going the other way is Rodríguez, who was drafted by Sky Blue in 2016 and was a mainstay during her tenure. The Costa Rica international played as a forward and as an attacking midfielder in her four seasons with the club, earning Rookie of the Year honors in her debut season. She scored eight goals and picked up five assists in 76 games with Sky Blue.
“‘Rocky' is an elite midfielder who has proven to be one of the best in the league at her position,” Thorns head coach Mark Parsons said in a statement. “She is a perfect fit for what our needs are on the field and she is someone who has the character and leadership to help grow our culture even stronger.”