It takes sublime attacking firepower for a team to score 11 goals in 5 games at the Olympic soccer tournament. The USWNT has that. Enhancing its frontline’s glory, the star forwards Trinity Rodman and Sophia Smith each scored clutch goals in the quarter-final and the semi-final, respectively. While the world is all praise for this group of forwards, it often overlooks the sensational backline that conceded just two goals! With Naomi Girma at the center of this defense, USWNT clinched a clean sheet in both knockout games.

Former USWNT forward and Olympic gold medalist Sydney Leroux is not willing to overlook the contributions of defenders, especially Naomi Girma. A forward herself, Leroux exposed the bias against defenders through her latest post on X.

“Naomi Girma is the best we’ve seen and defenders never get the attention they deserve, but she is absolutely HER,” said Sydney Leroux. The two-time World champion’s comments on defenders getting less attention are on point!

Look at the Olympics. Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith, and Mallory Swanson have been getting all the spotlight for Team USA’s glorious run. Besides, the bias against defenders has been historical all around soccer. When was the last time a center-back won the Ballon d’Or Feminin? Men’s Ballon d’Or is no outlier either. No defender has even finished inside its top three, let alone win it since Fabio Cannavaro last won the prize in 2006.

While that bias is still prevalent, many pundits and fans have acknowledged Naomi Girma’s heroics at the Olympics, branding her the best center back in the world. But Leroux thinks she is the best player in Team USA. And that is no surprise!

Naomi Girma is truly putting out an MVP performance at the Olympics

While scoring 11 goals at the Olympics is commendable, conceding just two stands out more. A clean sheet against Germany in the semi-final? That’s way more sublime. Naomi Girma has been at the center of this rock-solid Team USA defense, thwarting rivals’ attempts and even cleaning up the mistakes of her fellow teammates.

Notably, Girma held her ground in two crucial games, including the first knockout match against Japan without her defensive partner Tierna Davidson.

Davidson took a knock during the USWNT’s group game against Germany and the central defensive duty was all on Girma. She did it with the utmost conviction. Moreover, she also plays a huge role in building Team USA’s attack from the back. Nobody has completed as many passes as Girma during Team USA’s clash with Germany.

On the back of all this, coach Emma Hayes, rightfully, acknowledged the 24-year-old’s heroics. “Look, she’s the best defender I’ve ever seen. I’ve never seen a player as good as her at the back,” coach Hayes said, referring to Naomi Girma.

Team USA now awaits the gold medal game against Brazil. If Girma shines, as usual, we could, perhaps, see a defender getting a superstar’s treatment in a world that is bullish on forwards.