Megan Rapinoe and the USWNT’s exit from the World Cup was both saddening and puzzling. Sweden defeated the US team in the round of 16 on penalties, ending their dreams of a historic three-peat. Former USMNT star, Alexi Lalas, has spoken on the team’s early exit and how it can affect the country’s premier soccer league for women, the WNSL.

While the domestic league has been one of the biggest stages for women’s soccer, USWNT’s early exit from the World Cup has raised questions about the credibility and competitiveness of the tournament.

Alexi Lalas urges WNSL to act before it’s too late

The WNSL was one of the first all-women soccer leagues across the globe. The league provided a platform for some of the biggest stars of the sport, such as Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, and Sofia Huerta, amongst others. However, following USWNT’s early exit from the World Cup, fans have started questioning if the league is competitive enough.

Former USMNT star and legend Alexi Lalas recently tweeted about the issue and urged the people in charge to act.“The NWSL is the most successful women’s pro soccer league in history. Unlike MLS, NWSL has had the advantage of a huge head start without competition from leagues in Europe. The US historically bombed out and only 5 of the 184 players on the final 8 teams in the World Cup play in NWSL. It’s now a battle for credibility and relevance. Once you lose it, it’s not coming back,” said Lalas.

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“NWSL must act. With minimal investment relative to men’s games, NWSL could corner the international talent market and solidify their standing as the best women’s league. Europe isn’t coming. It’s already here, and NWSL is letting it all slip away,” he added.

“We Sacrifice So Much” – After Relentless Criticism Due to World Cup Exit, USWNT’s Lynn Williams Pens an Emotional Message

Lalas’ words hold a lot of weight as the USWNT struggled throughout the World Cup and had a lukewarm run at best. While the team started off with a win, they could not manage to bag any other following their first game.

USWNT end disastrous campaign as Megan Rapinoe fails to win a third consecutive title

Heading into the Women’s World Cup 2023, the USWNT was labelled as the favorites to lift the title. The team were coming into the tournament with two consecutive title wins and hoped to clinch a historic hat trick. They started on a positive note with a big 3-0 win over Vietnam, but it went all downhill from that game.

Stars such as Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe failed to fire for the team in consecutive games against the Netherlands and Portugal, with both games ending in a draw. The USWNT somehow managed to move past the group stage with a 1-point advantage over Portugal.

The Round of 16 games against Sweden was painful to watch for fans as the team once failed to score in regular game time. With the game dragging onto the penalties, Megan Rapinoe missed a crucial strike for her side, ending USWNT’s three-peat dreams.

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