Do you remember the April 5, 2025, clash between the USWNT and Brazil? Yes, the very game Emma Hayes and Co. won 2-0 at SoFi Stadium. Among those in attendance was Christen Press, who, while there to support her country, showed a special allegiance to youngster Alyssa Thompson—donning her jersey and even cheering, “Go, Alyssa!” A moment like that says it all—leaving egos at the door, there’s room for respect, admiration, and inspiration. But who would’ve thought that very bond would one day lead to them being compared—framed as competition, even? Funny enough, that really shouldn’t be all that surprising—at least Sam Mewis thinks so.

The retired midfielder was on cloud nine after witnessing her former USWNT teammate score her first goal of 2025 in the NWSL Matchday 8 fixture between Angel City and Utah Royals. An impressive 24-second strike, mind you, which she scored just after entering the pitch at the hour mark. Teammate Katie Zelem managed to get hold of an intercepted ball and quickly passed the ball to Alanna Kennedy, who took a couple of touches before slipping a precise pass into the right side of the penalty area for Press to chase.

Christen, who always uses speed as one of her attributes, executed a slick slice-and-dice cut to evade a defender, then coolly chipped a brilliant finish from just outside the six-yard box. Meanwhile, the second goal came from her young teammate Alyssa Thompson, who, coincidentally, scored a goal similar to Press’s in stoppage time. That moment has sparked fan comparisons between the 36-year-old veteran and the 20-year-old rising star.

And that’s something Sam Mewis fully acknowledges, noting that both goals were “eerily similar.” The former Manchester City star praised Christen and Alyssa’s speed and sharpness, which left defenders fooled not once, but twice. Mewis believes that having Thompson under Press’s wing will only help the talented winger strengthen her case for the future.

“I keep thinking about this for Alyssa: having Press as a teammate and a mentor is such a valuable tool for her to have,” Mewis said on the latest episode of The Women’s Game podcast. The former NC Courage midfielder believes that Press’ guidance will only polish Thompson’s already great form for both ACFC and the national team.

Joining the chorus was Mewis’ fellow co-host and former USWNT defender Becky Sauerbrunn. “There were moments throughout this game where I was watching Alyssa run and thought she even runs like Christen,” said the former Portland Thorns star. In fact, Becky recalled a USWNT match against France at the Algarve, where Christen made the exact same move to score a goal as Thompson did—one that also happens to be one of her favorite goals by Press.

Further emphasizing the value of experienced players guiding younger teammates, Sauerbrunn added, “That’s the benefit of having veteran leadership on your roster. As the league gets younger and younger, and these older, more established players start to get phased out, teams are really going to miss—and will eventually recognize—the importance of that veteran presence.”

Ring any bells? Well, it’s not like Alyssa doesn’t take advantage of Christen’s presence. In fact, to remind you, both exactly know how to help each other.

Christen Press is a great mentor for Alyssa Thompson

Last season, Alyssa Thompson quickly established herself as one of the crucial players in Angel City. And guess who helped her the most to make this impression? “Christen Press has been a huge help for me this season. She’s really kind of taken me under her wing and just has been an amazing teammate and a mentor. I think her energy has really helped me a lot coming into these few games,” remarked the youngster in an interview earlier.

If you don’t believe us, the numbers don’t lie. Having played over 26 games in the NWSL across both regular season and playoff matches, Thompson managed to notch five goals and seven assists—a significant growth from her rookie season, where she rather notched four goals and two assists in 21 appearances.

Interestingly, this is exactly what Press recently highlighted during her RE—INC podcast talk with Tobin Heath. The former Manchester United forward shared how she played a key role in helping her fellow young teammate break her goal-scoring deadlock. “I thought she was taking a bad touch before she shot the ball and I just told her that and she changed her touch and she started scoring. I love that,” remarked Press.

In fact, Christen’s personal takeaway from last season was seeing Thompson score her first goal. “Alyssa is a fantastic player,” added the veteran. Be that as it may, it looks like Thompson is making the most of Christen Press’ involvement with the team. And boy, are we in for a treat as long as this duo lasts.