USWNT vs Colombia

Photography by: Peter Bonilla

The USWNT left it late, but when the breakthrough finally arrived, it was enough to lift another trophy.

A superb strike from Alyssa Thompson in the 82nd minute secured a 1–0 win over Colombia on Saturday night at Sports Illustrated Stadium, clinching the Americans’ eighth title at the SheBelieves Cup.

For long stretches, this final match felt like a stalemate waiting to happen. Colombia slowed the tempo with physical defending and frequent stoppages, frustrating an American side that dominated possession but struggled to create clear chances in the first half.

The U.S. finished the opening 45 minutes with just a single shot on target. Meanwhile, Colombia generated the more dangerous looks early, including a looping volley from Manuela Vanegas that drifted just over the crossbar and a handful of half-chances that kept goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce alert.

But as has increasingly become the case under head coach Emma Hayes, patience eventually paid its dividends.

Substitutions around the hour mark injected fresh energy into the American attack. The decisive moment arrived when Jaedyn Shaw combined with Thompson at the top of the penalty area. Shaw slipped the ball back into Thompson’s path, and the 21-year-old winger unleashed a powerful right-footed strike that clipped the underside of the crossbar before bouncing over the line.

“I wasn’t even sure it went in at first,” Thompson said afterward. The goal — her fourth at the international level — proved decisive and capped a standout tournament that earned her the competition’s MVP honors.

The win sealed a perfect 3–0 run for the United States in the 11th edition of the tournament. Earlier results included a 2–0 victory over Argentina and a 1–0 win against Canada, leaving the Americans atop the final standings with nine points.

Perhaps even more impressive than the results is the defensive consistency. The U.S. has now gone more than 800 minutes without conceding a goal, recording eight straight clean sheets since October.

Veteran defender Emily Sonnett added another milestone to the night as well, claiming a record eighth SheBelieves Cup title — more than any other individual player in the tournament’s history.

The evening also included a moment of reflection before kickoff, as Tobin Heath was honored following her official retirement last year. The two-time World Cup champion made 181 appearances for the national team during a decorated 13-year international career.

For Hayes, the tournament was less about dominance and more about development. The U.S. rotated heavily throughout the three matches while continuing to build chemistry within a squad still evolving after the Olympics.

The next test arrives soon. The Americans will face Japan in a three-game series next month — a step up in competition and another measuring stick as preparations continue for the next cycle.

For now, though, the U.S. leaves the SheBelieves Cup with exactly what it came for: another trophy, and a growing sense that this new generation is beginning to find its rhythm.