Alyssa Thompson was just a starry-eyed 14-year-old when she watched the 2019 Women’s World Cup final on television at her aunt’s house — now the United States forward is playing at the tournament.
The Los Angeles native came on for her World Cup debut as a late substitute in the holders’ 3-0 win over Vietnam in Auckland on Saturday.
She was just 14 when now-teammate Megan Rapinoe and the Americans won 2-0 against the Netherlands — the United States’ opponents on Thursday -— in 2019 to retain the trophy.