The U.S. women’s national team kicked off its SheBelieves Cup campaign with a powerful gesture of solidarity. Locking arms with the Canadian national team, the players joined in a circle at the center of the pitch—sending a clear message to the Canadian federation: The players stand united in their quest for pay equity. The Canadian players, who are entangled in a public dispute with their federation over equal compensation and resources, wore purple warm-ups ahead of Thursday’s fixture with the words “enough is enough” emblazoned on the chest.
Unified off the pitch but bitter rivals on, the USWNT wasted no time in its 2–0 win, fielding one of the squad’s most energetic starts in recent memory. As soon as the opening whistle blew, the USWNT pounced, putting Canada on the back foot early. Deploying high pressure from the outset, the U.S. created a series of chances, forcing big saves from Canada goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan—including a long-range rocket from Ashley Sanchez, who got the start after Rose Lavelle picked up a knock in training.
