Women's World Cup will highlight how far other countries have closed the gap with US – but that isn't the only yardstick to measure growth of global game

The end of the glory years for the U.S. Women's National Team? AP Photo/Claude Paris

The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup begins on July 20, 2023, in Australia and New Zealand, and the U.S. enters the soccer tournament in a familiar position: favorites.

The U.S. Women’s National Team, or USWNT, is the reigning back-to-back champion, and many pundits are expecting it to make history by securing a third successive title.