The United States women have plenty more steps to take, but they are off to a flying start at the 2024 Olympics, picking up their second dominant victory of the competition by topping Germany 3-1 behind a Sophia Smith brace to take control of the Group B standings.
Just like the opening victory over Zambia, Emma Hayes unleashed the three-headed attacking monster of Smith, Mallory Swanson, and Trinity Rodman, storming to a two-goal halftime lead.
Smith opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a tap-in off a Rodman cross, and after Germany drew level, the USWNT would storm back into the lead. Swanson put the U.S. back in front as she poked home the rebound after Smith saw a long-range effort saved, and then Smith benefitted from a massive deflection on the USWNT’s third just before halftime.
From there, Emma Hayes looked to shut it down, using passive possession to smother the opponent. The match wouldn’t finish without the influence of U.S. goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, though, who rebounded from a slight lapse on Germany’s goal to make a critical save on Sjoeke Nusken with 23 minutes to go. That was the last chance for Germany to find a way back in, and the U.S. stormed to an emphatic victory from there.
The win puts the United States atop Group B with the maximum six points, and while they are not yet mathematically through to the knockout stage, they are all but assured of a place in the quarterfinals. They just need a single point in the finale against Australia to grasp a spot in the knockout stage, but they would also go through after defeat in a number of scenarios.
The Sporting News followed the USA vs. Germany match live, providing score updates, commentary, and highlights as they happened.
USWNT vs. Germany final score
| Score | Goal scorers | |
| USA | 4 | S. Smith (10', 44'), Swanson (26'), L. Williams (89') |
| Germany | 1 | Gwinn (22') |
Kickoff: 9 p.m. local (3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT)
Location: Stade Orange Velodrome (Marseille, France)
Referee: Yael Falcon (ARG)
MORE: 2024 Olympic football schedule and results
Starting lineups:
USA (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Naeher (GK) — 2. Fox (Krueger, 90'), 4. Girma, 12. Davidson (Sonnett, 43'), 7. Dunn — 10. Horan, 17. Coffey, 16. Lavelle — 5. Rodman (Nighswonger, 90'), 11. S. Smith (L. Williams, 85'), 9. Swanson.
Germany (4-4-2, right to left): 12. Berger (GK) — 15. Gwinn, 3. Hendrich, 5. Hegering, 19. Rauch — 16. Brand, 6. Minge, 11. Popp (Senss, 77'), 17. Buhl — 9. Nusken (Lohmann, 68'), 7. Schuller.
2024 Olympics Group B standings
| Pos. | Team | GP | Points | W-D-L | Goals For | Goals Against |
| 1. | USA | 2 | 6 | 2-0-0 | 7 | 1 |
| 2. | Germany | 2 | 3 | 1-0-1 | 4 | 4 |
| 3. | Australia | 2 | 3 | 1-0-1 | 6 | 8 |
| 4. | Zambia | 2 | 0 | 0-0-2 | 5 | 9 |
USWNT vs. Germany live updates, highlights
FULLTIME: USA 4-1 Germany
A completely dominant 90 minutes from the United States against Zambia is one thing, but blasting Germany 4-1 is a whole other accomplishment. It's still early, but Emma Hayes has this team flying against some of the best teams from around the globe.
The USWNT goes top of Group B in emphatic fashion, and they look to be en route to a quality showing at this summer's competition. They're right up there amongst the gold medal contenders.
90+1 min: As five minutes of stoppage time are shown, the U.S. makes a pair of substitutions. Jenna Nighswonger and Casey Krueger enter, with Emily Fox and Trinity Rodman withdrawn.
89th min: GOAL! USA! Lynn Williams seals the victory for the U.S. with a goal down the stretch!
Trinity Rodman starts the move with a deft turn on the wing, and she finds Mallory Swanson in acres of space to drive right down Germany's throat. She feeds Williams with a diagonal ball on the left, and she finishes inside the far post to put the U.S. out of sight!
84th min: Chance, USA! Trinity Rodman forces a sensational save from Ann-Katrin Berger! She marauds forward and gets free on goal, looking to finish with a left-footed curler, but the German goalkeeper acrobatically parries it out for a corner with one hand!
Lynn Williams will come on for Sophia Smith as Emma Hayes makes a defensive-minded swap on the wing.
79th min: Germany finally have their first corner of the match, as the USWNT has held them in check for most of the match. It's headed away strongly and turns into a USWNT counter, but as Germany races back to cover, Rose Lavelle pulls it back and looks to continue smothering the game.
75th min: There's now a real concern for Germany as captain Alexandra Popp needs treatment on her right knee, pointing to the top of her knee cap with a grimace. It would be a huge issue if they lose Popp for this game and potentially beyond.
She unfortunately has to come off, with Elisa Senss replacing her.
67th min: Another shot is into the waiting arms of Alyssa Naeher as Jule Brand serves one up into her bread basket. Germany has begun to press the U.S. harder, and it's causing problems for the midfield, particularly Lindsey Horan who's had a bit of a sloppy match.
Sydney Lohmann enters as Germany's first substitution, replacing Sjoeke Nusken.
62nd min: Chance, Germany! Alyssa Naeher makes another huge save! Jule Brand managed to find space around Crystal Dunn to feed the ball centrally, and Sjoeke Nusken was there for the tap-in right on the doorstep before Naeher gets down to her right for the stop!
That's two exceptional saves in this match for Naeher, who will want to have done better on Germany's only goal thus far but has more than accounted for that lapse.
60th min: Chance, USA! Mallory Swanson nearly puts the USWNT up 4-1 but her sliding finish at the far post goes just wide! Trinity Rodman cuts inside after getting free, and fizzes a lateral ball along the edge of the six-yard box past Sophia Smith and right to a skidding Swanson. Unfortunately, it seems that both Swanson and Crystal Dunn were going for the ball, and they got in each others' way as the ball goes harmlessly out of play.
54th min: Just like they did in the second half against Zambia, the U.S. has come out of halftime looking to protect their lead. They have maintained very passive possession, and have looked to wait for Germany to come out of their shape as the clock ticks down. At some point, Germany will have to acquiesce, but for now they aren't pressing the U.S. hard.
2nd half kickoff: They're back under way in Marseille, as the U.S. leads by a pair. TV broadcaster Jon Champion says they've been informed Tierna Davidson's injury is a lower leg issue, not a knee injury, which is encouraging.
HALFTIME: USA 3-1 Germany
A very strong 45 minutes for the United States against a powerful Germany side. They had a few defensive slips in the opening 15 minutes, but got the opener and managed to grasp complete control of the match by the time Mallory Swanson snatched the 2-1 lead. Sophia Smith is having an all-timer.
There's a big cost for the USWNT, however, as they've lost defender Tierna Davidson to a worrying knee injury. It's hard to get an idea what the problem is or how serious it could be, but the U.S. is majorly thin at center-back and can ill afford to lose one of the defensive partnership that's only just begun to really get stuck in together.
45+6 min: Germany have a half-chance on a free-kick just before the halftime whistle, but Sjoeke Nusken puts a header wide left.
44th min: GOAL! USA! Sophia Smith has her second of the match as the U.S. take a two-goal lead just before halftime! She brilliantly collects a bouncing ball at the top-corner of the penalty area, and with a deft turn, she whips a shot on goal that takes a massive deflection and buries into the back of the net, in off the inside of the far post!
It's so unlucky for Felicitas Rauch who slid to try and block the shot but ended up deflecting it perfectly past the goalkeeper. For Smith, don't take anything away from the excellent individual work to work space for the hit!
41st min: Ouch, Tierna Davidson takes the brunt of a knee clash with Jule Brand, and needs treatment. This is a concern for the U.S. who are thin at center-back. She looks to continue, but cannot, and is replaced by Emily Sonnet. That's a big issue for the USWNT moving forward.
31st min: Alyssa Naeher somehow makes a save while on her heels as Germany get a headed effort on target. It's an awkward one but she will expect herself to keep that one out as it's directed right at her by Lea Schuller.
Moments later Giulia Gwinn blasts one just over the crossbar. The Europeans are well up for this match and are looking capable of finding another equalizer before halftime.
26th min: GOAL! USA! Mal Swanson has the US back in front! Sophia Smith forces a massive save from Germany goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger, who went soaring into the air to stop the effort, but Swanson pounces on the rebound for a tap-in before Berger can collect!
Berger is down after the goal, as she was on the ground when Swanson struck and may have taken a blow in the process, but she's up after lengthy treatment and will continue.
22nd min: GOAL! GERMANY! The Europeans are level as left-back Giulia Gwinn blasts a long-range effort low on the ground perfectly into the tiny window of opportunity! There wasn't a ton of pace on the 24-yard shot, and Alyssa Naeher will want that one back as it snuck in between the USWNT goalkeeper and the inside of the far post.
There's also a yellow card shown to Sam Coffey for a foul in the buildup, which the referee played advantage leading to the goal.
18th min: The first yellow card of the match is shown to Germany defender Kathrin-Julia Hendrich for scything down Sophia Smith after the American had beaten her down the wing.
13th min: Chance, USA! Sam Coffey almost gets free at the near post after a short corner, but her flick is smothered by the goalkeeper, out for another corner. The follow-up set-piece is wasted.
This match has been enormously open on both ends. Germany have gone forward dangerously on a number of occasions, causing the U.S. midfielders to scamper back to help emergency defend. Yet since the goal the U.S. have seemingly taken full control of the match.
10th min: GOAL! USA! Sophia Smith finishes off a Trinity Rodman cross to open the scoring!
Rodman plays a one-two with Rose Lavelle to get free down the right, and she has acres of space for the lateral ball to Smith for a five-yard tap-in. As the cross came in, Mallory Swanson brilliantly let the ball go past her as she made a near-post run, allowing it to continue to Soph who slammed it in.
4th min: Chance, Germany! ALYSSA NAEHER WITH A SENSATIONAL SAVE! Germany should be in front as they counter-attack with absolute ferocity, but Naeher makes a stunning stop on an unmarked Lea Schuller to keep it scoreless! Then, in the aftermath, there's a vital block from a U.S. defender to halt a follow-up attempt!
Lindsey Horan had the initial blunder, nearly giving Germany a gift after her back-pass fell right to Jule Brand on the run! A complete breakdown from the USWNT but they survive!
3rd min: Alexandra Popp, interestingly, is sitting deep in midfield to cover for the loss of Lena Oberdorf to a torn ACL just before the Olympics.
Kickoff: They're under way in Marseille! This is a titanic bout between two of the world's most powerful and historic women's football nations.
USWNT vs. Germany: Pre-match commentary, analysis, more
15 mins to kickoff: In a match with the potential to crown the Group B winner, who will come out on top? The U.S. women are hoping it can be the real start of their return to the top of women's football today.
30 mins to kickoff: WELL! Just 15 minutes ago we mentioned how insane the Australia vs. Zambia match had been, and it's only gotten wilder! Zambia scored first early in the second half to make it 5-2, but Australia have stormed back within one as a pair of goals bracketing the hour mark have it at 5-4 with 20 minutes to go!
45 mins to kickoff: The other Group B match between Australia and Zambia is in play currently, and it's absolute chaos. Zambia scored in the opening minute, and a Barbara Banda hat-trick has them up 4-2 at the halftime break. Their other star forward Racheal Kundananji also has a goal, underpinning just how impressive the opening clean sheet was for the United States.
A Zambia win or draw would mean the United States could all but seal a knockout stage place with a win today thanks to their head-to-head victory in the opener.
1 hour to kickoff: Lineups are in, and Emma Hayes names an unchanged lineup from the opener against Zambia. That means Sophia Smith indeed recovers from her injury in that match, and Crystal Dunn again starts at left-back over Jenna Nighswonger. It appears Dunn may be indeed the preferred option for the new USWNT head coach, instead of just a spot starter against Zambia's pacey forwards.
For Germany, the only change from the opening round win over Australia is a swap, ironically, at left-back, as Sarai Linder is replaced by Felicitas Rauch. Linder has come down with an illness, and Rauch was her replacement on the roster, sliding straight into the XI.
1 hour 15 mins to kick: One German player the U.S. will focus extra defensive attention on is Jule Brand, a budding star in global football. At just 21 years old, she will earn her 49th international cap today, one away from the half-century. Playing for global women's power Wolfsburg, Brand is an incredibly talented player with a massive skill-set as a two-way midfielder.
She has extremely strong defensive capabilities and can crop up in front of goal as well, scoring in the opener against Australia, but her most notable contributions is chance creation. She's an all-star dribbler, in the 97th percentile of shot-creating actions off the dribble of all attacking midfielders and wingers in the last calendar year.
1 hour 30 mins to kick: After the first round of matches, two goals for Mallory Swanson has her level with Marie-Antoinette Katoto of France atop the Golden Boot standings. 12 other players have scored once, including her U.S. teammate Trinity Rodman.
1 hour 45 mins to kick: The U.S. women will wear white today in their second match of the Olympics, just as they did in the opener against Zambia.
2 hours to kickoff: Sophia Smith was withdrawn just before halftime in the opener against Zambia, leading to significant concerns regarding the health of the USWNT attack. But head coach Emma Hayes stated that Smith would be ready to go against Germany and that her removal was precautionary in nature.
They will still be without Jaedyn Shaw, however, leaving Croix Bethune on the roster as a replacement.
USWNT vs. Germany kickoff time
This group match at the 2024 Summer Olympics kicks off from the Stade Orange Velodrome on Sunday, July 28 at 9 p.m. local time in Marseille, France. Here's how that time translates across some of the major territories around the globe:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| USA/Canada | Sun, Jul. 28 | 3 p.m. ET |
| USA/Canada | Sun, Jul. 28 | 12 p.m. PT |
| UK | Sun, Jul. 28 | 8 p.m. BST |
| Australia | Mon, Jul. 29 | 5 a.m. AEST |
| India | Mon, Jul. 29 | 12:30 a.m. IST |
USA vs. Germany lineups, team news, starting 11
The U.S. will still be without Jaedyn Shaw who picked up a leg injury in training and missed the opener as a late scratch, replaced for now on the roster by alternate Croix Bethune. The good news, however, is that Sophia Smith is good to return after being withdrawn from the win over Zambia just before halftime.
Crystal Dunn started the opener at left-back, and at the time many assumed that was largely to deal with the pacey Zambian forwards, but she starts again over Jenna Nighswonger and looks to be Emma Hayes' preferred option at the position.
Catarina Macario is not on the roster after being forced to withdraw from the Olympics due to knee soreness, replaced by Lynn Williams.
USA starting lineup (4-3-3): Naeher (GK) — Fox, Girma, Davidson, Dunn — Horan, Coffey, Lavelle — Rodman, S. Smith, Swanson.
USA subs (7): Murphy (GK), Krueger, Nighswonger, Sonnett, Albert, Bethune, L. Williams.
Germany captain Alexandra Popp has big-game experience, having won two Champions League titles at the club level with Wolfsburg and winning gold in the 2016 Olympics. She has yet to score a national team goal in 2024, however, as the 33-year-old nears the latter stage of her career.
Left-back Sarai Linder has come down with an illness, and was replaced on the roster by Felicitas Rauch, who slides straight into the starting lineup.
They are without midfield rock Lena Oberdorf who tore her ACL in a warm-up friendly just before the Olympics began.
Germany starting lineup (4-4-2): Berger (GK) — Gwinn, Hendrich, Hegering, Rauch — Brand, Minge, Nusken, Buhl — Popp, Schuller.
Germany subs (7): Frohms (GK), Schulze-Solano, Doorsoun, Senss, Freigang, Lohmann, Endemann.
USWNT vs. Germany live stream, TV channel
| Date | Time | TV Channel | Streaming | |
| USA | Thu, Jul. 25 | 3 p.m. ET | USA Network | Fubo USA, Peacock, NBC Sports website/app |
| UK | Thu, Jul. 25 | 8 p.m. BST | — | — |
| Australia | Fri, Jul. 26 | 5 a.m. AEST | — | 9Now, Stan Sport |
| Canada | Thu, Jul. 25 | 3 p.m. ET | — | CBC app/website |
| India | Fri, Jul. 26 | 12:30 a.m. IST | — | — |
If the USA vs. Germany match is not available to watch live in your location, or if you’re traveling abroad, you can use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). VPNs offer a secure and private online connection, allowing you to bypass geographical restrictions to access your favorite streaming services from any device anywhere in the world.
WATCH FROM ANYWHERE: Sign up for NordVPN (30-day moneyback guarantee)