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U.S. women's soccer team is back on big stage, and America loves it

Since the day Brandi Chastain took off her shirt 16 years ago, America has clothed its women's national soccer team with the sort of crazy unconditional love that somehow survived bad losses, lineup controversy, and the legal dossier of Hope Solo.

On Tuesday night, America was reminded why.

Megan Rapinoe flying, Alex Morgan dancing, Ali Krieger battering, Morgan Brian head-banging, Carli Lloyd creating, everyone screaming and flexing and surprising.

For all their flaws, this legacy-rich group of athletes still knows how to soar when the lights are brightest, dig deep when the stakes are highest, and sweatily survive when its demise appears imminent.