After an early exit from the 2016 Olympics, the US has a long time to wait for another chance at a major trophy. That’s an unfortunate effect of the calendar for the women’s game, which crams its two major events into a 14 month period, and then demands three years of waiting. But there’s a positive side to this, too. The long window gives the team a chance to develop in a way that wouldn’t otherwise be possible. If that time is used well, the US team in 2019 could be the best the world has ever seen.
In the coming months, we’ll be discussing this subject from a variety of angles—some reflections on the transition so far, some speculation on new players who could be brought in, some discussion of broad strategic considerations in lineup construction and tactical organization.