SYDNEY — They’re dancing after dismal performances, and being scorned for it. They’re in peak athletic shape yet posing with medicinal cream, and being paid handsomely for it. But more than just hamming and peddling, in the biggest women’s World Cup ever, the U.S. national team is growing.
The signs are everywhere. The results might suggest otherwise, and it now seems far-fetched that the Americans will make a return trip to Sydney for the Aug. 20 championship match. But look harder, because there’s a bigger picture away from the pitch.
We can track this progress on the American players’ Instagram feeds, where it seems like every other post is a paid partnership.