CHAMPAIGN — Janet Rayfield spent the run up to the 2015 Women's World Cup as an advance scout for the U.S. Women's National Team.
The Illinois soccer coach was simply lending a helping hand to her predecessor Jill Ellis, who went from being the first Illini coach in program history to leading Team USA.
Rayfield didn't reprise her role this spring in advance of Tuesday's 2 p.m. World Cup opener for the U.S. against Thailand at Stade August Delaune in Reims, France.
That will allow her head to France starting with the quarterfinal round as a soccer fan.