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USWNT hopes diverse squad will inspire underrepresented girls

On the field, the U.S. women's national team has much to prove at this month's World Cup.

As back-to-back champions, there's immense pressure on the youthful group of players aiming to win an unprecedented third title in a row. Off the field, though, non-sporting goals have already been scored.

"It's crazy how diverse this team has become with how many African-Americans there are, Mexican-Americans," 21-year-old Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman said earlier this month. "It's expanding and I think that shows so much that it's not exclusive."

NJ/NY Gotham FC's Lynn Williams noted, "When I was growing up, there wasn't a lot of Black people playing soccer, let alone on the national team to look up to.