LOS ANGELES — The United States women’s soccer team began its stateside victory lap on Tuesday, and it could on for a good, happy while.
The first stop was a raucous rally in downtown Los Angeles that was attended by thousands of fans, some of whom began camping out before dawn. The team had spent Monday night in the downtown area after flying in from Vancouver, British Columbia, where it captured the World Cup on Sunday, and the players could hear the sounds of fans chanting when they awoke on Tuesday morning.
Even after everything the Americans had accomplished in previous weeks, the excitement they immediately encountered back home took them somewhat by surprise.