For fans who have spent the last three decades or so watching the U.S. women’s national soccer team dominate the world stage, Sunday’s loss in the World Cup’s Round of 16 was a shocking, unfamiliar experience.
After struggling to score goals and looking beatable all tournament, the U.S. women went scoreless against Sweden for 120 minutes before falling on penalty kicks. The deciding ball from forward Lina Hurtig barely crossed the goal line to hand Sweden the victory.
This can feel, in many ways, like an inopportune moment for the U.S. team to fall short of expectations. For the Americans, at least, financial and cultural equity with their male counterparts off the field finally has seemed in…
