USWNT X CANADA

At Exploria Stadium in Orlando, the U.S. Women's National Team started the 2023 SheBelieves Cup with a 2-0 win against Canada. Mallory Swanson, who has been a force up front so far this year, scored twice in the first half to make it four games in a row in which she has found the back of the net. Swanson now has 30 goals for her country, and this is her sixth career multi-goal game and second of the year.

To kick off the action, Horan sent a pass into Swanson within the penalty area, and Swanson attempted a swift shot from a tight position on the left, but Canadian goalie Kailen Sheridan made a fine stop at the near post only 12 seconds into the match to keep the score level. Canada ultimately conceded in the seventh minute, when Morgan set up Swanson for a first-time shot that she snuck past Sheridan and into the bottom left corner.

Mal scored her second goal of the night when she pounced on a misplaced ball from Canadian defender Vanessa Gilles, who was under pressure by Morgan, and sent a first-time shot past Sheridan from close range. The USWNT had more scoring opportunities, but the final score would remain 2-0. During the first day of play in the 2023 SheBelieves Cup, the defending champions, the United States, find themselves in first place. Only time will tell whether they can remain united for another year and make it six.

[Photography by ICONIC photographer Hannah DiLorenzo]