Carli Lloyd announced her retirement a few weeks ago, but what does that mean for the NWSL and the U.S. Women’s National Team? Lloyd has played on the national team since 2005 and is the third highest USWNT scorer in history. Most people would remember her hat trick in the 2015 World Cup Final, which led the U.S. to victory. But more than the incredible stats, Lloyd shows young players what heart and determination can do.
Here’s a small look at the incredible career she’s had.
That 2015 World Cup Final was one I would’ve loved to have been at. Three goals in the first 16 minutes. All by Lloyd. And one was scored from the halfway line, which is about 50 yards from the goal. Someone who makes it look that easy at such a high level of performance is so rare. It’s one of those moments where you know that you’re witnessing something you’ll never see again. But more than winning, when watching Lloyd you can tell how much she loves the game.
After losing the 2021 gold medal match against Canada in the Olympics, Lloyd was seen doing sprints across the field. It’s that kind of determination that proves how hard she works to be where she is. People talked about her age — 39 — and how she might be too old to play, but she didn’t slow down at all this year and kept showing how putting in the work when it’s difficult pays off. After that loss, Lloyd led the U.S. to win the bronze medal match against Australia, scoring two of the four U.S. goals. It’s important to note that in every Olympic medal match Carli Lloyd played in (2008 Beijing, 2012 London, and 2021 Tokyo) she scored. She’s a player the national team could always depend on to show up and get results.
One of the reasons I love to watch the U.S. women’s soccer team is because of their determination. There are no quitters on that team and Lloyd leads the pack with a fierce mentality of always pushing through. Not to mention, Lloyd is from New Jersey (like me) and it’s so cool to see someone from New Jersey do such big things.
I’ll leave you with a quote from Lloyd referencing the fight for equal pay for women in soccer: “If I’ve learned anything in my career, it’s that nothing worthwhile in life comes easy. That’s just the way it is. This isn’t about a money grab. It’s about doing the right thing, the fair thing. It’s about treating people the way they deserve to be treated, no matter their gender.”
While her soccer career is wrapping up, something tells me Carli Lloyd’s impact on the game will still be strong.
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