The U.S. Women’s National Team claimed their fifth consecutive and seventh overall SheBelieves Cup title in an exciting showdown, beating Canada 5-4 in a penalty kick shootout after a 2-2 draw during regulation time in the Championship Game of the 2024 SheBelieves Cup, presented by Visa.
Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher made history by scoring a penalty kick and saving three, a feat she’s accomplished twice in USWNT history, both times within five weeks. Defender Emily Fox sealed the deal with the decisive penalty kick in the sixth round of spot kicks to secure victory for the USA. Braces from forward Sophia Smith and Canada’s Adriana Leon led to the penalty shootout after a tied game in regulation.
The tempo was intense from the start as the USA dominated possession, spending most of the first 10 minutes in Canada’s half. They created chances all over the field, coming close to scoring in the 29th minute with a skillful effort from Jaedyn Shaw, who played a crucial role throughout the match. However, Canada took the lead against the run of play with a goal from Adriana Leon in the 40th minute.
The USA bounced back in the second half, with Sophia Smith equalizing in the 50th minute and then putting them ahead in the 68th minute. Canada, however, leveled the score with a penalty kick from Leon in the 86th minute, forcing the match into a shootout.
In the shootout, both teams went back and forth until Emily Fox’s winning shot secured the trophy for the USA. Despite a shaky start, the USA showed resilience, with key contributions from players like Smith, Shaw, and Naeher.
It was another hard-fought victory for the USA over their northern rivals, maintaining their dominance in the SheBelieves Cup and extending their unbeaten streak in the competition.