As the United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) faced an early exit from the World Cup, discussions surrounding their performance have loomed at large.
Going into the tournament, the USWNT carried immense pressure as reigning champions and favorites.
It is important to acknowledge the weight of such expectations on the players, as they undoubtedly influenced their performance both positively and negatively.
But Carli Lloyd’s statement acknowledging the justifiable criticism faced by the team demonstrates her understanding of the need to analyze and learn from shortcomings.
“I have never witnessed something like that,” Lloyd said on Fox as she watched the USWNT celebrate their draw.
“There’s a difference between being respectful of the fans and being ‘hello’ to your family. But to be dancing? To be smiling? I mean, the player of the match was that post.
“You are lucky to not be going home right now.”
Lloyd’s criticism went viral, which got some questioning whether her blunt criticism against USWNT was in a place of personal issues or even political issues with the USWNT roster.
But in an interview, Lloyd spoke to the Athletic, defending her comments by saying that her comments came from a place of reaction due to what she was seeing and feeling at that moment.
“This wasn’t anything that was scripted,” Lloyd told The Athletic Tuesday morning in a phone interview from Australia, the site of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. “This was a reaction to what I was seeing, what I was feeling, what came from my heart.
