Nikesoccer

Back To Business

DonJulio — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 02:10:00 GMT

Three months since the last game.

A solid month of training camp.

You can't wait to get out there and be the first to every ball.

Game Time. Finally. A stage that makes all the training worth while.

After a lengthy hiatus due to the inaugural season of the American domestic league, Abby Wambach, Carli Lloyd, Shannon Boxx, and Hope Solo lead the #1 world ranked USWNT into Germany Thursday to take on the two-time defending world champions in Augsburg. Dependable veterans and youthful potential make up a reworked U.S. side looking to top off a so far undefeated 2009 (6-0-1).

Can they prove to the world that #1 is not just a number?

Don't miss a single Make The Difference moment. Follow Nike Soccer on Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace. Discover more about the USWNT at their team page.

Back To Training

adamspangler — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 01:10:38 GMT

Next year will be a busy year for the #1 ranked international squad. But right now it's all about training for the 23 women called into camp heading into their first game in months, October 29 in Germany when they take on the world champions. Returning stars Abby Wambach, Hope Solo, Carli Lloyd, Megan Rapinoe, and Shannon Boxx will be back together once again, polishing skills that have them at the top of the rankings.

Staying on top is often harder than getting there. Having the success the USWNT has had in the last decade doesn't come without hard work, but staying on top, getting the best game out of every opponent, means training needs to be that much more intense.

The time the women put in now becomes the dividends collected on match day. It's all about finding that personal motivation to continue the killer instinct when the next game is still weeks away. That's where the USWNT finds themselves. Training makes the difference.

Make Fast Your Friend

gabejazzy — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 22:40:15 GMT

Vaporize your opponents with the new Mercurial Vapor FG, the fastest women’s boot Nike has ever put on the pitch. The Mercurial Vapor FG has a Teijin microfiber upper that adjusts to the contours of your foot, creating a perfect fit every time. And its streamlined construction makes it one of the lightest in the game. But don’t let its feather weight fool you – this cleat is as tough as they come, with covered lacing for an extra large ball strike area and direct injected heel studs that let you cut on a dime. Combine that with a foot-hugging chassis built for speed and you’ve got a cleat that doesn’t just compete – it dominates.

US Women’s National Team member Carli Lloyd on the new Mercurial Vapor FG:

“I feel great in the new Vapor. It’s a perfect fit. I like the colors and the weight of it, and I also like the materials – it’s a bit of a softer feel than the old Vapors. I’m not distracted at all because the boot feels great. They’re comfortable and allow for a great touch on the ball.”

We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.

Buy the Mercurial Vapor FG

D Equals W

Gronamo — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 19:52:15 GMT

Since Friday the WNT have had two shutout victories. And it’s no small feat that they had already clinched a spot in the Algarve Cup Final with the first of the two.

With a jaw-dropping goal in the 90th, the US shocked the Icelandic side and guaranteed the women a spot in the Championship game. Settling a long ball from the left back with a chest trap, our striker tipped the ball over a confused Icelandic defender and finished with a precise left-footed half-volley. See for yourself – it’s a thing of beauty.

Though Monday’s 1-0 victory against Norway was inconsequential, the physical play characteristic of the US vs. Norway match-ups was no less present. Let’s be honest, how are you going to tell the WNT not to go all out on 50-50 headers? It’s that kind of intensity that has resulted in the US being the only team not to allow a goal this tournament.

On Wednesday, the WNT will defend their title against the Swedes, marking the seventh straight Algarve Cup Final appearance for the US. But the WNT doesn’t stand alone with stats on their side – the Swedes have never lost an Algarve Championship in three appearances.

So follow the action with MatchTracker on ussoccer.com. Kickoff time is March 11, 12 PM ET.

Action in Algarve

Gronamo — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 16:57:07 GMT

When you're on top, you’ve got further to fall. That’s why you work that much harder to stay there. The Algarve Cup kicks off Wednesday, March 4 and the die-hard work ethic of the WNT hasn’t changed a bit.

Coming off a 17-day training session at the Home Depot Center, Coach Sundhage and her 18-woman roster have traveled to southern Portugal and spent the better part of the week in round-the-clock practices before the tournament kicks off.

Sure, Portugal is not all hard work – the girls’ treasured Algarve tradition of crepes and ice cream lives on, as do the rest of the team-wide competitions (check the WNT blog out).

But fact is that the US has taken the Cup five times in the last 6 years, and the rest of the field is pining for a shot at the top dogs. First up is Denmark on March 4th, and you can be sure that Lindsay, Lloyd, Boxxy and the gang will be ready for them.

Follow all the action at ussoccer.com.

A Record-Setting Year

Gronamo — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 23:36:47 GMT

By now you’ve probably heard: The WNT has been on a tear since, well, 2007. Last night the WNT brought a landmark year in American soccer to a close in a way that couldn’t have been more fitting.

With a decisive defeat of China at Ford Field, the girls moved the magic number to its final resting place: 33. And don’t tell us you don’t know already. The 33-1-2 performance on the year by the WNT is a record-setter in wins and winning percentage. That’s almost a 95% chance of victory. Vegas would call it the safest bet in sports. Period.

And one of the biggest reasons for this incredible success rate is the performance of Carli Lloyd. In honor of her heroic effort throughout the year, US Soccer just named Lloyd the 2008 Female Athlete of the Year. Congrats Carli!

With the 1-0 victory, the “Achieve Your Gold Tour” is now over and the girls are going on a one-month hiatus before returning in late January for their next training session. So that’s it. History has been made. Now bring on 2009.

WNT to the Rescue

Gronamo — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 19:30:14 GMT

Make no mistake, the general situation in Detroit is pretty bleak. Between the car companies and the downright frigid weather, good cheer isn’t as plentiful as it could be.

But if all goes well on Wednesday at Ford Field, the WNT will give a little reminder of just how lucky America is to be such a leading athletic powerhouse – just in time for the holidays. Not to mention the match is indoors so the fans won’t freeze.

On Saturday the WNT returned to action with a 1-0 victory against the Chinese, a score which doesn’t quite do justice to the dominant performance the girls delivered. Carli began pouring on the pressure in the 9th minute with a barely-deflected blast, and the rest of the team never let up.

So with a W on Wednesday, the WNT will set the record for most wins by any national team in one season – 33 (and hey, without one, they still have the record at 32).

It’s the close of the tour, and the WNT has most certainly Achieved Their Gold. So tune in on ussoccer to see how the girls close out 2008 when they compete in the last international match of the year.

Carli’s Criteria

gabejazzy — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 20:44:57 GMT

Every athlete has their preferences when it comes to apparel – what they look for in a product, how they like it to perform. For Carli Lloyd only the best will do. So what does it take for a product to make it into her soccer bag?
Check out more Nike Pro.

The Mental Game

gabejazzy — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 20:43:47 GMT

Like any sport, soccer is a test of your mental toughness. Weather can be a factor, unless you eliminate it with the right apparel. With Nike Pro, Carli keeps her mind focused where it should be – on performance.

Anywhere, Any Weather

gabejazzy — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 20:42:49 GMT

Carli Lloyd trains and competes the world over, and she’s not about to let conditions get in the way of her progress. Here Carli explains how the right apparel keeps her body ready to perform at peak levels.

Shutout in Chicago

Gronamo — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 21:24:39 GMT

After honoring Shannon Boxx for her 100th cap before the game, the WNT set out at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, IL to bring home their record 29th win in a single calendar year.

Boxxy was given captain’s honors for the first time in her career, but she shared the spotlight with Lindsey Tarpley and Carli Lloyd, who will be playing for the WPS Chicago Red Stars in the upcoming season.

And in the 19th minute, Tarp and Carli gave the fans a taste of what to expect from the stacked Chicago team. On a one-two play, Carli first found Tarp inside the area on a short ball. Tarp, with a cool head and smooth touch, touched it off to set up a wide open teammate from ten yards. Shot, goal. It’s that easy Chicago.

The WNT dominated the rest of the game, holding the Irish side to just one shot and finishing with a 2-0 score. It was a fitting end to the three-game series – one that echoed the US domination.

The “Achieve Your Gold Tour" is not over, but the girls are taking a well-deserved break from national team play for the month of October. Keep in touch to hear the locations of the upcoming games.

Sweeping Up

Gronamo — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 23:26:05 GMT

The victory celebration for the WNT has been no parade down Main St. On Wednesday, the girls completed the second match of the “Achieve Your Gold Tour,” a 10-stop series of domestic friendlies for the Women’s National Team.

And achieving is what they’re all about. Playing host to the women from Ireland, the WNT notched its second straight win of the first three-game series. That makes 28 on the year, tying the record for most national team wins in a calendar year.

The only goal of the game came off an assist from Carli (no surprise there) in the 72nd minute. Carli's pass found her teammate open in the middle of the box. From there it was a clinical finish past the Irish keeper near the right post.

The U.S. looks to complete the sweep of the Irish on Saturday in Bridgeview, Illinois (7 p.m. CT). And keep an eye out, the WNT may be heading your way to showcase their gold-winning talent as a part of the “Achieve Your Gold Tour.”

Follow the action and stream the match live on ussoccer.com.

USA All the Way

gabejazzy — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 15:20:24 GMT

With the championship game tied at zeros in the 96th minute, Carli Lloyd receives the ball twenty-five yards from goal. Without thinking, without hesitating she takes one touch to the top of the box and fires a shot at the Brazilian net. The goalkeeper reacts and lunges to her left. Too late, there is nothing she can do; the ball rips into the side netting. And, the US WNT goes up 1-0.

Inspired by Lloyd’s laser, the defense rallies around Hope Solo’s goal and endures a barrage of attacks by the desperate Brazilians. The South Americans throw everything they’ve got at the US in a last gasp effort, but Solo stands tall in goal. And, after 120+ minutes of brilliant soccer, the whistle blows and the US WNT has done it again – against all odds the USA defends their Athens gold and wins their third overall.

Perseverance in the face of adversity is Next Level.

United Colors of Carli

Gronamo — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 14:00:32 GMT

Creativity is one of the most essential components of a soccer player. You can run till you’re blue in the face, but the difference between being good and being great comes down to a few moments of creative magic.

For the US WNT, Carli Lloyd is one of those midfield magicians. She has the vision and ingenuity to see gaps where others see stone walls, to see victory where others see defeat.

But, for Carli, it doesn’t stop at the sideline. Off the field, she is just as creative as she is on it. And it is because of this unique combination of attitude, style and imagination that Carli has been chosen as a NIKEiD featured athlete. As such, she created three stunning versions of her Mercurial boots on NIKEiD.com, which she will wear throughout the Olympics.

For the first pair, which Carli will be sporting in group play, she chose the colors red, white and blue to demonstrate her national pride. She also emblazoned the word ‘courage’ on her boots “to help remind me to stay the course regardless of the obstacles I may face.”

During the knockout stage, Carli will be wearing her custom-designed orange Mercs that say, ‘belief,’ because as the New Jersey native explained, “We are only as good as we believe we are.” These boots also have Carli’s boyfriend’s initials, B.H. (Brian Hollins), which represent his continual support and contribution to the design process.

If all goes according to plan and the women make it to the final, Carli will bust out her red and white Mercurials, which are dedicated to her personal trainer, James Galainis. “If it weren't for him Galainis, I wouldn't be playing on the U.S. team,” said Lloyd. “He has guided me and pushed me to limits I never imagined.”

So take a cue from Carli, soccer is all about conjuring up those creative moments of brilliance. And now, thanks to NIKEiD, you don’t have to leave your creativity on the pitch.

Go to NIKEiD.com to create your own customized boot.

Carli Lloyd on Inside Training

gabejazzy — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:20:21 GMT

Explosive midfielder Carli Lloyd has some of the most dangerous legs in the game, and she’s out to prove that this year in Beijing. In her first bid for a medal, Carli is about to start training in China, where she hopes to prove her reputation as one of the best attacking midfielders in the world.

But keeping that reputation doesn’t come easy. Carli knows how much of a reflection game day is of her training. Listen to Carli describe what inspires her, what keeps her going, and why she’s all business, so you can take your game to the next level.