Revenge is (Bitter) Sweet 

07/27/2023

By: Jeff Yoder

Good Morning,

Not such a good morning for the U.S. Women’s National Team. Their 13-match win streak in World Cup play has come to an end. Plus, Aaron Rodgers is changing the narrative and Shohei Ohtani is off-limits. Let’s review.

Letter Rip!

WORLD CUP

Revenge Match: Horan Saves Draw for USWNT

Photo: Eurasia Sport Images / Getty Images

USWNT Salvages 1-1 Draw With Netherlands in Rematch of 2019 World Cup Final, But Tie Snaps 13-Game World Cup Win Streak

No cakewalks in this World Cup… The U.S. Women’s National Team used every ounce of offense just to salvage a 1-1 draw with the Netherlands on Wednesday night in New Zealand, effectively ending a 13-match win streak in World Cup competition. It was a rematch of the 2019 Women’s World Cup final, and the Netherlands got their revenge.

How Match 2 Played Out: The Dutch side was under attack all night long, but an early counter-strike by Jill Roord (17’) gave the Netherlands a 1-0 advantage. It was their only shot on goal in the entire contest. Knowing the U.S. had the superior talent, the Netherlands seemed comfortable packing it in defensively. The U.S. finally answered on a header from Lindsey Horan (62’) via a corner kick. They scored again on an Alex Morgan breakaway minutes later, but she was whistled offsides. Morgan, along with Julie Ertz and Rose Lavelle, made countless plays throughout the night, but the U.S. couldn’t find the winning goal.

More Q’s Than A’s: The match ended in a 1-1 draw that leaves neither team advancing to the knockout stages just yet. And after two matches (1-1-0) with just four goals scored, the USWNT has more questions than answers.

Win Streak Snapped: The USA’s 13-match World Cup win streak dating back to 2015 (scoreless draw against Sweden) is now over. They still haven’t lost a World Cup match since the 2011 finals against Japan (penalty kicks).

USA vs. Netherlands Scoresheet

Shots: 18 (USA) | 5 (NED)

Shots on Target: 4 (USA) | 1 (NED)

Possession: 43% (USA) | 57% (NED)

Fouls: 13 (USA) | 15 (NED)

Corners: 11 (USA) | 1 (NED)

Watch: Lindsey Horan Saves 1-1 Draw for USWNT Against Netherlands

Group E Standings

USA: 4 Points | MP: 2 | 1-1-0 | GD: +3

Netherlands: 4 Points | MP: 2 | 1-1-0 | GD: +1

Portugal: 0 Points | MP: 1 | 0-0-1 | GD: -1

Vietnam: 0 Points | MP: 1 | 0-0-1 | GD: -3

Full Group Stage Standings

Other World Cup Highlights & Scores

Canada def. Ireland (2-1)

Spain def. Zambia (5-0)

Japan def. Costa Rica (2-0)

In Action Today/Tomorrow

Portugal vs. Vietnam (Thurs. 3:30 am ET)

Australia vs. Nigeria (Thurs. 6:00 am ET)

Argentina vs. South Africa (Thurs. 8:00 pm ET)

England vs. Denmark (Fri. 4:30 am ET)

China vs. Haiti (Fri. 7:00 am ET)

Final USWNT Group Stage Match

USA vs. Portugal (Tues. Aug. 1, 3:00 am ET)

Read More

Yahoo! Sports: Lindsey Horan Rescues USWNT With 2nd-Half Equalizer

ESPN: USWNT vs. Netherlands Player Ratings: Horan, Lavelle, Ertz Impress

B/R: 5 Takeaways From USWNT’s 1-1 Draw With the Netherlands

______________________________________________________________________________________

NFL

Rodgers’ Revenge: The Ultimate Team Player?

Photo: Rich Schultz / Getty Images

Take That, Packers… Aaron Rodgers Agrees to $35 Million Pay Cut in New Jets-Friendly Deal

Take what you thought you knew about Aaron Rodgers and trash it. Throw it out. Eradicate the narrative. The disgruntled, aloof and entitled quarterback held out on the Packers after delivering back-to-back MVPs with a disintegrating roster, then jumped ship for the spotlight of the Big Apple. Hate him if you want, but what Rodgers did on Wednesday shouldn’t go unnoticed. The 39-year-old quarterback was guaranteed $110 million on his current contract that the Jets swallowed in order to bring him to New York. They also gave up significant compensation for a veteran at the end of his career. In light of the circumstances, Rodgers took a $35 million pay cut on Wednesday, down from $110 million guaranteed to $75 million over the next two seasons. That makes him the 12th highest-paid QB in the NFL (annual salary). Twelve!

“It’s a curious move that possibly was driven by his desire to ingratiate himself fully and completely to Jets fans and media, while also giving yet another middle finger to the Packers.” — Mike Florio, NBC Sports

Respect Over Cash: Tom Brady took a lowly two-year, $50 million contract when he left New England for Tampa Bay. The difference there was free agency — not a trade request — so Brady signed on with team-first intentions and instantly endeared himself to Bucs teammates and fans. Enter Rodgers, holding a guaranteed $110 million and an ego-driven media narrative, then tossing aside $35 million to be a team player. Brady’s result? A Super Bowl win. It was never about the money for Rodgers in Green Bay. It was always about respect. And now, revenge.

New Contracts

Other Training Camp News

What to Watch at NFL Training Camps (The Ringer)

______________________________________________________________________________________

MLB

Angel Investors: Ohtani Off Limits

Photo: Duane Burleson / Getty Images

Angels Become Buyers: L.A. Takes Shohei Ohtani Off Trade Market, Lands RHP Lucas Giolito From White Sox

It’s a no-go for the Big Sho! One of July’s biggest MLB hot-stove rumors was a “will they/won’t they” for the Angels — trade away the game’s best player or compete for the postseason? We have an answer. The Halos reportedly took Shohei Ohtani off the market on Wednesday and became buyers for the 2023 postseason. Hours later, they landed White Sox ace Lucas Giolito to bolster their pitching staff, and they’re going all in in Anaheim. It’s a sigh of relief for the Angels faithful. Now, they need to catch the Rangers and Astros in the AL West, or a failed postseason berth could mean the end of the Ohtani era this offseason.

MLB Trade Deadline News

Other Trades

  • Twins Acquire RHP Dylan Floro from Marlins for RHP Jorge Lopez
  • Mariner Acquire RHP Trent Thornton from Blue Jays for INF Mason McCoy

MLB Quick-Hitters

Full MLB Standings | Full MLB Scoreboard

Thursday, July 27*

______________________________________________________________________________________

STORYLINES

 2024 Paris Olympics: 1 Year Out

A look at the biggest storylines in Olympic sports with one year until the Opening Ceremony in Paris… (NBC Sports)

 Spence vs. Crawford Will Make History

Errol Spence Jr. and Terence Crawford are set to make history in a rare welterweight unification bout on Saturday night. (CBS Sports)

 What Jaylen Brown’s Supermax Means

On Tuesday, the Celtics agreed to sign Jaylen Brown to the biggest contract in NBA history. So what does it mean for Boston and the NBA? (B/R)

______________________________________________________________________________________

NEWS

______________________________________________________________________________________

TODAY’S SCHEDULE

The Must-Watch List

FIFA Women’s World Cup

Portugal vs. Vietnam (Thurs. 3:30 am ET)

Australia vs. Nigeria (Thurs. 6:00 am ET)

Argentina vs. South Africa (8:00 pm ET)

England vs. Denmark (Fri. 4:30 am ET)

China vs. Haiti (Fri. 7:00 am ET)

MLB

Cubs at Cardinals (7:45 pm ET)

WNBA

Dream at Liberty (7:00 pm ET)

PGA Tour

3M Open, Round 1 (7:45 am ET)

Download The Sportsletter’s Must-Watch Calendar

______________________________________________________________________________________

POLL

Poll Results

Yesterday, we asked: What will be the result of the USWNT vs. Netherlands World Cup match? Only 17% of the team called the draw, along with our Social Media star, Aaron Yorke, who even called the 1-1 scoreline. 

Draw — 17%

USWNT Win (or Blowout) — 66%

Netherlands Upset — 17%

Have an idea for a daily poll question?

Email the Editor