Today the second annual SheBelieves Cup (or, alternately: Sheba Leaves Cup) kicks off, with the #1 ranked United States hosting #2 ranked Germany at 4:00 p.m. Pacific in Chester, Pennsylvania, broadcast on Fox Sports 1.
In last year’s inaugural edition of the friendly tournament, the US swept their three matches to take the title, with the Reign’s Hope Solo in net for the entire tournament. But in this year’s edition, the US will compete without any Seattle players, with Solo in national team limbo and the 31-year-old Megan Rapinoe left off of the roster.
Instead there will be some new faces suiting up for head coach Jill Ellis, including this year’s top NWSL draft pick Rose LaVelle and high school junior Brianna Pinto, who, if she plays, will be the first player to be born this millennium to earn a senior national team cap.
With no World Cup or Olympics for two years, this tournament is the beginning of a long period of experimentation for Ellis, who will be tasked with building a roster that can still be the best in the world when qualification for the 2019 World Cup begins next year.
Joining the US and Germany at the tournament are world #3 France and #5 England, who face each other in the first match of tonight’s doubleheader.
USA’s Opponent
The reigning Olympic champions Germany have only lost two matches in the last calendar year: an Olympic group-stage game against Canada and this same matchup in last year’s SheBelieves Cup, when the US won 2-1 in their final match of the tournament.
They’re led by the scoring prowess of Anja Mittag, Alexandra Popp, and young captain Dzsenifer Marozsán.
How to Watch
When: Wednesday, March 1, 2017, 4:00 p.m. PT
Where: Talen Energy Stadium, Chester, Pennsylvania
TV: Fox Sports 1
Streaming: Fox Sports Go