Concacaf W Gold Cup quarter-final preview: CanWNT edition

The GIST: The knockout stage of the inaugural Concacaf W Gold Cup kicks off tomorrow, and while some squads are finding their stride in the Paris 2024 Olympics tune-up tourney, others are faltering. Times, they are a-changin’.

No. 10 CanWNT vs. No. 43 Costa Rica — Tomorrow at 7 p.m. ET: The red and white have put a miserable 2023 campaign behind them, going undefeated in the group stage without conceding a single goal.

• And much of that success has run through forward Adriana Leon, who leads the tournament with five goals so far, including a hat trick in CanWNT’s 4–0 win over No. 50 Paraguay.

• Plus, considering Canada just beat Costa Rica 3–0 in Wednesday’s final group-stage game, the red and white’s path to the semis seems relatively straightforward. Keep on keeping on.

No. 2 USWNT vs. No. 23 Colombia — Sunday at 8:15 p.m. ET: The USWNT’s reign as the undisputed queens of Concacaf is in jeopardy. A veteran-heavy American lineup lost 2–0 to No. 35 Mexico on Tuesday, a costly L that set them up with a challenging quarter-final matchup.

• This team in transition is still finding its groove, but there have been bright spots: teen phenoms forward Jaedyn Shaw and midfielder Olivia Moultrie have already scored in their introduction to elite international footy. Onwards and upwards.