No. 5 USWNT taking on No. 9 Brazil for Paris Olympics gold

The GIST: A historic rivalry will add a new chapter when the No. 5 USWNT faces No. 9 Brazil in tomorrow’s 11 a.m. ET gold medal match. Brew a Triple Espresso, flip on today’s 9 a.m. ET bronze medal match between No. 1 Spain and No. 4 Germany as a warmup, then dive into the two major storylines heading into tomorrow’s kickoff.

USWNT reclaim signature grit and swagger: Head coach Emma Hayes made waves after the Americans’ 1–0 semis win over Germany, telling reporters she wanted the team to find inspiration in suffering. Well, she got her wish — this squad has been relentless and resilient, grinding out two straight extra-time knockout wins to compete for gold.

• American standouts include iconic centerback Naomi “brick wall” Girma, who’s held down the fort as the U.S.’ Big Three — Sophia Smith, Mallory Swanson, and Trinity Rodman — mold their offensive might.

• The midfield has cause for concern, but with two-thirds of the team clicking, a redemptive gold is certainly within reach.

Can Marta leave the game on top? Tomorrow’s match is Brazil’s last chance to win their first international championship with the Queen of Football, as she’s set to retire from the national team at the end of the year.

• But with all due respect to the GOAT, Brazil played their strongest soccer of the tournament without her on the pitch, stunning No. 2 France 1–0 in the quarter-finals and topping reigning world champion Spain 4–2 in the semis.

• Brazil will be playing with ultimate heart, but the four-time gold medalist U.S. will be hard to beat, even in the face of their opponent’s fast-paced, fun footy. TL;DR? You simply can not miss this match.