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Triple Espresso, to go: USWNT trio happy to be back together ahead of friendlies in Brazil
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- Triple Espresso, to go: USWNT trio happy to be back together ahead of friendlies in Brazil
It's been 22 months since Trinity Rodman , Sophia Wilson , and Mallory Swanson have all been on a U.S. women's national team roster.
But as they spoke to the media on Wednesday from São Paulo ahead of two USWNT friendlies against Brazil on June 6 and 9, it was clear that the chemistry between the three forwards collectively known as Triple Espresso compressed that stretch of time to nearly nothing.
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"I'm very excited to have them back, especially off the field," Rodman, 24, said. "Their personalities are amazing to have in camp — having my sisters back is amazing. And then on the field, I feel like our connection is so good. Being able to play with them again has been really good, and I'm excited to keep doing it."
The attackers' prolific connection was key to the U.S.'s gold medal run at the 2024 Summer Olympics in France, the last time all three played together. Triple Espresso combined for 10 goals for the U.S., and Swanson scored the one that sent them to the top of the podium against Brazil in the gold medal match.
Despite dealing with a back injury, Rodman has played the most with the national team during those 22 months apart as Wilson and Swanson were on maternity leave; Wilson gave birth to her daughter Gigi in September, and Swanson to her daughter Josie in November last year.
Wilson received her first national team invitation since becoming a mother during the last window, when the U.S. played three matches against Japan.
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"I feel like the team has done a lot in the time that Mal and I have been gone, but they've done a really good job of making sure that we are getting caught up and feel like when we come back into camp, like we haven't missed a beat and can kind of just get back on the ground and flying," Wilson, 25, said on Wednesday. "It's been good, it's been fun, and obviously, it's so good to be back with these girls."
This camp and the upcoming Brazil games mark Swanson's return to the national team since her leave. The 28-year-old was only two days into the experience by the time of the press conference but had been following the team closely from afar.
"When I was out, I was obviously watching the games and keeping up, and trying to not only just watch as a fan, but also as a player, and just see just, like, the tactical game of what we're trying to achieve," she said. "I think that there's been a lot of depth within that, and Emma's done a great job of getting so many different players on the same page with that."
The joy of Triple Espresso's reunion was palpable even from the remote distance of a Zoom call, each one delighting in the presence of the other as they murmured and giggled in between reporters' questions. When Wilson and Swanson discussed the challenges of being without their children on this trip, Rodman playfully stretched across their laps and said, "I'll be your guys' baby."
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In their own ways, Wilson and Swanson did watch after Rodman when she resumed playing last summer after an extended leave to manage a chronic back issue. Swanson recalled celebrating Rodman's first goal and game-winner with the Washington Spirit in her first game back last August, and Wilson appreciated one of her goal celebrations after scoring in January with the national team.
"I think the best part was the fact that she somehow got Emma to do that publicly," Wilson said of the once-viral 'Sexy Dexy' TikTok dance Rodman goaded Hayes into doing with her during a friendly against Chile. "It was impressive."
It's fitting that Triple Espresso could reunite on the pitch against Brazil, the last team they faced together in the Olympic gold medal match (winning 1-0), in their opponents' territory, just over a year out from the World Cup. Swanson, Wilson, and Rodman are on different fitness paths and will likely play various stretches across the games on June 6 and 10, but all three have found the back of the net for their respective NWSL clubs.
The U.S. has only played Brazil on its home soil six times before, making any opportunity to compete there invaluable. For Triple Espresso, rebuilding their minutes together will be crucial to the USWNT's World Cup preparation.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic .
US Women's national team, NWSL, Women's Soccer
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