The last month has seen some thrilling football played during the Women's World Cup, and the level of support being shown for the triumphant, title-winning United States women's national team is at an all-time high. Just because the final is over, though, doesn't mean that you can't watch some of the best female athletes around do their thing, because this is just the beginning.
You can keep watching the USWNT after the Women’s World Cup
Just because the World Cup is over doesn’t mean you have to stop watching these amazing women.
Craig Mitchelldyer/Getty Images
With Olympic qualifying coming up quickly for the women's national teams -- the USWNT will be playing their qualifiers between January 21-31 in 2016 -- the U.S. will be playing plenty of friendlies between now and then to prepare. They've already announced two friendly dates against Costa Rica.
The first will be on the August 16 at 1:30 ET and will be played at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. The second comes three days later at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga, Tenn. at 6:30. Both matches will be televised -- the first on Fox Sports 1, and the second on ESPN2. Expect announcements of more games to come shortly.
Of course, there’s also club play, and every single member of the USWNT play in the National Women’s Soccer League in the U.S. The relatively young league is stocked with incredible talent from around the world, and each team has U.S. national team stars doing amazing things.
You can watch their matches on YouTube, and the league recently closed a deal to show a number of games on Fox Sports, including national broadcasts of the playoff semifinals and the NWSL final.
More USWNT
Want to watch Hope Solo, Megan Rapinoe and potentially Abby Wambach play? Tune in to the Seattle Reign. Are Tobin Heath and Alex Morgan your favorites? You're in luck, because both play for the Portland Thorns.
If you want to watch the elite U.S. defense do their thing, you'll have to divide your time between four teams, but it'll be well worth the effort. Julie Johnston plies her trade with the Chicago Red Stars, Becky Sauerbrunn with FC Kansas City, Ali Krieger with the Washington Spirit and Meghan Klingenberg with the Houston Dash.
What about the biggest hero of the tournament? Golden Ball winner Carli Lloyd scored the crucial hat trick in the first 16 minutes of the final against Japan, and she and Morgan Brian help Klingenberg turn the Dash into a major contender in the NWSL.
If you enjoyed the USWNT’s World Cup-winning efforts, then you need to watch them play friendlies, and should also do all you can to support the NWSL. This team is as good as it is because the United States has a strong women’s league, and that league can get stronger with your help and support.
Go cheer for these women at the club level, and in four years you might be cheering for them in the World Cup final once more.
