Reunion of the “Triple Espresso”
The trio known as the “Triple Espresso”—comprising US women’s national team forwards Trinity Rodman, Sophia Wilson, and Mallory Swanson—reunited for training this week, marking their first session together since the conclusion of the 2024 Olympics. The upcoming matches against Brazil, which will occur in São Paulo and Fortaleza, promise to be exciting as the team ramps up their preparation in anticipation of World Cup qualifying matches set for November and the World Cup next summer.
Excitement and Camaraderie
During a recent video call, Rodman expressed her eagerness to have her teammates back, saying,
“I’m really excited to see them again, especially off the field. Their personalities add so much to the camp, and having my sisters here is fantastic.”
The camaraderie among the trio was palpable, as they playfully completed each other’s thoughts, sharing laughter and a few tears.
Recent Achievements and Challenges
Their last competitive appearance together in USWNT jerseys was on August 10, 2024, when they secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Brazil, clinching the program’s fifth Olympic gold medal—the decisive goal from Swanson in that match solidified their place in Olympic history. The subsequent year saw both Swanson and Wilson on maternity leave, welcoming their children in November and September respectively, while Rodman faced her own challenges with injuries. Recently, Swanson returned to action with her club, the Chicago Stars FC, and USWNT head coach Emma Hayes emphasized the importance of re-establishing the chemistry among the forwards given the team’s evolution since those Olympics.
Return to Action
If Swanson makes an appearance on Saturday, it will mark her first game with the national team in 604 days.
“It’s been a lot getting back into it, but it’s so exciting to reconnect with everyone and get back into the swing of things,”
she commented.
Significance of Their Bond
At the 2024 Olympics, Rodman, Wilson, and Swanson combined for ten of the twelve goals scored by the US team, which led to them adopting the nickname “Triple Espresso”—a nod to the exceptional forward line known as the “Triple-Edged Sword” from the 1991 Women’s World Cup. Wilson remarked on the significance of their bond, stating,
“While we maintain our unique identities, we bring our individual styles to the field, and our chemistry is what makes us effective.”
Rodman humorously added how the name took off like a rocket among fans and supporters.
Strategic Preparation
In a strategic note, Hayes stressed the urgency of maximizing training time as the team prepares for significant upcoming competitions, reaffirming the importance of re-establishing the connections between these skilled forwards who have already achieved a gold medal together. She remarked,
“We can’t afford to waste a single minute. We need to recreate the synergy that brought us success before. These players are elite, and we need to begin re-establishing their teamwork.”
Personal Sacrifices
As a side note, both mothers left their infants back home for this trip due to the extensive travel involved.
“Mallory and I have been with our babies constantly for the last several months, so it’s certainly tough to be away,”
Wilson shared. Swanson was visibly emotional listening to her, especially as they talk about their children. Rodman, attempting to lighten the mood, playfully offered her companionship:
“I’ll be your baby,”
which drew laughter from her teammates.
Upcoming Matches
The USWNT’s upcoming matches against Brazil are set to take place on Saturday and the following Tuesday, both within venues selected for the upcoming 2027 World Cup. Previous encounters between the two teams in California during spring 2025 saw the US claim victory in their first match before Brazil triumphed in the return fixture.
Facing Brazil
Rodman cautioned that facing Brazil is always a significant challenge.
“They’re a formidable opponent, and our focus needs to be on controlling the game. They excel in creating set pieces and are quick to disrupt play, so it will be essential for us to maintain control and dictate the pace throughout the match.”
