U. S. Women's soccer team takes a knee then takes a huge loss at olympics

After taking a knee to condemn systemic racism in their home country on the world stage, the U.S. soccer team took a knee on the field, losing 3-0 to Sweden in their Tokyo Olympics opening game.

It’s hard to root for a team that represents the United States on the world stage when you have to wonder if that team is rooting for its own country.

The team’s pre-game political stunts were more energetic and alive than their performance on the field. Their gameplay stunk worse than their identity politics.

Kneeling in protest before an Olympic soccer game and then getting blown out is on the same level as Texas Democrats packing a plane full of beer and flying maskless to Washington, D.C. Then, spreading COVID-19 throughout Congress and the White House.

Why did they choose to kneel?

“It’s an opportunity for us to continue to use our voices and use our platforms to talk about the things that affect all of us intimately in different ways,” said team star Megan Rapinoe. “We have people from Team USA, from all over the country, from all backgrounds, and people literally from all over the world for every other team so I obviously encourage everyone to use that platform to the best of their ability to do the most good that they possibly can in the world, especially as all eyes are on Tokyo these next couple weeks.”

While they are doing good off the field, in their own eyes, on the field it was another story.

Rapinoe had 0 goals in the game.

The loss ends the USWNT’s undefeated streak at 44 games, the second-longest in team history. The run trails only a 51-match unbeaten streak from Dec. 2004 to Sept. 2007, but a social statement was made, which seems more important to the U.S. womens soccer team than winning games in Tokyo. It’s the USA’s first game without a goal since July 27, 2017, vs. Australia in Seattle, Wash.

The loss was the USA’s worst-ever defeat in an Olympic match and largest loss since falling 4-0 to Brazil in the semifinal of the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup, but social justice has been served.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.