With the Women’s World Cup in France 4 1/2 months away, U.S. Coach Jill Ellis felt it necessary to pull her top-ranked national team out of its comfort zone — namely, almost always playing at home.
There will be ample opportunity this spring to entertain crowds from coast to coast and to remind the masses that the women here are more successful at this game than the men. Thousands of American fans have booked trips to France, and many more will enjoy the pep rallies.
At this point, however, the U.S. squad requires challenges on unfamiliar grounds against quality opponents doing their own preparation for the World Cup.