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U.S. Women’s Defense Counters Inexperience With Energy and Communication

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Meghan Klingenberg figured she could go above and beyond to further build team camaraderie, and her idea involved a box of doughnuts for her teammates before a recent World Cup tuneup.

Such gestures mean a lot for a group of players still getting to know one another.

With each match the Americans play and through every rigorous training session, Klingenberg and the defense become more comfortable together on a new-look back line ahead of the team’s World Cup opener two weeks from now against Australia in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

“Step 1 to becoming the most popular girl on the team,” wrote Klingenberg, who posted on Twitter a photo of the doughnuts.