The U.S. women's national team beat Brazil in Sunday's W Gold Cup final on a commanding header from captain Lindsey Horan.
But the stars of the show, the linchpins that held together a shaky USWNT, were two young midfielders who embody the program's post-World Cup transformation.
Korbin Albert, 20, had never even worn a USWNT jersey when the team set off for New Zealand last summer.
Sam Coffey had, but she was curiously overlooked in 2023, and watched from home as the U.S. floundered.
Both have been welcomed to the fold ever since their elders struggled Down Under.