USA 3-0 Zambia: Player ratings as USWNT cruises past Zambia in first 2024 Paris Olympics match

The USWNT remain unbeaten under Emma Hayes as the Stars and Stripes kicked off their 2024 Paris Olympics campaign with a 3-0 win over Zambia.

The U. S. Women's National Team came into the 2024 Paris Olympics as one of the favorites to win the entire tournament. The USWNT has found plenty of success at the Olympics before, winning a record four gold medals, but the Stars and Stripes have not won the ultimate Olympic prize since 2012. In their first match this summer, Emma Hayes' squad hoped to get off to a strong start against Zambia in their first Group B fixture.

How the game unfolded

The USWNT dominated the game from kickoff, and an early goal felt inevitable, especially after Lindsey Horan hit the crossbar in the 14th minute. It was Trinity Rodman, though, who found the breakthrough for the USA just three minutes later. Sophia Smith went on a run down the left before finding Lindsey Horan, who slotted the ball through to Rodman for the game's opening goal.

The first goal broke the floodgates open. Horan, with acres of time and space, played a lovely ball to Mallory Swanson, who buried a left-footed shot from 12 yards out. Just one minute later, the forward would score her second by rounding the keeper for an easy finish to put the USA up 3-0. Things went from bad to worse for Zambia when Pauline Zulu was sent off in the 30th minute for pulling down a streaking Smith on goal.

Despite the USWNT's countless chances at the end of the first half and throughout the second half, they struggled to find a fourth goal. Hayes did sub off the USA's best attackers, including Smith, Swanson, and Rodman, though, or else the powerful front three surely would have added to the scoreline.

Still, even without another goal, the USA took care of business and left the Stade de Nice with all three points.

USA player ratings vs Zambia (4-3-3)

GK: Alyssa Naeher - 6/10 - Naeher had little to do tonight, but stood tall against Zambia's few half chances.

RB: Emily Fox - 6/10 - Fox was not asked to do much against Zambia, but at times, she struggled to keep up with the pace of Barba Banda.

CB: Naomi Girma - 6/10 - Girma led the USA's backline to their fifth clean sheet under Emma Hayes.

CB: Tierna Davidson - 6/10 - Davidson enjoyed a quiet night at the back thanks to her team's dominance in possession.

LB: Crystal Dunn - 6/10 - Dunn got the nod over Jenna Nighswonger, and did well to show her manager the poise and experience she brings to the left flank. She did miss a wide-open header in the dying stages of the game, though, to give USA their fourth goal.

CM: Rose Lavelle - 6/10 - Lavelle linked up well with Horan and Swanson to create dangerous chances, and always looked comfortable with the ball at her feet.

CM: Lindsey Horan - 7/10 - Horan will be upset she did not score tonight, but she more than made up for it with two assists.

CM: Samantha Coffey - 6/10 - Coffey did well to help her side maintain possession and control the tempo of the match, especially once Zambia went down to ten.

RW: Trinity Rodman - 7/10 - Rodman scored her first goal of the calendar year in her Olympic debut to get the USA on the board.

ST: Sophia Smith - 7/10 - Sophia Smith might not have found the back of the net, but the 23-year-old was instrumental in the USA's opening and third goal. She was subbed off after suffering a knock in the first half.

LW: Mallory Swanson - 8/10 - Swanson was the USA's best player tonight, scoring a brace in two minutes. She would have had a hattrick if not for the crossbar.

Substitutes

SUB: Lynn Williams - 5/10 - Williams came on for an injured Smith, and had a few half chances in the second half, but could not finish.

SUB: Korbin Albert - 6/10 - Albert looked the best of the substitutes, using her playmaking ability to get the USA in prime positions to score.

SUB: Casey Krueger - 5/10 - Krueger had a quiet 25 minutes tonight, but did well to track back against Zambia's fast counter attack.

SUB: Jenna Nighswonger - 5/10 - Nighswonger might have expected to start tonight, but the left-back only got to play the game's final 25 minutes.

SUB: Emily Sonnett - 5/10 - Sonnett helped the USA manage the end of the game.

Manager

Emma Hayes -7/10 - Of course, the USWNT were expected to beat Zambia, so Emma Hayes will not receive an abundance of credit for tonight's result. Nevertheless, fans will be excited to see the USA back to their scoring ways after a few stumbles in their Olympic warmup matches.

The Stars and Stripes' powerful, precise performance tonight earned Hayes her first competitive win in charge, and will give the USA plenty of momentum heading into their match against Germany on July 28. It will be talked about, though, that the USA could not find a fourth goal against ten women for over 60 minutes.