US women's football team wins Olympic gold in Paris

The US women's national team claimed Olympic gold in the final match today at the storied Parc des Princes in Paris. The victory marks their seventh Olympic medal—and fifth gold—as they've made it to the medal podium in every Olympic Games except one since women's football made its Olympic debut in 1996.

Mallory Swanson's solo goal in the 57th minute secured the 1–0 victory for the Americans.

Head coach Emma Hayes, the long-time head coach of Chelsea F.C., put together a young and talented 18-player squad that she knew would have the power, positioning and passion to win as a team.

Headlining Team USA was first-time Olympian Naomi Girma, who was the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) Defender of the Year in 2022 and 2023, as well as US Football Female Player of the Year in 2023. 

Last season's NWSL Golden Boot winner and Portland Thorns forward Sophia Smith, who also made her Olympic debut, played alongside three-time Olympian and forward Crystal Dunn, midfielder Rose Lavelle and forward Mallory Swanson. "As a child, anything I did, I didn't see a point unless I was doing it to win", Smith told Nike earlier this year. "The only way to have a victory is winning a gold medal".

Nike is committed to growing the game for women and that starts with listening to the voice of the athlete. Last spring, Nike introduced its "What The Football" campaign, championing female footballers across the globe who are inspiring the world through the power of sport, including Sophia and Australian star Sam Kerr. 

For the last three years, Nike has underscored its commitment to listening to the voice of women athletes and serving them more holistically through its Athlete Think Tank. Now, for the first time, the latest cohort also includes coaches from across the highest levels of sport, including head coach Hayes. The addition of coaches reflects a key insight from prior Athlete Think Tank cohorts: to champion athletes, you must also champion coaches, listen to their ideas and meet their unique needs.