Unlike the NWSL, the 2024 Paris Olympics went at a swift pace in the streets of France. Games came in thick and fast, only for the USWNT to reach the final under the charismatic Emma Hayes and win the gold medal. Well, she didn’t do it alone. The ‘Triple Espresso’ – Trinity Rodman, Mallory Swanson, and Sophia Smith pushed the team to the front and scored 3 goals each to take home the gold. But, there’s an interesting catch.

Recovery! Yes, not everyone is Cristiano Ronaldo.

Some players take time to recuperate after consecutive games in major tournaments. We all know the NWSL system will give a week’s rest for the players before approaching the next game. In the Olympics, it’s an extraordinary scene altogether. The games only happen once in four years and for 2-3 weeks, it goes at full pace. USWNT forward, Sophia Smith, detailed this arduous task.

In an interview with CBS Sports, Smith explained how she found it hard to cope with the demands of the tournament in terms of recovery. Couple that with Emma Hayes’ no substitution approach will make it harder.

Smith described, “So you have to be sharp and firing on pregame because that’s what gives you momentum into the game. I don’t know if people probably realize how physically demanding that is to do … It’s hard.”

Sophia Smith details the strenuous recovery process at the Olympics

Lack of fluids can cause muscle pulls or other injuries, and a meticulous approach remains imperative in the recovery process. Yet, the motivation to keep going on carries these players forward.

She continued, “But honestly, you shut off and just do it, and then at the end, it’s like, oh my God, my body hurts. Like, how did we just do that? But it was so worth it, so I’m not gonna miss the quick turnaround in between games, it’s a lot, and I feel like it’s really only physically possible once every few years, which is why that’s what it is.”

The excitement of making it to the finals remains at an all-time high for the players. Running around the pitch for 120 minutes becomes an issue. Sometimes the teams win in the 90 minutes. If not, they play extra time and penalties if necessary. Imagine playing back-to-back 120 minutes in two consecutive games? Now, that will rip your body apart!

Likewise, Trinity Rodman also explained the tough transition from the Olympics to the NWSL season. Usually, the European leagues commence in August. As the NWSL starts at the beginning of the year, there is no break for the players. They play the Olympics and carry on with their NWSL adventure, thereafter. Hence, aligning the NWSL with the European leagues can assist the players big time!

Although these players won’t forget the glory days and the fun and frolic that come with winning the Olympic gold medal, we should enable them to take care of their bodies. They are humans like us. Reschedule the fixture list and make it more player-friendly, I would say!