After cooking every other team at the Paris Olympics, the USWNT front three will be focused on facing each other as the NWSL returns after a month’s break. Mallory Swanson will lead the Chicago Red Stars’ attack. Under Trinity Rodman’s service, the Washington Spirit will aim to topple the second seeds, the Orlando Pride, and go up in the NWSL table. Meanwhile, Sophia Smith is a couple of goals away from leading the race for the NWSL Golden Boot with the Portland Thorns. At this juncture, former USWNT stars Sam Mewis and Becky Sauerbrunn sat down to rate the ‘Triple Espresso’ for their NWSL stints.

During Becky Sauerbrunn’s recent appearance on The Women’s Game podcast, Sam Mewis asked her who among the US front three is going to have the best NWSL campaign for the remainder of the season. “I’m incredibly biased and I’m always going to say Sophia Smith is going to have the greatest impact. Because I see day in and day out and I live it. So I’m going to go with Soph Smith,” said Sauerbrunn. Thereafter, the host, Mewis answered the question herself.

“I’m going Mal Swanson though. I just, I stan Mal. She had such an incredible Olympics. I think she’s so dynamic and I think her Chicago team really relies on her in moments like that. So, I’m going to say Mal is going to be the strongest of the Triple Espresso,” said Sam Mewis.

It is no surprise to see Mewis place a bullish bet on Mallory Swanson, considering her ace run at the Olympics. The fact that she shined after returning from an injury adds flair to Swanson’s glory. However, as things stand now, she and her NWSL side are not as well positioned as Smith and Rodman’s heading into the second half of the NWSL season.

Mallory Swanson still trails Smith’s goal tally, while Chicago’s NWSL hopes look bleak

Having scored Team USA’s gold medal-winning goal, Mallory Swanson was hands down the MVP among the Triple Espresso. But in the NWSL, Sophia Smith seems to have had the better. The Portland Thorns star is currently the third player in the list of the NWSL’s top goal scorers with 10 goals in 14 games. Despite playing a game more than Smith, Swanson has failed to mirror her stats. The 26-year-old has seven goals from 15 games under her tally. Anyhow, it’s not like Swanson can’t compete for the Golden Boot, as she has half a season remaining in the NWSL.

But her chances look rather challenging, as she’s with the Chicago Red Stars. The Red Stars’ form has been seesawing this season. There’s been no such thing as a consistent winning streak for the Chicago-based club this season. Having seven games and lost seven, Swanson’s side is struggling as the NWSL’s 7th seed, at the bottom half of the table. Speaking of the table and championship prospects, Trinity Rodman is way better off than her strike partners. Rodman’s Washington squad is the third seed and could any day contend for the title. Meanwhile, the Thorns open the second half of the NWSL season as the league’s 5th seed.