2024 In Review: USWNT Gold Feat, Orlando Pride, And Barbra Banda Year
Written by Oluwaseun Oyediji
As 2024 wraps up in a few days, some events characterize the year as far as women’s football is concerned.
From leagues, Cups, tournaments, and the Paris 2024 Olympics, the year was filled with memorable moments of worth.
In looking forward to 2025, Bettitide Blog flash back to some of the events the made women’s football memorable in 2024 in no particular order.
FC Barcelona Triple Champions League Triumph
Spanish league winners, FC Barcelona won their third European title with a 2-0 victory over record Champions, Lyon thanks to goals from Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas.
A record 51,000 crowd watched the Catalan side avenged their previous 2019 and 2022 final loss to the French side at the Estadio San Mames, Bilbao on May 25, 2024.
The final was the last game under the tutelage of Jonatan Giraldez who joined National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) outfits, Washington Spirit.
With the win, Barca retained the league title it won in 2023 and made it to fourth straight finals in the process.
Adding to their league an Cup triumphs, Barcelona won all available titles up for grabs.
Emma Hayes Strikes Gold For USWNT
The United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) completed a rewarding year with gold medal in the women’s football tournament of Paris 2024 Olympics.
A 1-0 win over Brazil at the Parc Des Princes, Paris with Mallory Swanson’s goal clinched gold medal for the record world champions.
The triumph came in an indomitable manner without conceding any goal.
It followed wins at the CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup and Shebelieves Cup.
- MLS: Orlando City SC Reward Tyrese Spicer With New Long-Term Deal
- MLS: Inter Miami Unveil High-End Messi Memorabilia
- Unai Emery’s Stance On Barcelona Star Revealed As January Window Looms
- EPL: Slot Remains Cautious As Isak Injury Assessment Continues
- UWCL Bracket Set as Road to 2025/26 Final Comes Into Focus
Emma Hayes who joined the UWSNT after winning the English Women’s Super League (WSL) with Chelsea FC women continued her impressive record taking her club form to national team coaching.
The feat earned her FIFA The Best Women’s Coach of the year award with goalkeeper, Alyssa Naeher winning the best women’s goalkeeper while USWNT returned to the top of the FIFA rankings at the end of the year.
Triple Espresso
Mallory Swanson, Sophia Smith and Trinity Rodman – names that will forever be linked. This summer, they were declared “Triple Espresso” and that trio have carved out their spot in USWNT history. Already.
Led by those three, the USWNT won gold in the summer. It was an attacking unit so fierce, so dangerous and, ultimately, so successful, that they needed a name. Several popped up, “Triple Espresso” won out.
Swanson is just 26. Smith is 24. Rodman? Just 22. They have the potential to dominate the landscape for years to come – 2024 was the year they stepped up, but the USWNT will be serving shots of espresso regularly as they march toward future tournaments.
The USWNT is known for developing legends, and 2024 was a year that a new trio took their first steps towards that status.
Orlando Pride In NWSL Double
Orlando Pride won double titles at the end of the 2024 NWSL season starting with the Championship title.
The team won the Championship with 60 points after 26 games, four more than Washington Spirit and Gotham FC while Kansas City Current seats in the fourth position.
The Pride took the same form to the season ending NWSL Playoffs with a 1-0 win over Washington Spirit in the final match at the CPKC Stadium, Kansas.
Barbra Banda scored the winner with a record breaking goal scoring feat for the team.
Barbra Banda Rules Africa
Zambia international, Banda who set the record of scoring hat trick at two Olympics won the 2024 CAF Women’s Player of the year, the highest individual award in Africa.
Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala hold the record for the highest winner of the award.
Read Also – Goal Line Technology: Cursory Look At Efficacy Since Introduction
After winning the NWSL title with Orlando Pride, she single handedly led the Copper Queens to the Olympics and shone like a million stars despite their group stage elimination.
Apart from the CAF Awards, Banda also emerged as BBC Women’s Player of the year winner.
Her form put Zambia in pole position to try and win their first continental title when Morocco hosts the next Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) next year.
With a fully loaded 2025 where continental champions will be crowned in Europe, Asia, and Africa, as well as league football around the corner, we wish our wonderful readers compliments of the season.
Do you have story tips?
Kindly Email: keepup@bettitude.com
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube
About Author
