NICE, France (July 25, 2024) – The U.S. Women’s National Team enjoyed a successful start at the 2024 Paris Olympics — its first tournament under head coach Emma Hayes – dominating Zambia on the way to a 3-0 scoreline in the south of France. A blistering first-half performance, highlighted by a slick goal from forward Trinity Rodman and a 70-second brace from forward Mallory Swanson, powered the USA to earn the three points.

Captain Lindsey Horan contributed two assists in a dynamic first-half showing from the young Americans. Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher posted her third shutout in the last three games and the USA limited Zambia to just three shots on frame, all on isolated forays in the second half. Seven players made their Olympic debut as Hayes fielded the program’s youngest starting XI (27.4 years) at a Women’s World Cup or Olympic tournament since the Beijing Games in 2008.

The USWNT now has opened the Olympic tournament with a victory in six of eight all-time appearances. The 2024 competition comprises 12 nations in three groups of four. The top two teams in each quartet following the group-stage round robin, along with the two best third-place finishers, will advance to the Aug. 3 quarterfinals. The USA’s Group B also features Germany — the two-time Women’s World Cup champion and 2016 Olympic gold medalist — and 2023 Women’s World Cup semifinalist Australia. The Germans rolled past Australia, 3-0, earlier on Thursday, setting up a top-of-the-group showdown on Sunday in Marseille.

Zambia arrived in France ranked 64th in the world but were expected to present a challenge that belied its rating. The Copper Queens have improved considerably in short order, climbing 39 places in FIFA’s table over the past two years while making their Olympic (2021) and Women’s World Cup (2023) debuts. In between, they won bronze at the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. Zambia also has produced two of the most expensive players in the history of the women’s game. Barbra Banda’s move to the Orlando Pride and Racheal Kundananji’s signing by Bay FC, both before the start of the 2024 NWSL season, set new benchmarks.

This was the first-ever game between the teams and limiting the threat presented by Banda and Kundananji was a chief concern. To that end, veteran Crystal Dunn, whose role has diversified under Hayes, celebrated her 150th cap with a return to left back. The U.S. defense did well to cut off service to the Zambian pair and when Banda got up a head of steam running at the U.S. goal, which she did on several occasions, the U.S. center backs duo of Naomi Girma and Tierna Davidson were able to run her down before she could create any real danger. That offered the U.S. attack — which had created myriad chances but just one goal in this month’s Send-Off friendlies — time to find its groove.

It took just 17 minutes. After hitting the crossbar twice and missing a couple of additional promising looks, including one second into the match from Horan, the Americans rediscovered their finishing touch. Rodman scored her first goal of 2024 off a feed from Horan and a nimble roll of the ball behind her leg that froze two Zambian defenders. That dribble made room for her shot, which she slotted underneath Zambian goalkeeper Ng’ambo Musole from 14 yards out.

Swanson then broke the game open with her 70-second brace spanning the 24th and 25th minutes. Both goals came thanks to her strong, well-timed runs into the penalty area — the first off a feed from Horan and the second off an assist from Sophia Smith. Swanson’s 35th and 36th international goals were her first in official competition since the 2022 Concacaf W Championship and marked her first goals at a world championship since the 2019 Women’s World Cup.

The three goals against Zambia matched the USA’s best scoring half this year. When Zambia’s Pauline Zulu was shown a red card for a 34th minute, last-defender foul on Smith, the three points essentially were assured.

Faced with three group-stage games in just seven days and allowed only 18 active players, Hayes replaced Smith – who took a knock on her ankle — with Lynn Williams in the 43rd and playmaker Rose Lavelle with Korbin Albert at halftime.

The USA dominated the ball in the second half while 10-woman Zambia defended deep and searched for Banda on the counter. Rodman and Swanson each came close to adding to their accounts as the contest approached the hour mark and some crisper finishing would have easily doubled the scoreline. The goal scorers, along with Horan, then were substituted in the 65th minute and the USA eventually outshot Zambia 27-8. The African also cleared several U.S. shots out of the goal mouth that were destined for the net.

The USA’s Olympic journey will continue on Sunday, July 28, against old rival Germany at the Stade de Marseille in Marseille (9 p.m. local / 3 p.m. ET onUSA Network, Telemundo and Peacock). The USA holds a 23W-5L-7D all-time advantage in the series and won the most recent competitive fixture between the sides, the 2015 Women’s World Cup semifinal in Montreal, Canada.