Wambach has long since retired and Morgan is the leading scorer on a U.S. team chasing a third consecutive World Cup title. Smith proved a fast learner, scoring two goals and assisting on a third in her World Cup debut Saturday, then crediting her teammates for that performance. Wambach was still a teenager when she learned the lesson she passed on to Morgan. The team, Wambach quickly understood, wasn't fueled by the thrill of victory. Almost every player who's played in the last decade, from their arrival on the team, trace it back to the '99 World Cup team.

Source: Los Angeles Times July 25, 2023 10:16 UTC