5 Inspirational Black Women on the US Women's National Soccer Team to Follow on Instagram
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The US Women's National Team hasn't been shy about their goals going into the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup. They want to win their fourth World Cup title and get paid the same as the US Men's National Team while they're at it.
Out of the 23 women representing the US at the World Cup, only five are black. On and off the field, Crystal Dunn, Adrianna Franch, Jessica McDonald, Christen Press, and Mallory Pugh are inspiring black girls all over.
As Jessica said at the US Women's National Team Media Day, "That's an incredible group of black women on the team." Whether you've just gotten into soccer or have been counting down the days until the World Cup, you've got to keep your eyes on these inspiring black women.
Find out more about each of the players ahead.
Crystal Dunn
Position: defender
Number: 19
Club: North Carolina Courage
One of Crystal's greatest strength is that she can play any position on the field: forward, midfield, or defense. This is her first World Cup appearance, and we know she's going to play an integral role in stopping the competition from scoring on the US.
Mallory Pugh
Position: forward
Number: 11
Club: Washington Spirit
Mal has speed, agility, and power, which make her unstoppable as a forward. This is her first World Cup, and she's about to take the game by storm. She's not superstitious, but this is the 10-minute ab workout she does before every match to get pumped up.
Christen Press
Position: forward
Number: 23
Club: Utah Royals FC
Christen made her World Cup debut in 2015 and is back to help the team get its fourth title. She's a scoring machine, and we can't wait to watch her dominate on the field.
Jessica McDonald
Position: forward
Number: 14 on NC Courage; 22 on USWNT
Club: North Carolina Courage
Jessica's speed and strength make her incredibly hard to defend against. This is her first World Cup appearance, and we know she's going to be unstoppable every time she hits the field.
Adrianna Franch
Position: Goalkeeper
Number: 24 on Portland Thorns; 21 on USWNT
Club: Portland Thorns
Adrianna Franch won the National Women's Soccer League Goalkeeper of the Year award in 2017 and 2018, the first player to ever win the award twice. Needless to say, it's going to be hard to score with her in goal.