A Grip on Sports: Win or lose, the U.S. women have once again put soccer out front nationally

A GRIP ON SPORTS • The most anticipated sporting event of the day may be over before you even read this. That doesn’t mean it isn’t important.

•••••••

• Living in the Pacific Time Zone is usually a boon for watching sports on TV. Not when, however, big events are played in the early evening in Europe. Today is one of those days.

The U.S. women will face Netherlands in the 2019 FIFA World Cup final this morning (our time), which means many of you will know whether the best team in the world has proved it again before you get around to this.

No predictions here, but the U.S. is expected to win. It has all the advantages, from experience to talent to athleticism. As anyone who has watched them play since, I don’t know, the last century, knows, it’s been that way for a while.

Each generation writes its history, from the women who won in a shootout vs. China in 1999 (and produced one of the iconic photographs the sport has ever seen) to this recent group, who have won more tough games in this Cup than has happened in recent memory.

And that’s what I’ll remember about this team, it’s toughness. Athletic toughness isn’t just a physical thing. It’s not being a bully. It’s not just knock folks around. It’s not just playing with a sore hamstring.

It’s having the mental fortitude to power through tough times, either in an individual contest or over a longer period. To deal with all the flotsam and jetsam outside the matches and not let it affect you.

This group has that. The women’s game around the world is improving. The men’s European powers have poured more money and support into their programs since Brandi Chastain’s iconic goal and it shows. Outside the U.S., they are the dominant powers in the world now, relegating China, Japan, Brazil and others to the backburners. Remember, seven of the eight quarterfinalists came from the continent.

One more survives, until today. This is the Netherlands’ first foray this far into a women’s World Cup. The countries men have had success, of course, actually revolutionize the game late in the 20th Century. But the women, they’ve been an afterthought. Not anymore.

This U.S. women should win today. They may have to tough out another close contest however. And that’s good. Not only would it reveal their mental strength, it would also signal to the world the game is balancing out, there is more competition out there. No more cakewalks.

Which would make this Cup, the fourth the U.S. has won, all that sweeter for Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, Carli Lloyd, et al.

•••

WSU: Washington State and Colorado meet in Pullman on Oct. 19. … Elsewhere in the Pac-12, the 3-point line is moving back again (at least for the men). What do coaches think about that? … An incoming Washington freshman knows where he came from, which is always a good thing. … Arizona State is still trying to figure out who will start at quarterback.

Gonzaga: Rui Hachimura played his first summer game as a professional yesterday, scoring 14 points for the Wizards. … Oumar Ballo helped Mali go somewhere it’s never been before: The FIBA U19 World Cup title game. Mali will play the U.S. for the title today. … Around the WCC, Dave Rose opens up about why he decided to step away from the game.

EWU: The Eagles have picked up a graduate transfer from Washington. Ryan Collingwood has the story. … Eastern’s game with Idaho will kick off Root Sport’s college football coverage.

Indians: Spokane swept Hillsboro in a three-game series, finishing with a 7-3 victory Saturday. The Indians return home tonight against Tri-City. … Newest Indian Ryan Garcia, the subject of this profile from Dave Nichols, made his debut yesterday. … One reader wasn’t happy with a story. … Around the Northwest League, Eugene routed Everett.

Mariners: Marco Gonzales picked up his 10th win yesterday in a 6-3 victory over the A’s. That’s the second time he’s won 10 before the All-Star break. … Why didn’t baseball pick Daniel Vogelbach for the home run contest? … Two relievers were placed on the injured list yesterday. … Gene Warnick not only has an Out of Right Field recap, he was also responsible for this week’s Out of Right Field column.

Sounders: Thank goodness Nico Loderio came back from his international duty when he did. He scored twice, including the game-winner in stoppage time, as Seattle won 2-1 in Columbus.

•••       

• I’m running a little late. The match is about to start and I’m not done. See you tomorrow. Until later …