How U.S. Women’s Soccer Became A Global Powerhouse (And How They Stay On Top)

Great Britain’s Eniola Aluko, top, vies for the ball with Sweden’s Antonia Goransson, bottom, during their Olympic Women’s friendly soccer match at the Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough, England, Friday, July 20, 2012.
Great Britain's Eniola Aluko, top, vies for the ball with Sweden's Antonia Goransson, bottom, during their Olympic Women's friendly soccer match at the Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough, England, Friday, July 20, 2012. Scott Heppell/AP
Great Britain’s Eniola Aluko, top, vies for the ball with Sweden’s Antonia Goransson, bottom, during their Olympic Women’s friendly soccer match at the Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough, England, Friday, July 20, 2012.
Great Britain's Eniola Aluko, top, vies for the ball with Sweden's Antonia Goransson, bottom, during their Olympic Women's friendly soccer match at the Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough, England, Friday, July 20, 2012. Scott Heppell/AP

How U.S. Women’s Soccer Became A Global Powerhouse (And How They Stay On Top)

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Soccer is the most popular sport everywhere on the planet…except the United States.

Major League Soccer is several pegs below the top European leagues, and the U.S. Men’s team often fails to impress. Yet somehow, the U.S. women’s team has been a dominant force in global soccer, winning 3 World Cups and 4 Olympic Golds since its inception in 1985. 

Jen Cooper, host of the women’s soccer podcast ‘Mixxed Zone’ and color commentator for the Houston Dash soccer team, joins us to talk about how the U.S. women got on top and stay on top of the soccer world.