Back on Top! U.S. Women's Soccer Beats Brazil to Win Olympic Gold for First Time Since 2012

The U.S. women's soccer team is back on top of the world.

The squad defeated Brazil 1-0 at Parc des Princes Stadium in Paris to win Olympic gold, their first since 2012.

Brazil, who came out strong before the U.S. dominanted on offense, had a goal in the 15th minute that was quickly waved off for offsides. The scoring settled until the 57th minute, when Mallory Swanson scored in front of the goal, with an assist by Korbin Albert, to put the U.S. up 1-0.

Brazil's offense powered to life in the waning minutes of the game, and a goal attempt during the 10 minutes of stoppage time nearly tied it, if not for a clutch save by goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher.

Instead, the USWNT was victorious, and embraced each other all over the pitch as "Born in the USA" played over the stadium speakers.

The U.S. had failed to make it to the gold medal match for the last two Olympics, taking bronze in 2020 and losing in the quarterfinal to Sweden at the 2016 Rio Games.

This is the USWNT's first major international win since the 2019 World Cup, when they beat the Netherlands for gold. Since then, they've had disappointing outings, from their bronze at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 to the 2023 World Cup, where they lost in the round of 16.

Since then, they've brought in a new manager in Emma Hayes, and several veterans have been left off the roster as the younger players have become stars, such as Trinity Rodman and Sophia Smith.

Rodman and Smith had told reporters, including PEOPLE, two days before the match that they were too young to remember the last time the USWNT had won gold, in London in 2012. Goal-scorer Swanson, meanwhile, said she recalled being a kid watching it in a Buffalo Wild Wings.

"One of my good friends on my team growing up, she texted me the other day saying, 'Remember we watched the women's national team in 2012 ... win the gold at Buffalo Wild Wings?' " Swanson, 26, recounted on Aug. 8 in Paris.

"It's kind of crazy that I have a chance to do so. But yeah, I think that kind of full-circle moment was pretty cool."

Former USWNT stars came out to support the current squad, including Tobin Heath, Ali Kreiger and Megan Rapinoe, who has been all around the Paris Games with her fiancée, former WNBA star and 5-time Olympic gold medalist Sue Bird.

Along with the athletes, Tom Cruise was in the building to cheer on Team USA. He's set to perform a skydiving stunt during the closing ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics, as the Summer Games move to Los Angeles in 2028.

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