Megan Rapinoe

This is Megan's penalty kick, which she nailed to the point of making it look simple. She won the Golden Boot for most goals, and it was a delight to watch her make Trump eat his "first she has to WIN" words (or whatever he said; I decline to look it up). SHE DID WIN, DONALD. SHE WON HARD

AND she has four arms!!!!

Rose Lavelle

Rose drove in a GORGEOUS solo goal to ice it; this is a photo of that moment. Can you imagine drilling a shot with all that happening around you. Also: MUSCLES.

Alex Morgan, Rose Lavelle

I love seeing the sheer joy on Alex Morgan's face, after Rose's goal. She's as happy as if she'd scored it herself. 

SNIFFLE. 

That's a piano picture for sure. (Rose won the Bronze Ball for third-best player and Megan won gold for the most outstanding player; England's Lucy Bronze took the Silver Ball.) It's so thrilling to have watched Rapinoe's journey to this point of superstardom, and to know we're on the cusp of Lavelle's as well

Tobin Heath

Once again: CALF ASPIRATIONS. Also, quads. Also, fierceness and conditioning. She was HUSTLING from start to finish.

I don't know whom she's sitting up to talk to here, but there was a GREAT shot on TV of Heath lying in a confetti-angel of her own making, and she said to someone, "I AM NEVER GETTING UP." I also don't know whose adorable noodle is raining confetti on them, but I love it.

Stefanie Van Der Gragt, Alex Morgan

This is a shot of the foul that resulted in the penalty kick that Rapinoe took. It was definitely a high cleat to the body.

Lineth Beerensteyn, Kelley O'Hara

I look at this and think, "Good LORD, why does anyone play soccer, and how do they all have their own teeth??" (Kelley did end up going out at halftime because of a bonked-heads scenario that gave her a concussion.)

Julie Ertz

Eagles tight end Zach Ertz is married to Julie, and what a lucky guy he is. She is fierce, and also, I just like this action shot of the throng of people.

Pinoe, Danielle Van De Donk

MUSCLES. (The British announcer during the semifinal against Sweden said Danielle's name in a way where my ears + low volume + workmen in my kitchen = I thought he was saying THUNDERDONK.)

Jill Ellis, O'Hara

Jill Ellis captained the US at the last World Cup, too, and the happiness on her face here really gets me. Both teams had female coaches, and it's apparently only the second time that's happened. 

Ellen White (England) and Hedvig Lindahl (Sweden)

Consolation hugs. We didn't have as many pics of them in these rounds; maybe there weren't as many.

The Netherlands

ABS.

England vs. Sweden

Sweden took home the third place spot after beating England. Congratulations to them.

Sofia Jakobsson, Jill Scott

HOLY QUADS.

Carly Telford (Eng), Stina Blackstenius (Swe)

"... You're just leaving me hanging up here?"

The Netherlands

Happier times for the Dutch, when they beat Sweden on Wednesday to make the finals. I love Shanice Van De Sanden; her hair was a different color or pattern for every game, I think.

DOUBLE HOLY QUADS.

"No, the Robot goes like THIS, with the elbow."

Nikita Parris, ENG

I need to run more. Also, Nikita apparently JUST joined the team in Lyon, so she got a taste of her future playing career (where she will, I believe, play on a team with Van De Sanden).

Ellen White

Ellen does the goggles when she scores, apparently as an homage to Anthony Modeste, her favorite Bundesliga player. She ALSO apparently did a tea sipping celebration when she levelled the match against Sweden (a goal that was disallowed by VAR moments later), which made me laugh. ALL IN GOOD FUN EVERYONE.

Jill Scott

"Has anyone seen the -- oh, there we go."

Alex Morgan

This is the first tea drinking, which I totally thought was Alex pretending to smoke a blunt, because I glanced up and she was already in this position. I missed the... foredrink? Anyway. A lot of ado about nothing, to me.

Christen Press

Christen played for Rapinoe on Tuesday, delivering a beautiful goal. It was exciting. I'm sure she was feeling the pressure and knew Megan's absence was a lot of what people were discussing, so GOOD FOR HER.

Crystal Dunn

I also thought she looked good. I mean, they ALL did, but she had good hustle.

Tobin Heath

"Hey, I found a ball, does anyone want it?"

Alyssa Naeher

Her penalty kick save against England was SUPER. She saved the match.

Alex Morgan, Steph Houghton

Such a good shot of dueling fates. Alex, delighted; Hougton, whose PK got denied, crushed.

Ellen White, Becky Sauerbrunn

Poor Ellen. I did hate seeing England lose. It was rough that they played the OTHER team for which I root.

Ellen White

However, much like with the men's World Cup, England had a lot of photogs into their practice sessions for some reason, and thus we are granted insight into Ellen White's spectacular arms.

The winners!

YAY! I'm also thrilled Carli Lloyd, a legend herself, was first to hoist the trophy. Her hat trick in the 2015 finals was insane. However, can we discuss that "Dare to Shine" is a really terrible slogan? No one would ever say that to a men's team, for one thing, and also, it's silly anyway.

WOO

CONGRATULATIONS! We are very, very proud.

Well Played, Jubilant Warriors: The USA Wins the World Cup

Thighlights herein from the semis and final.