The United States Women's National Team locker room brings a "difficult situation" overseas for the Olympic Games , which begin on Thursday, still grappling with the fallout of Korbin Albert controversial's social media activity in March.
Center-back Tierna Davidson has moved in lockstep with the young midfielder on the pitch, stifling opposition attacks through the middle in the United States' recent string of shut-out, tune-up friendlies, but detailed a public rift between Albert and many of the LGBTQ+ players on the women's national team while speaking on "Good Game with Sarah Spain".
"I think it's a difficult situation that has obviously affected me personally given what she was speaking on," Davidson said. "I think that it is something that you have to learn as a young player, especially with the platform that you're given is your beliefs or how you choose to express certain things is very public and people do look and listen."
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She continued: "It was difficult for me when it first happened, and it’s been hard to hear how fans have been taking it because I feel like I want to be able to represent the queer community really well on this team. I want to have fans feel really welcome and feel like they can see themselves on this field in this team. I don’t want there to be any sort of feeling that they’re not welcome here."
Albert previously reposted a TikTok from a sermon that expressed a variety of anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments, including that being gay and “feeling transgender” is wrong, and also liked a post that made light of the Achilles injury former USWNT star Megan Rapinoe suffered in her final professional game.
Rapione later wrote an Instagram message seemingly pointed at Albert's exposed social media history, asserting the deadly consequences of such hate, which was shared by several Stars and Stripes players. Albert took to Instagram with her own statement, a lengthy apology in which she described her behavior as "offensive, insensitive, hurtful... and immature," and Davidson also noted her belief that the PSG starlet is sincerely addressing her actions.
"I have always believed in the ability for people to learn and for people to change and to evolve and that sometimes requires a very difficult experience, and I think this is that moment for her... It’s up to her. But I think she’s continuing to do that education and it’s important she expresses that as she learns. So I think the ball’s kind of in her court for that."
This redemptive arc was also expressed by new USWNT boss Emma Hayes , who has featured Albert on the roster in each of her first four games in charge, claiming the player has "understood fully the implications of her social media activity." Albert was a two-year standout at Notre Dame, scoring 28 goals in 44 games while earning ACC Midfielder of the Year honors, before making a move to Paris to join PSG.
While her goal-scoring prowess hasn't transferred overseas as of yet, she's proven to be a uniquely disruptive presence in the center of the park - her 4.48 tackles per 90 minutes rank in the 99th percentile for all midfielders in the women's Top 9 competitions.
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