Leroux hails significance of USWNT’s nine Black gold medalists

Angel City forward Sydney Leroux has hailed the “importance” of the U.S. women’s national team having nine Black players on its gold medal-winning roster, saying that their presence will inspire the next generation.

Leroux was one of just three Black players on the 22-player roster (including alternates) when the USWNT last won an Olympic gold medal in 2012.

This time around, the number of Black USWNT players tripled to include nine of the team’s full 22-player squad for the Paris Olympics.

That included the all-Black front line that came to be known as “Triple Espresso” — Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith and Mallory Swanson. The other six players were Crystal Dunn, Jaedyn Shaw, Casey Krueger, Croix Bethune, Lynn Williams and Naomi Girma.

Those nine players posed for a photo after Saturday’s gold medal game, which the USWNT won 1-0 over Brazil thanks to a goal from Swanson.

Leroux noted the significance of the moment with a post on X, saying: “The importance of this photo. This makes every little girl who looks like them get to say, ‘I can be her because I am her.’”

Related