A single tear of joy trickled out of my eye Friday morning when the news appeared on my phone that Canada defeated Sweden to win the gold medal in women’s soccer. I wasn’t crying for the maple syrup queens; I was overwhelmed with happiness knowing I wouldn’t have to cover games in the middle of the night anymore.
The18 made a commitment to bring our audience timely news on the USWNT’s performance in the Olympic whether they really liked the story or felt rather morose. Either way we were going to get you those stories and live Twitter updates.
The past two weeks felt like two years. I want you to imagine yourself all snuggled up in bed sound asleep. Then, as the clock strikes 1:30 a.m., your ears are greeted with this pleasant sound.
I have PTSD hearing that noise. It would appear The18’s writers feel the same. Here were some of the top quotes over the past two weeks. The messages are not in order and spread across the entire tournament. They do have the time they were sent attached to them.
Quotes From The18 Writing Staff
1:59 a.m. “I'm so f*cking done waking up at 2 in the morning. Let's just get this bronze and call it a day.”
3:56 a.m. “Vlatko out.”
7:49 a.m. “I'm also going to be late for work lol.”
7:59 a.m. “Any headline suggestions? I got: Born On 4/20, Alyssa Naeher Was Designed To Smoke The Dutch.”
5:31 a.m. “Woke up to the U.S. scoring so clearly something is going right.”
3:19 a.m. “Halftime means 15-minute nap time.”
3:42 a.m. “My cat is very confused as to why I'm up at this hour but very happy to take advantage for extra pets.”
3:43 a.m. “My cat threw up everywhere and I didn't see it in the dark and stepped in it.”
4:03 a.m. “pain”
As you can tell we had a great time covering the USWNT compete at the Olympics. My responsibility during the Games was manning The18’s Twitter account. To finish up this article I’d like to take another look at some of my best tweets from each game.
USWNT vs. Sweden
Let’s do this thing @USWNT #Tokyo2020 #uswnt #USASWE #TeamNoSleep pic.twitter.com/tILsDPNhhX
— The18 (@the18com) July 21, 2021
25’ Goal for Sweden. #USWNT 0 Sweden 1 pic.twitter.com/Z8HBb2pJU6
— The18 (@the18com) July 21, 2021
Live look in at #USWNT fans that woke up at 2am to watch their team concede. #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/nVsjODG8C1
— The18 (@the18com) July 21, 2021
54’ Blackstenius again. #USWNT 0 Sweden 2 #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/yRc471Sn8F
— The18 (@the18com) July 21, 2021
72’ Sweden grabs a third.#USWNT 0 Sweden 3 #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/Gf3jBCnWn5
— The18 (@the18com) July 21, 2021
FT: #USWNT 0 Sweden 3
The USWNT’s 44-game unbeaten streak comes to a crashing end.This is the first time the U.S. has been shutout since 2017.
Next up is New Zealand on Saturday. #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/Hr9KvJh4Sa
— The18 (@the18com) July 21, 2021
USWNT vs. New Zealand
Let’s run this thing back #USWNT #USA #NZL #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/rEUouC8Law
— The18 (@the18com) July 24, 2021
9’ - ROSE LAVELLE. LFG. #USWNT #USA #NZL #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/0YwzPKiwct
— The18 (@the18com) July 24, 2021
45’ - LINDSEY HORAN GETS HER GOAL! 2-0 #USWNT
Today’s game is Horan’s 100th international appearance. pic.twitter.com/ZpTFmX5JNL— The18 (@the18com) July 24, 2021
USWNT vs. Australia
These middle of the night kickoffs are getting to me. #USWNT by 90 though. #tokyo2020 #USA #AUS pic.twitter.com/a3w35m2Ws8
— The18 (@the18com) July 27, 2021
3 a.m. Tuesday morning:
My Family: “WTF is that noise? How early is it?”My dumbass watching the #USWNT tied at 0-0: pic.twitter.com/KssHsmywbD
— The18 (@the18com) July 27, 2021
BREAKING: Leaked photo of Vlatko Andonovski’s game-plan vs. #AUS
— The18 (@the18com) July 27, 2021
Well, that's over. #USA #AUS #Tokyo2020 #USWNT pic.twitter.com/2grcJ8yF3Z
— The18 (@the18com) July 27, 2021
USWNT vs. Netherlands
31’ - WHAT IS HAPPENING?!?!#USWNT turn this game on its head with two quick goals to take the lead!!#USA 2 #NED 1 pic.twitter.com/ngIzOxa7OB
— The18 (@the18com) July 30, 2021
Live look at Sam Mewis and Lynn Williams in the locker room. #USWNT
HT - #USA 2 #NED 1 pic.twitter.com/c6FNaqTg7b— The18 (@the18com) July 30, 2021
54’ - Goal for Miedema. Her 10th of the the tournament. #USWNT #USA 2 #NED 2 pic.twitter.com/fJX6WzqQct
— The18 (@the18com) July 30, 2021
If this photo triggers your fight or flight response then congratulations, you’re a #USWNT fan.
111’ - #USA 2 #NED 2 pic.twitter.com/eXNkLB3Eeq— The18 (@the18com) July 30, 2021
Just like in 2016, the #USWNT quarterfinal goes to penalties. pic.twitter.com/3egh86NtHV
— The18 (@the18com) July 30, 2021
BUILD NAEHER A STATUE RIGHT NOW! #USWNT IS THROUGH TO THE SEMIFINAL!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/8m7ZzizGtP
— The18 (@the18com) July 30, 2021
USWNT vs. Canada
Aight let’s do this #USWNT pic.twitter.com/x8Zl5j4njb
— The18 (@the18com) August 2, 2021
Live look at how tough Alyssa Naeher is. #USWNT #USA #CAN pic.twitter.com/E9nrxbULrB
— The18 (@the18com) August 2, 2021
HT: #USA 0 #CAN 0 #USWNT
Shots: 4
Shots on Goal: 0#CAN
Shots: 1
Shots on Goal: 0 pic.twitter.com/8lTmi8BulG— The18 (@the18com) August 2, 2021
Waiting on the first #USWNT shot on target like... pic.twitter.com/TyFmUm3pJW
— The18 (@the18com) August 2, 2021
For a third game in this Olympics the #USWNT trails... need something special in these final minutes. pic.twitter.com/pgEb85epWA
— The18 (@the18com) August 2, 2021
USWNT vs. Australia (Bronze Medal)
This was the feeling when #AUS tied things up against the #USWNT pic.twitter.com/ewCAdvbiTz
— The18 (@the18com) August 5, 2021
Rapinoe. Has. Arrived. 2-1 to the #USWNT pic.twitter.com/X5e1OsewoR
— The18 (@the18com) August 5, 2021
It took six games, but Prime Rapinoe is here. #USWNT #Rapinoe pic.twitter.com/GEIIonwVH9
— The18 (@the18com) August 5, 2021
The Aussies have scored a screamer to make it 4-3... you don’t think this could go to extra time.. right? #USWNT pic.twitter.com/1oVThbGTPO
— The18 (@the18com) August 5, 2021
Let’s have some fun doing this again in Qatar next winter, right USMNT?
