Carson Pickett made history on Tuesday during the USWNT’s 2-0 friendly victory against Colombia as the first player with a limb difference to play for the national team. Pickett is a fullback and had a quality 90 minutes against Colombia playing at left back.
Tonight, @Cars_Pickett16 will be the first-ever player with a limb difference to earn a #USWNT cap! pic.twitter.com/Ru2KhHj3EP— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) June 29, 2022
Pickett was born without a left forearm but hasn’t let it stop her from pursuing her dreams. The 28-year-old has been playing in the NWSL since 2016 including some loans to Brisbane Roar in Australia.
Pickett went viral in 2019 for an Instagram post giving an arm-bump with a young fan who also didn’t have a forearm.
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She now plays for the North Carolina Courage. Tuesday was her first time representing the Stars and Stripes as the USWNT prepares for Olympic and World Cup qualifying in the W Concacaf Championship next month.
CARSON. PICKETT.
First cap, first start for the #USWNT. pic.twitter.com/4JtNk6i2s6— Our Game Magazine (@OurGameMagazine) June 29, 2022
The performance from the USWNT wasn’t pretty. Colombia’s wall of a defense frustrated the Americans who couldn’t unlock the South America opposition for most of the game. Some of the best chances of the game were provided by Pickett who kept serving up absolute dimes in the box that her teammates couldn’t put away.
In the 32nd minute Pickett had a pinpoint cross right to Midge Purce who headed it over the bar. The service continued throughout the game with no one home to head in a goal.
The USWNT’s opening goal of the game came from an own goal off Sofia Huerta’s cross in the 22nd minute.
There were several other chances including Alex Morgan rattling the crossbar and a Megan Rapinoe opportunity getting cleared off the line.
Colombia, which only had one shot in the first game on Saturday, looked more confident on Tuesday and forced a tough save from Alyssa Naeher in the second half.
NOTHING PAST NAEHER pic.twitter.com/PaQI0yHVQP
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) June 29, 2022
The game was delayed in the 75th minute due to lightning in the area. The USWNT came flying out of the break with Kelly O'Hara scoring her first USWNT in six years.
.@kelleymohara's first #USWNT goal since 2016!!! pic.twitter.com/QgtspwcNQ8
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) June 29, 2022
