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First, this game needs a little context. The USWNT withdrew from their first game against Trinidad & Tobago in Hawaii this past weekend, citing unsafe field conditions.
The USWNT released a statement at The Players Tribune to explain the decision, saying "At the end of the day, we expect to be treated equally as our male counterparts."
Then local news in Honolulu obtained the contracts between USSF and the Hawaii Tourism Authority and USSF and Aloha Stadium, showing that USSF actually had been to the stadium and accepted the field's condition before the players lodged their complaint. KHON also claimed that that a source told them the cancellation was partly due to low ticket sales, with approximately 16,000 sold. The Alamadome currently has almost 10,000 tickets sold, although there's no word on how much sales over the last few days might have been impacted by news of the boycott.
Sunil Gulati eventually made a public apology, calling it "a black eye for this organization." USSF officials met with the USWNT yesterday, presumably to reassure them that their complaints have been heard and to keep the Victory Tour on track.
Who: #1 United States vs. #48 Trinidad and Tobago
When: Thursday, December 10, 6 PM PT / 9 PM ET
Where: Alamodome, San Antonio
How to watch: This game is being broadcast on ESPN2 and streamed on WatchESPN.
Last meeting: 1-0 win for the US on October 15, 2014 at Sporting Park in Kansas City during CONCACAF World Cup qualifying. The US managed just one goal from Abby Wambach despite outshooting T&T 29-7, with nine shots on goal.
Players to watch: The full 27-player roster (Megan Rapinoe is out with an ACL tear) should be available for this game; previously Amy Rodriguez, Emily Sonett, and Lindsey Horan were unavailable for Hawaii due to various commitments.
Look for Colaprico to get some time; she was supposed to be in the last USWNT camp but was unavailable due to injury. She's one of the NWSL rookies looking to make her mark, alongside Stephanie McCaffrey, Jaelene Hinkle, and Samantha Mewis.
Horan will also be wanting to put her best foot forward; she's left her beloved Paris Saint-Germain to join the Portland Thorns in a bid to be more visible to USWNT coaches.
These games are now basically all about the youth - with so many retirements, there's now hope for someone to elbow her way into an Olympic qualifying roster, and from there to the Olympics.