In an impressive start to the 2024 Summer Olympics, the US women's national team showcased their dominance with a resounding 3-0 victory against Zambia in group play in Nice, Paris. The match saw the US team assertive from the beginning, scoring three goals in the first 25 minutes.

Trinity Rodman set the tone for the Americans with a goal at the 17th minute, giving them an early advantage. Mallory Swanson then followed with two quick-fire goals, establishing a commanding lead for the US team. Their relentless pressure kept Zambia on the back foot throughout the game.

Zambia found themselves in a challenging situation as they played with a numerical disadvantage for the majority of the match. Pauline Zulu received a yellow card while defending against Sophia Smith, which was eventually upgraded to a red after video review. This left Zambia with only 10 players on the field, further tilting the momentum in favor of the US team.

Despite the efforts of Zambia's star player, Barbra Banda from the Orlando Pride, the US team's lead remained unthreatened. This convincing victory against Zambia served as evidence that the US team had resolved their scoring issues from their pre-Olympic matches against Costa Rica and Mexico.

The US women's national team, known for their remarkable achievements, with four world championships and four Olympic gold medals behind them, is now under the guidance of their new head coach Emma Hayes. Hayes, along with the team, is determined to put behind their disappointing performances in recent major tournaments, including their early exit from the Women's World Cup in 2023.

Looking ahead, the US team faces a tougher challenge in their next match against fourth-ranked Germany on Sunday in Marseille. The team will have to maintain their strong form and build on the positive momentum gained from their commanding victory against Zambia.

In addition to their successful start at the Paris Olympics, concerns arose during the match as Sophia Smith had to leave the field due to an injury. Her absence could potentially impact the team going forward, raising questions about their squad depth and ability to adapt.

This triumphant opening match for the US women's national team in Paris was a stark contrast to their previous Olympic opener in Tokyo three years ago, where they suffered a defeat at the hands of Sweden. As the tournament progresses, the US team will undoubtedly face even greater challenges as they strive to secure another Olympic gold medal.

Stay tuned for more updates and coverage from NPR's team in Paris as the US women's national team continues their journey at the 2024 Summer Olympics.