Cote: U.S. women are back! Soccer team announces return to power with gold at Paris Olympics | Opinion

Mallory Swanson was 14 years old and watching with her family at a Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant 12 years ago, watching and dreaming, when the United States women’s soccer team last won an Olympic gold medal.

Saturday in Paris, it was a goal by that very same grown-up girl that made Team USA gold again for the first time since 2012.

Swanson’s shot in the 57th minute at a sold-out Parc des Princes stadium did more than defeat Brazil, 1-0. It signaled the evolution and return to international power of the U.S. Women’s National Team.

Later Saturday, U.S. men’s basketball handled host France in that gold-medal game, 98-87, fueled by Steph Curry’s eight 3’s -- four of them late daggers. It was the fifth straight gold for the American men on the hardwood.

U.S. women’s basketball will try to make it triple gold Sunday, also vs. France, with what would be the American women’s eighth basketball gold in a row.

In women’s soccer, this was not about continuing a streak but ending one, and reasserting a once-dominant team.

One year ago that once-mighty team was in shambles. The national team had begun struggling on the global stage after years of domination. In last year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup the Americans were stunned to be ousted in the round of 16, the first time the USWNT had ever failed to reach at least the semifinals of a major tournament. A fixture at No. 1 for so long, the U.S. women had slipped to a humbling No. 5 in the FIFA World Ranking.

Entering this Olympics there was a bit of an underdog, something-to-prove vibe to the team, an incentive card never before in the deck.

Now it was U.S. against the world. Guess who won?

The U.S. is back in the sport it owned for so long. With gold comes the claim to that stature.

Swanson, 26, hit a right-footed snake that shook the right side of the net and ignited a bloom of “U-S-A!” chants.

Brazil had had the better of play in a scoreless first half. Seemed faster. The TV announcers were talking about tired legs on the U.S. side.

All of that changed and none of it mattered when Swanson struck, finishing a narrowly onside play that survived a replay review. A spectacular save by goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher three minutes into extra time at the end of 90 minutes protected the lead.

‘“We got more aggressive again,” U.S. coach Emma Hayes explained the turnaround. “The heart, the determination, the grit ... everything about these players is unbelievable. I’m so proud. I come from a place of wanting players to enjoy themselves. I’m desperate to do well for this country.”

Hayes, an Englishwoman who spent 12 years coaching the Chelsea women’s team in the Premier League, was named USWNT coach only two months ago, and what she has orchestrated in that time has been a miracle on the pitch.

These Olympics were a litmus test for the evolution of the new-look team under Hayes’ hand. The team is younger, and features more women of color. Several key holdovers remain including captain Lindsay Horan and the goalie Naeher. But gone is the much of the old guard. Megan Rapinoe retired. Alex Morgan was left off the roster for Paris -- shocking to some, but mirroring the boldness the new coach has shown in such quick order.

Change was needed. Evolution was.

U.S. men’s soccer failed miserably in Paris. The women rose up and flexed.

The new look is embodied by the three young starting forwards who call themselves “the Triple Espresso”: Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith and Swanson. (Thanks for the genes, former NBA star Dennis Rodman.)

None is brand new to the team but Hayes put them together on the front line in June and the chemistry and results have glowed. The team has not lost since and was 5-0 in Paris -- with the Triple Espresso accounting for nine of 10 goals -- entering Saturday’s game for gold.

“The second we really started getting real minutes together and the opportunity to build on those minutes game after game and our chemistry -- it’s been so much fun, and it feels so natural,” Smith said in Paris on Thursday.

Swanson missed the U.S.’s disappointing World Cup a year ago with an injury that sidelined her for months. She, like her team, has announced herself back.

Saturday’s rise by the Americans denied the storybook ending to retiring Brazilian legend Marta, 38. She might be the best woman ever to play the sport, but this was her fourth time chasing a win in the final of a World C up or Olympics, and failing each time to win. Brazil also lost to the U.S. in the 2004 and 2008 Olympics, and lost to Germany in the 2007 World Cup.

“This is an extra motivation,” her teammate Angelina had said. “We want to give this medal to Marta. She has given us so much. She’s given everything she has to us and women’s football.”

On the day the great Marta left the international stage of women’s soccer, the United States team ascended back to the center of it.