USWNT vs. Nigeria: 2021 Friendly Odds, Time, Live Stream and TV Schedule
June 16, 2021
The United States women's national team closes out its three-game "Summer Series" through Texas on Wednesday night.
The friendly match with Nigeria will serve as a final chance to make an impression for some of the fringe players for the Tokyo Olympics squad.
USWNT manager Vlatko Andonovski has to choose an 18-woman roster for the Olympics, which is five players fewer than the FIFA Women's World Cup allows.
Wednesday's match also serves as the opener for Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas. The stadium will be home to Major League Soccer expansion side Austin FC.
USWNT vs. Nigeria Info
Date: Wednesday, June 16
Start Time: 9 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN2
Live Stream: ESPN app and ESPN.com
Odds (via DraftKings Sportsbook): USWNT (-3335; bet $3,335 to win $100); Nigeria (+1700; bet $100 to win $1,700); Draw (+1200)
Preview
The USWNT won its first two games of the "Summer Series" in Texas by a combined score of 5-0.
The Americans looked much better in Sunday's win over Jamaica in which Carli Lloyd scored in the first 23 seconds.
Lindsey Horan, Midge Purce and Alex Morgan proceeded to score in what was a relatively easy win for the USWNT. It had to fight for a 1-0 win over Portugal on Thursday.
The three games in less than a week in the Texas heat serve as a tune-up for the likely conditions in Tokyo next month.
Andonovski utilized a heavily rotated squad for the Jamaica match, so we should see more changes versus Nigeria.
A strong performance from some fringe players in Austin could sway the final selection for the Olympics in a certain direction.
The biggest question the USWNT manager has to answer is who will play in the No. 6 role if Julie Ertz is unable to reach full fitness by the roster deadline.
Horan started in that position against Portugal and Jamaica and she seems to be the favorite to take over that spot if Ertz is unable to go.
Ertz's potential absence could open up a spot for Andi Sullivan or Catarina Macario. Macario played the first half versus Jamaica and Sullivan came on as a substitute for Horan.
The other question looming for Andonovski is whether to put Lloyd on the 18-woman roster. She made a strong case to be included with her performance Sunday.
Lloyd is one of the best big-game players of her generation in any sport and could be a vital asset to the USWNT in Tokyo, especially with a limited roster available.
The USWNT will play Sweden, Australia and New Zealand in Group C in Tokyo. Nigeria is not headed to the Olympics. Zambia qualified for the 12-team tournament out of Africa.
Nigeria is coming off a 3-3 draw with Portugal and started out the "Summer Series" with a 1-0 loss to Jamaica.
The USWNT has a 5-0 head-to-head record over Nigeria.
Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.
Statistics obtained from USSoccer.com.
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