Sunday, Sept. 16, 2007
Spirits surrounding the beautiful Westin hotel in the brilliant city of Shanghai remain extremely high. Why wouldn’t they be after capturing 3 more points from a very worthy Swedish team. Going into match #3 against Nigeria with 4 points puts us in a good position to move out of group play and onto the quarters. But one game at a time is all this team focuses on and there is a common understanding that Nigeria is the next opponent standing in our way. We must bring them to their knees. But until that day, the mental stability and happiness of this team is healthy and critical. We have many means to keep ourselves full of spunk.

We have enjoyed the extra day off between games, both physically and mentally. Tonight we had our first reception party with all our family and friends held in a beautiful banquet room at our hotel. Many of us actually stayed up to socialize past 10:00 at night! Usually at this time, we lay in bed watching movies or reading! Papa Kai entertained us with his vocal talent, and like father like daughter, entertained the lively group with island music. The Hip Hop 101 group led by Tash (Natasha Kai) herself closed the night with an inspiring dance routine. Many shook their hips more in sync than others, but no need to mention names! :)

To us, it was the end of a good night, but to our fanclub, it was only just the beginning. They took their spirits to the streets of Shanghai and celebrated the joy of being together in this unique country. Oh, what a wild bunch it was! It is certain for stories to be told tomorrow! Parents bonded with boyfriends, daughters socialized with others grandparents, cousins befriended ex-coaches, and they all became a tight niche group of our most loyal supporters!

Marci (Jobson), my third roommate of the trip, and I are now cuddling up into our beds about to put on what has been claimed to be the movie of the week: A River Runs Through It, a classic movie, and a bit sad, but a favorite to the team. I have yet to see it, and my teammates think I truly was a country kid, raised in a town where there are no movie theaters or Blockbusters. All I can say is my Mom still has chickens! Anyhow, sometimes nothing beats a great movie, with a great teammate in a foreign country!

If only Kiefer Sutherland knew how much his 24 series keeps us going on long grueling trips! 24 times 6 seasons is 144 hours of great television for us to watch! Let me tell you, we are NEVER bored! The true 24 fans however, are all caught up with the latest seasons, and don’t really benefit from Kiefer this time around, but the newbies like Tina (Ellertson) and (Marian) Dalmy sure are enjoying it!

The latest trend has been to learn vocabulary, as if we all are studying for the SAT’s again. On our daily schedule we even have a word of the day. It seems HAO (Heather O’Reilly) feels guilty that she has now graduated from college and hasn’t put her education to use. She is more inspired to learn now than when she was forced to study. We never know how lucky we are until it’s all over sometimes. The word of the day today is palpable. I could tell you what it means, but if you don’t know, maybe it will inspire you to look it up and than we can say that the US Women’s National Team is a do good team! Man, I sound like my Mom more and more these days!

Alright, well Marci and I have lit the vanilla candle turned out the lights, and can’t wait to watch ourselves a lil Brad Pitt in his younger days. I’m not sure I even care if the movie’s all that good! :) I hope you’re all sending good vibes for our third match against Nigeria, and I hope that your spirit is palpable to everyone here in China! (Look it up!)

- Hope Solo

Thursday, Sept. 13, 2007
Game 1 is now under our belts. Despite the tie it actually feels good to have the tournament under way. We knew going into this match North Korea was going to be a very difficult team to get 3 points from. In the World Cup group stage we are happy to at least get 1 point. The best relief post-game? The mere fact that Sweden and Nigeria tied 1-1 leaving the group wide open, and still completely even in points. However, the U.S and North Korea thus far are ahead in the goals for category.

The World Cup is like nothing any of us could prepare for. You do what you can do physically and mentally to prepare, but the actual feeling of stepping onto the field in front of 40,000 people and a roaring stadium isn’t possible to simulate. Personally, I felt great. I felt calm, confident and focused. I am proud of our team. I am proud of everybody of course, but I am extremely proud of the first-time World Cup players. They too were nervous, but it never showed once they hit the field. This includes HAO (Heather O’Reilly), Chupes (Lori Chalupny), Lopes (Stephanie Lopez), Carli (Lloyd), Tash (Natasha Kai) and myself. That is quite a large number of newbies on the field, and we all carried ourselves well. Of course butterflies fluttered in our bellies prior to taking the field, but they were forgotten with our first touch on the ball.

I can’t speak for everybody, but I do know that every single one of us that touched the pitch that Tuesday evening could’ve played better soccer. We should’ve played better soccer. With that said, I’ve never been part of a team that fights as hard as this team does. I doubt there’s ever been a more passionate team, and I can assure you that the other countries have never been this great. Gone are the days when the U.S. rolled over teams without a bump in the road. The game has evolved to a new level.

For me personally, the game was the epitome of a day in the life of a goalkeeper. I felt so strong, so confident, so relaxed. I felt as good as I ever have out on that field. In sports, it still amazes me how in one instant something can happen that you wish you could take back. For me it was a surreal moment to have the ball slip through my hands for North Korea’s first goal. My worst nightmare became reality, however I never once doubted that the performance I put on had a great impact for our team. In fact I am very proud about the way I played, and I know I made a difference. Looking back, I’m still not even sure what I would have done differently on that first goal. The conditions were difficult. All I can say is welcome to what it’s like being a goalkeeper at the highest level.

What a hard fought, physical match. Our bodies are sore, and we’ve spent the last two days doing ice baths, pool workouts, massage, stretching and treatments, all in an effort to go back out to battle against Sweden tomorrow evening. Abby has 11 stitches in her head due to a hard collision in the second half. Not only do our bodies need a break but it’s always healthy for our minds to let loose as well. Aly is a Zen master so to speak, and practices meditation daily. But most of us have been able to get a mental break thanks to all our family and friends who have made the journey to china to support us.

For the majority of players, today consisted of a walk to Starbucks on Jinli Street with our friends or family. Jinli Street is a very unique alley containing many shops and old architecture. Many of us sat and chatted sipping frappuccinos and espresso, or simply walked and shopped, while reconnecting with our loved ones. It was a well-needed mental break from the team, the games, the interviews and the intense tournament.

Tomorrow may our bodies be at their best, and our minds at ease as we take the field against our much-respected opponent, Sweden. I’d say it’s time to tally some more points.

- Hope Solo

Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007
We finally arrived in Chengdu. T minus 2 days till game day. The energy amongst the team has shifted. There’s a common understanding, a common focus and a common goal that is felt from the 21 players, the 4 coaches, our gm, our two trainers, our two massage therapists, our press officers, our videographer, our security and our two equipment managers.

This is our large family that has been striving for one goal for the last couple of years. The 21 players would be nothing without our massage therapists, our equipment managers. None of us would be safe and feel at ease without our security. The coaches wouldn’t have fan support without our press officer allowing the world to get to know this team.

Every single person plays a vital role to the success of this team. Everyone has the same commitment level and has made the same sacrifices. No one person is more important than the rest. This is our team. It’s behind closed doors, behind the cameras where the real work is done.

Touching ground in Chengdu was surreal. I’ve never seen such intensity of the press, as they pushed their way through mobs of people to get shots of certain team members. You would have thought David Beckham had just arrived in America. However, there are no male footballers. This World Cup is dedicated to the women’s game. It’s our turn to put on performances for the world to take notice.

As we approach closer and closer to the first match against North Korea, there is less and less free time. Trips to Starbucks can always be a daily event. And event it is! We don’t leave the hotel without being surrounded by security and Chinese police carrying guns as tall as Chalupa (midfielder Lori Chalupny). We can’t even get a cup of coffee without making a scene. Not to mention Tash (forward Natasha Kai) stopping in the courtyard to lead a hip hop dance. She instantly had us surrounded by the locals snapping pictures, as if we were part of a rare exhibit.

Speaking of rare exhibits, yesterday was a highlight for many. We went to see panda bears in a natural habitat surrounding. I never knew I could fall in love with short, fat creatures. The team got to sit next to a friendly panda as he chewed on his sugar cane, and allowed us to pet him. There was a moment I thought he wanted to chew on my arm once he put down his sugar cane. I flinched for a moment realizing I need my hands at their best in 72 hours!

The popular book of the week, which Sobs (defender Kate Markgraf), Barnie (goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart), Boxxy (midfielder Shannon Boxx), Ange (midfielder Angela Hucles), Tina (defender Tina Ellertson), and I all happened to read is “A Thousand Splendid Suns” by Khaled Hosseini. Possibly even making my top 5. I would say the DVD of the week is the Boston Legal television series, prompted by Aly Wagner, again by Angela Hucles, and again by Sobs. Hmmm, maybe they’re the trendsetters. The hot buy of the week have been the precious pearls sold fairly inexpensive in China in comparison to the states. Saltwater pearl necklaces, earrings, and bracelets have been an extremely hot commodity amongst the team.

The next time you hear from me, I pray it’s after a victory. Don’t forget your support back home will most definitely resonate here in Chengdu. We invite you to be our 12th man. Thanks for the support.

- Hope Solo

Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2007
Sunday was our first day off and it was a well-deserved day off. We have been training strong since the day we touched ground on Aug. 28.

Training has been interesting, as we were welcomed with a field covered in frogs, and I mean covered! As Aly (Wagner) and I attempted to catch these frogs we soon found out that they were poisonous. Poisonous frogs had taken over our training field yet training must go on. The word must’ve spread that the Americans were in town because the very next day dragonflies joined the field. I couldn’t focus on a shot without having to dodge dragonflies.

It literally feels like the Amazon here in Shanghai. We leave for Chengdu in two days. Chengdu is known for panda bears, but we’re all hoping the pandas don’t join us out on the training field.

The team took several days to get adjusted to the time change and different foods. Finding protein for our muscles to recover has been tricky. Protein shakes just got delivered to the hotel to help us fill our bodies with nutrition. Without them we’d be eating rice for every meal!

We’ve started to focus on North Korea the last two days. We’ve been watching film and studying their tendencies and key players. They look like a great team. With all this film people are getting more and more psyched to take the field come the 11th. It still seems just out of reach although it’s only 8 days away.

When we’re not training or in meetings we tend to fill our time with many odd, but entertaining events. Last night we had a Bingo tournament. Yup, I said Bingo, and I was even the winner, winning a grand total of $40! It’s amazing how competitive even Bingo can become on this team! We’ve also had Scrabble, Connect Four, Catch Phrase, and card tournaments. At any given time there is a competitive event taking place within the hallways of our hotel.

We also have Tash’s (Natasha Kai’s) hip hop 101 classes scheduled in the evenings. The DVD of the week is Season One of 90210 bringing us all back to our junior high days, and the popular movie has been the Illusionist starring my favorite actor, Edward Norton. My roommate is Cat (Whitehill), a college football fanatic. Needless to say we watch many football games now that college football season has just begun. There has been plenty for us to stay occupied with. Sometimes I even wish the days were longer so I could fit more in! We can only hope for the same in Chengdu.

The people have been incredible to us, and to be quite honest it really doesn’t feel as though we’re out of the country until we leave the hotel. We are spoiled enough to have English television channels, an English speaking hotel staff, an American chef, and wireless internet to keep us all connected with our loved ones.

In the days to come we are scheduling a pearl shopping outing, and a Fergie jam session with our doc on the guitar. We are a youthful team that never fails to have a blast. There never seems to be a shortage of laughs here in Shanghai. However, the real fun is still over a week away! 8 days and counting!

- Hope Solo

More information about the U.S. Women's National Team and the FIFA Women's World Cup is available at USSoccer.com.