U.S. Wins 2015 Women's World Cup

Let's be honest. After the first 15 minutes, this was totally an expected victory. And the players pushed through with what we all knew was going to happen: the U.S. soccer team won the 2015 Women's World Cup, and it was an exciting and historic match. Playing against Japan, who defeated the U.S. in the 2011 World Cup, it was bound to be an interesting game, as there was an intense rivalry already in place. But the U.S. took a very early lead, with Carli Lloyd scoring two goals within the first five minutes, Lauren Holiday following with a third, and Lloyd earning a hat trick with her third goal — this time from midfield — all of which added up to four amazing U.S. goals in the beginning of the match.

Many people — well, at least me — assumed Japan would have given up after the first few goals. If I was on a team that literally just basically lost the game in the first 15 minutes, I'd be like, "Nah, I'm out." But the Japan players, like true athletes, soldiered on and scored a goal of their own, leaving the match 4-1 at halftime. Unfortunately for the women of Japan, it would not be enough against the incredible U.S. team.

Although Japan earned another goal in the second half, the U.S. did, too. With a final score of 5-2, the United States earned the championship and the team members get to call themselves world champs for the third time. The last time they won was in 1999 against China; the first time they won was in 1991 against Norway in the inaugural Women's World Cup.

Image: Getty Images (1)