Under Pressure: Key takeaways from Netflix’s US Women’s Soccer series

The United States women’s soccer team was bounced from the 2023 Women’s World Cup in surprising fashion. Netflix’s “Under Pressure” series took fans behind the scenes, to highlight the personal stories of the players, and the disappointment that the team will have to deal with for the next four years.

Much of the four episode mini series was focused on the transition at manager, as Vlatko Andonovski took over the position after Jill Ellis left the national team. While his character was often celebrated during the piece, Andonovski’s lack of in-game adjustments left players and fans flustered during the biggest moments of the tournament.

One of the most compelling parts of the series was watching the anticipation of the players as they learned whether they would make the team. Under Pressure showed players staring at their phones, wondering when Andonovski would call them to deliver triumphant or depressing news. The suspense was palpable, and was something viewers would not have otherwise been privy to.

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Unfortunately, the team had to play the World Cup without the services of Mallory Swanson, who is viewed as one of the best forwards in the United States. The reaction she had when she went down with a knee injury against the Republic of Ireland left her teammates visibly distraught. Her availability could have helped the U.S. advance farther in the tournament.

The documentary spent ample time discussing the current and future state of women’s soccer, but also took a retroactive view of what allowed U.S. women’s soccer to flourish. The success of the 1999 United States team was brought up on several occasions, as Julie Foudy recalled the lengths her and her teammates had to go to put themselves on the map.

Many players on the United States women’s soccer team are mothers, and viewers were able to meet the children of some of the team’s stars. Alex Morgan and her daughter were shown multiple times, and she spoke about how having children put her life in perspective. It’s a humanizing comment from someone who has seemed like a larger than life figure for many years.

The United States wasn’t able to get past Sweden in the knockout round, which signified a failure for the team that many figured would make a deep run. Still, Under Pressure delves into the impact that U.S. women’s soccer has had on the game around the world. It seems like teams across the globe are getting better, which means the U.S. will have to step up as well.

The next U.S. women’s team superstar might be Alyssa Thompson, who was only 18 years old during the World Cup. It was fascinating to see her put a stamp on her high school career, while balancing the demands of traveling across the world to represent her country. Thompson didn’t get much time on the pitch, but figures to have a much larger role in 2027.