Lady Andrade and her teammates were adamant US players had disrespected them in the run-up to Mondays knockout game. The banter unquestionably added intrigue to the match.

The 24-year-old got people talking about Las Cafeteras — and about this match — in a way distinctly different than how they might have otherwise. Colombia presented itself as the feisty underdog, throwing jabs (sometimes literally), stepping boldly onto the main stage and demanding your attention. Yes, the World Cup is now over for Andrade Co., but theres a lesson for womens sports in how Colombia handled — and manipulated — the spotlight during the lead-up to this match.

The US will play China on Friday in the quarterfinals. Not many people will have trouble understanding the rivalry between the US and China. In fact, there are numerous opponents in this World Cup who come with paint-by-numbers storylines. An incomplete list: Canada (northern neighbors!), Germany (World War II!), England (they once ruled us!). At this World Cup, even if you know nothing about womens soccer — the US beat China at the 1999 World Cup, US forward Sydney Leroux is from Canada, etc. — you can often still connect with the rivalry.

But if you had stopped people on the street over the weekend, how many could have given you an accurate snapshot of US-Colombia, specific to womens soccer or geopolitically? The answer most likely is not many.

Thats not unlike most womens sports events, which is why US-Colombia makes a great case study for how to create interest for a womens game. People dont learn the storylines about womens sports simply by existing in our culture; they usually have to seek out the knowledge. Or have an athlete such as Lady Andrade willing to take a risk and be bold.

Before Colombia grabbed the microphone, this match had many of the hallmarks of a typical womens sporting event: one team heavily favored (think: UConn womens basketball), an underdog we dont know very well, and the possibility that everyone would say and do the right thing, and thered be nothing to really sink your teeth into and talk about.

You know?

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