Young USWNT showed potential to be the flashiest, most creative yet at SheBelieves Cup

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The smiles said it all as the U.S. women's national team held up the trophy.

The win over Iceland was a relief compared to the draw against the Czech Republic, which was a must-win game.

What did we learn in a week?

1. The young group is fun to watch. This young group wants to play and at times the finishing wasn't as sharp as it needs to be, but it was still competitive.

Typically in national teams of the past, we talk about one or two players who can turn a game on its head with their individual brilliance and flair. Rose Lavelle. There is a person named Tobin Heath. Megan Rapinoe. Cat Macario, Sophia Smith, and even Emily Fox are from deeper positions on the team.

Are all the pieces of the puzzle together? You have to be excited about the upside potential of those players.

2. The team did the same as the week progressed.

The USWNT grew into the game against New Zealand, where they scored three own goals, as well as the five-goal demolition of Iceland. The purpose of the tournament was to get the younger players valuable minutes and come out with a sense of growth and more confidence.

I would like to say that winning was the most important thing for the U.S. team, but it is not always the focus.

It would have been fun for the Czech Republic to be the last game of the group, to see if they could break down a very good Czech defense and get a win against Paris Saint-Germain. When the U.S. were unable to convert, the stakes were raised for the rest of the tournament. I think the team responded well to the pressure of the final game, because it was hard to replicate.

3. We learned that patience is important.

The beauty of this final game was that it was a must-win and the younger players had to figure it out. Even though the first 35 minutes of blocked shots and missed attempts made some wonder if they could find that way, the collective patience and individual brilliance of Macario made it seem like they could.

The group quickly realized they have the resolve necessary in a big moment after Pugh heaped on more confidence in the second half.

Things we knew already inform the lessons we learned.

1. We knew that the U.S. team needed a balance of young and experienced players. The next step for this team is to have some of that veteran presence and leadership. The next few months will determine what that ratio looks like. I wrote before the tournament that getting that mix right was vital.

2. Winning the World Cup and Olympics will get harder. The world is finally starting to see the light as it relates to women's soccer, but I don't care if they are making it a priority and investing in women. It is 20 years late in my opinion, but welcome to the party.

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