Definition of SheBelieves Cup

Nothing will ever be able to usurp the Women's World Cup as the top prize in women's football, but there are certainly other competitions that deserve attention. The SheBelieves Cup was formed in 2016 by the United States as an attempt to get some of the best women's national teams playing for another international trophy.

In the first 3 years of the tournament, only 4 teams played each other in a round-robin style: the United States, England, France and Germany. The United States won 2 of those opening 3 years, with France taking the trophy in 2017. The 2019 edition changed the lineup, with Brazil and Japan taking the place of Germany and France. England won that year.

In 2020, the USA, Japan, Spain and England were the players, while 2021 saw Canada, Argentina, Brazil and the USA face off. The United States excellent team won those editions. In fact, the United States is the most successful team in the competition's history, winning 4 out of the 6 years that the cup has been played.

It is a similar case when looking at the top goalscorers, although this is clearly helped by the United States being one of the only teams to participate every year. Megan Rapinoe is the top goalscorer with 7, while England's Ellen White comes in second with 5. Then it is the American duo of Alex Morgan and Christen Press before arriving at the Brazilian and French players of Debinha and Eugenie Le Sommer.

Obviously the SheBelieves Cup will not have the same impact as the World Cup or continental championships, but it is still a good way to show off the progression of women's football and to get some of the best international teams playing each other more regularly.