U.S. women beat South Africa; Hope Solo gets 100th shutout

World Cup star Carli Lloyd returned from a knee injury suffered in April, playing part of the second half after entering as a substitute.

Solo thanked friends, family, coaches and fans on Twitter following the game, saying the accomplishment of 100 shutouts “speaks to a lifetime of work, of staying committed and determined, no matter what the challenges.”

The game took place against the backdrop of a public wage dispute between the American players and their bosses.

The players had planned to wear T-shirts with the slogan “equal pay equal play” during media availability and pregame warm-ups.

[...] they did not, for reasons that were not immediately clear.

With a recent World Cup title, the Olympics on the horizon and then no tournament of similar magnitude until the 2019 World Cup in France, the players believe that they must make their case now.