With 45 of the best players from the Independent Women's Football League, there was no doubt about the immense talent level of the first-ever U.S. Women's National Team in America's favorite sport.
With practices beginning on Sunday, June 20, near Austin, Texas, the biggest question would be if the team could mesh together as group.
"Before camp, on paper, as a coaching staff, we felt like we had quality leaders and players from across the U.S. and that has proven true," a buoyant USA Football Women's National Team Head Coach John Konecki said in between the team's June 21 double-sessions. "We're melding together, things are progressing nicely."
The players relish the opportunity to play beside their new teammates - America's 45 best women's football players.
"This is really cool to be around this many talented players on one field, on one team," quarterback Jenny Schmidt said after a day and a half of practicing in Team USA's spread offense. "It really is a great experience - not only to get to play with them but to get to know them off the field as well. It's been a lot of fun."
As the players have fun getting to know each other, they are putting in the hard work on the field to learn the offensive and defensive plays and schemes they will employ at the IFAF Women's World Championship in Stockholm next week. Defensive coordinator Anthony Stone has the defense working on fronts, blitzes, slants and coverages.
"I think in general we have a very, very talented defense," said Knengi Martin who plays defensive end and linebacker for the IWFL's California Quake and was a 2009 league all-star. "Thus far I think we've done a great job coming together. Especially today in our defensive practice, we were going against the offense and were definitely putting it together - making plays. I'm just really impressed with how we've come together as a defensive unit."
During morning practice, the offense and defense compete with full contact, and the unit that has the better of the scrimmage does not have to wear red "pennies" over their jerseys in the afternoon session.
Konecki, who runs the offense, was impressed with the defense Monday morning.
"The defense had the better of it this morning, so we (the offense) will wear the pennies this afternoon," Konecki said.
The friendly motivation adds some competition and fun into the daily sessions for the players in the Texas heat, and Konecki and his staff are enjoying it as well.
"This is the most fun I've experienced in coaching in a long time," Konecki said.
With the team coming together and learning the offensive and defensive plans, Team USA now has a couple of days to build on becoming sharp and consistent with what they've learned.
"I think it's just trying to get it to be more of a second-nature type thing," Martin said of the team's work for the rest of the week. "It's making sure that we know what we're doing because now we've got pretty much everything in. Now it's just about making sure we know it without having to think about it too much."
Come Thursday morning, camp will be over, and Team USA will board its plane for Stockholm, Sweden. The anticipation is already beginning to build amongst the players at camp.
"Everyone's excited, and we're excited to go over there and hopefully earn a gold medal," Schmidt said.
Training and becoming a team in Texas may create the winning combination that Team USA needs to do just that.
