Fans gathered at Ford Field in downtown Detroit on Wednesday afternoon to watch the World Cup Champion U.S. Women's National Team practice ahead of the Thursday's match against Haiti. The match is part of the team's Victory Tour following their World Cup win.
From children to adults, fans packed the lower rows to see their favorite players run drills and warm-up for over an hour.
This was the first chance for fans to see the team after they won the World Cup in July, and the team's first trip to Detroit since December 2012.
WATCH BRAD GALLI AND KACIE HOLLINS' INTERVIEWS WITH CARLI LLOYD, ALEX MORGAN, MEGAN RAPINOE, HOPE SOLO, AND ABBY WAMBACH ABOVE.
Many players, and even coach Jill Ellis, thought this was an opportunity to grow the game. With over 31,000 tickets sold to Thursday's match, fans are embracing the team.
They said not only have their lives changed, but they hope they've changed the lives of millions who watched them in the World Cup.
"This country loves winners, it loves national teams, so I think it gives them something to cheer about," Ellis said. "So I think giving people something to cheer about and hopefully having the residual effect of having people follow our sport is fantastic."
Goalkeeper Hope Solo also joined in with her hopes to grow the game.
"We always say let's grow the game, let's grow soccer here in America," Solo said. "But it's more than just growing it, it's inspiring people, and I think that's why people decided to come out, to show up because we really did inspire a nation this summer."
The team was originally scheduled to play Australia in Thursday's match, and Sunday's match in Birmingham, Ala., but the team backed out due to a labor dispute last week. U.S. Soccer replaced Australia with Haiti shortly after.
Tickets are still available for the match, and are available at USSoccer.com or at FordField.com.
