CASSIDY HETTESHEIMER

Sports Reporter, Photographer

Cassidy is a sports reporter and photographer covering the Women’s World Cup

Brazil's Debinha, right, reacts after the Women's World Cup Group F soccer match between Jamaica and Brazil in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Hamish Blair)

Expanded Women’s World Cup leads to earlier drama for highly-ranked teams

Frequent Women’s World Cup title contenders like the United States, Germany and Brazil are used to win-or-go-home scenarios — but rarely this early in the tournament.

Jamaica's Solai Washington, centre, celebrate with her teammate after drawing a 0-0 tie during the Women's World Cup Group F soccer match between Jamaica and Brazil in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Hamish Blair)

Spencer and Jamaica’s defenders shut out Brazil, clinch spot in knockout round of Women’s World Cup

Jamaica’s third consecutive shutout — 0-0 draw against Brazil — has sent the Reggae Girlz through to the knockout stages of the Women’s World Cup for the first time.

Australia's Emily Van Egmond, Sam Kerr and Caitlin Foord, from left, celebrate at the end of the Women's World Cup Group B soccer match between Australia and Canada in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, July 31, 2023. Australia won 4-0. (AP Photo/Hamish Blair)

Raso scores twice as co-host Australia advances, knocking Canada out of the Women’s World Cup

Haley Raso has scored her first Women’s World Cup goals at just the right time, with a first-half brace in Australia’s 4-0 win over Canada in the pivotal group-stage finale.

Australia's Sam Kerr, Emily Van Egmond and Caitlin Foord, from left, react at the end of the Women's World Cup Group B soccer match between Australia and Canada in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, July 31, 2023. Australia won 4-0. (AP Photo/Hamish Blair)

Injured Kerr not required for Australia as co-hosts knock Canada out of Women’s World Cup

Injured striker Sam Kerr was ready to play but wasn’t required for Australia in a 4-0 win over Canada that earned the Women’s World Cup co-hosts top spot in Group B and knocked the Olympic champions out of the tournament.

Morocco players celebrate following the Women's World Cup Group H soccer match between South Korea and Morocco in Adelaide, Australia, Sunday, July 30, 2023. (AP Photo/James Elsby)

Atlas Lionesses become latest Morocco team to earn a World Cup upset

Morocco’s teams are getting used to upsetting higher-ranked opponents on soccer’s biggest stage. Morocco beat South 1-0 in Adelaide to earn its first-ever Women’s World Cup win on Sunday.

French fans cheer on their team during the Women's World Cup Group F soccer match between France and Jamaica at Sydney Football Stadium in Sydney, Australia, Sunday, July 23, 2023. Almost a third of Australians are foreign-born, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, and over half have one or more parents born outside of the country leading to vocal crowds at matches. (AP Photo/Jessica Gratigny)

Pockets of passionate fans in Australia not fully tied to Matildas’ fate at the Women’s World Cup

There’s a chance Australia could be knocked out in the group stage of the Women’s World Cup, a fate that no host country experienced in the first eight editions of the tournament. That could undoubtedly dampen some local enthusiasm.

Morocco's goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi tries to punch the ball away as players collide in front of the Moroccan net, leading to an own goal, during the Women's World Cup Group H soccer match between Germany and Morocco in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, July 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Victoria Adkins)

Morocco shifts focus to next game after a big loss in its Women’s World Cup debut

Morocco’s debut game at the Women’s World Cup ended in a 6-0 loss to two-time champion Germany in what head coach Reynald Pedros described as a “David versus Goliath” contest.

Morocco's Nouhaila Benzina, left, and Fatima Gharbi walk around the ground during a familiarization tour ahead of their Women's World Cup Group H match against Germany in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, July 23, 2023. When Benzina steps onto the pitch Monday evening, she will be first player to compete in a senior-level FIFA Women's World Cup wearing a hijab. (AP Photo/Victoria Adkins)

Morocco, Benzina set to make Women’s World Cup history in a game against Germany

Nouhaila Benzina will make history when she steps onto the field for Morocco’s first match of the Women’s World Cup against Germany — and not just as a player for the first Arab or North African nation ever in the tournament.

Nigeria's goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie saves a penalty kick by Canada's Christine Sinclair, right, during the Women's World Cup Group B soccer match between Nigeria and Canada in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, July 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Victoria Adkins)

Nigeria’s Nnadozie denies Canada’s prolific scorer Sinclair in a 0-0 draw at the Women’s World Cup

A diving one-handed save from 22-year-old goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie denied international soccer’s leading scorer Christine Sinclair and played a pivotal role in Nigeria holding Olympic champion Canada to a 0-0 draw at the Women’s World Cup.

Members of the Afghan women's football team attend Morocco's practice ahead of the Women's World Cup in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, July 19, 2023. Some of the team left Afghanistan after the Taliban retook power in 2021 and came out to support the Moroccan women and show that Muslim women belong in sports. (AP Photo/Victoria Adkins)

Afghan players watch Morocco’s team practice for Women’s World Cup, hoping to get their chance

There’ll be 32 national teams competing across Australia and New Zealand in the Women’s World Cup. A 33rd team — unofficial by international soccer standards — will be watching from the stands.