I still remember the humid morning in Chicago when I saw the US Women's National Team practicing at Soldier Field. The air was thick with anticipation, and I could feel the energy radiating from the players even from the stands. As someone who's followed women's soccer for over a decade, I've witnessed countless tournaments, but there was something special brewing during that 2017 Tournament of Nations that made me sit up and pay attention. The way the players moved with such synchronized precision made me wonder about the intense preparation behind the scenes.

Later that week, I happened to catch an interview with one of the coaching staff members at a local coffee shop near the team's training facility. He was explaining their rigorous preparation schedule to another journalist, and his words stuck with me. "We are trying to get maybe about, if we can, 18 practices together including two-a-day practices. We are hoping to get 18 practices including friendlies before we actually get into the first game proper on August 5th," he said while stirring his coffee. That number - 18 practices - seemed both ambitious and necessary given the competitive field they were about to face.

Watching the actual 2017 Tournament of Nations soccer highlights and key moments you need to see later, I could clearly see how those 18 practice sessions paid off. The team's chemistry was noticeably sharper compared to previous tournaments. I particularly remember that stunning match against Brazil where Mallory Pugh, then just 19 years old, displayed breathtaking skill that left veteran defenders scrambling. The 4-3 victory wasn't just about the scoreline - it was about the tactical discipline that could only come from those intense two-a-day sessions the coach had mentioned. What impressed me most was how the younger players seamlessly integrated with experienced veterans, creating this beautiful harmony on the pitch that I haven't seen replicated since.

The Australia match remains etched in my memory, not just because of the dramatic 1-0 finish, but because of how the team maintained their structure under pressure. Having attended about 12 professional soccer tournaments over the years, I can confidently say this was among the most compelling displays of team cohesion I've witnessed. The statistics spoke volumes - the US team maintained 58% possession and completed 84% of their passes, numbers that don't happen by accident but through meticulous preparation like those 18 practice sessions. While some critics argued the tournament format was experimental, I found it refreshing to see different tactical approaches tested against world-class opponents.

Looking back, what made the 2017 Tournament of Nations truly memorable for me was witnessing the foundation being laid for the World Cup victory that would follow two years later. Those practice sessions the coach emphasized weren't just about physical preparation - they were about building the mental toughness and team unity that would define the USWNT's golden era. The tournament might not get the same attention as the World Cup or Olympics, but for true soccer enthusiasts, it provided these incredible glimpses into a team transforming before our eyes. I still rewatch those highlights occasionally, and each time I notice new details that trace back to that grueling preparation period in Chicago.