WOMEN'S WORLD CUP: Three unique storylines to go along with the U.S women's team

The United States women's soccer team may be able to party like it's 1999, the last time they made it to a World Cup final. A 3-1 win over France today reserved a spot in the final for the Americans. It's been a dramatic ride for the team, and here are three headlines off the field that drew some global attention:


NOT-SO-SECRET ADMIRER

(Yahoo) Hope Solo has a not-so-secret admirer. His name is Stefan Pfister, and he's kind of creepy. 

The 43-year-old from Dusseldorf plans to ask Solo to marry him with an elaborate banner that he will bring to the Borussia Park in Western Germany for the big game.

Here's the full story from Yahoo.


A NATION CELEBRATES (SHIRTLESS, APPARENTLY?)


(Yahoo) After Abby Wambach's dramatic goal in the quarterfinals against Brazil, journalist Robby Donoho compiled celebration videos from across the nation. People like to watch soccer without basic clothing articles like shirts, apparently. Here's the vid:

COVER-LESS


(Business Insider) Timing did in the women's team in terms of Sports Illustrated coverage. Because of the World Cup schedule, Sports Illustrated put Derek Jeter on the cover, not Wambach and the women's team. Here's what Terry McDonnell, editor of the Sports Illustrated Group, said:

"We were very tempted to go with the women's soccer team, but they could have been eliminated by the time the issue reached subscribers," he told The Wire by phone on Tuesday afternoon. "Imagine the story you'd write if that happened."

 Read the full story here.