US Soccer Sisters Alyssa & Gisele Thompson Share Their Strategies for Handling Big-Stage Pressure
Sisters Alyssa and Gisele Thompson know first-hand about the pressures of playing on the World Cup stage, so they empathize with what the U.S. men’s team is feeling as they take the field on American soil, advancing to the Round of 32. “I think when you think about pressure, not letting it affect you because you can rely on your practice and what you’ve done before is really important,” Alyssa, 21, says to Muscle & Fitness exclusively while partnering with Verizon for their enhanced loyalty program, Verizon Shine, giving customers a chance to win once-in-a-lifetime experiences like seeing the World Cup finals. “And I think the men are super prepared for what’s ahead of them.” Both stars agree that pressure is inevitable at this level, but it’s how you respond to it that can define a performance. “I feel like it’s always a lot of pressure playing for your country because you do want to win,” adds Gisele, 20. “You’re pressed with honor and you want to win, and I think every game...