RIO DE JANEIRO -- Alex Morgan isnt sugarcoating it. The visibly somber soccer star is still overwhelmed by the teams loss to Sweden in the Rio Games quarterfinals last week, officially ending the U.S. womens soccer teams quest for a fourth consecutive Olympic gold medal.We caught up with the 27-year-old at the P&G Family Home in Rio, where shes hanging with her family, supporting Team USA at other events and talking about her partnership with the Always #LikeAGirl campaign. She opened up about the loss and discussed whats next for her and the national team.espnW: The U.S. team played its games in Brasilia and other cities, and now youre finally in Rio de Janeiro. What has your experience in Rio been like so far?Coming to Rio, I feel like I was still heartbroken over our loss because we actually didnt make it to Rio. We ended in Brasilia. Had we won, we would have come to Rio. For me, deciding to come to Rio with my family -- as most of my teammates went home -- was very uplifting. I feel like I was able to support Team USA and I was able to experience the culture of Rio and Brazil in general. Its been really nice and a good distraction from everything else thats going on and the loss we had a couple of days ago.How have you and the team been handling the loss?For a day or two it was really, really difficult and bitter. And I think it will be bitter for a long time. But it was a humbling experience because this team has such high expectations for winning and doing well historically in tournaments, [since we were] consecutive, three-time Olympic gold medalists. I think it was very devastating and heartbreaking at first. I think we will come back even stronger, but it will take time.Whats the biggest hurdle for the national team going forward? Its not like we played a bad game. For us, its more about getting over the heartbreak. I dont think theres a huge hurdle to get over. But I think its going to take time and luckily theres three years between now and the next major tournament, so time is all we have right now.What did you say to Christen Press after the penalty kicks against Sweden? [Both Morgan and Press missed their penalty kicks.]It was devastating for the whole team, but for us in particular. We took it really hard. In the locker room, when we were all trying to be very supportive of each other, I just said, It happens to the best of us. And I think for us that gave us a quick smile or giggle for a second. It honestly could have happened to anyone.I feel like the effort was there when we played against Sweden. The passion and the heart was there. We were just extremely unlucky that day, especially in the penalties. But well bounce back from it. Its something so small in perspective given the career were both going to have with the national team.What was it like playing against former U.S. coach Pia Sundhage, who is now Swedens head coach? Did that make it extra nerve-wracking?No, weve played quite a bit against Pia, but I think we wanted to win even more because it was against her. At the same time, I do respect her at such a high level. She gave me my first Games with the national team. I respect her so much and she knows the game really well. So its not surprising that [Sweden is] in the final.Speaking of youngsters, how did Crystal Dunn and Mallory Pugh perform at the Olympics?They performed great. They both scored and did extremely well in their first major tournaments. With Mal being 18 years old, I can see the pressure getting to someone so young, but I feel like she took it in stride and performed exceptionally well. Im really proud of both of them.How did the U.S. midfield perform at the Olympics?Going into the Olympics, there were a lot of changes in the midfield because of Allie Long coming onto the team late in April. I feel like the midfield performed really well for having only a month or two to learn how to play together. Being knocked out in the quarterfinals isnt a good reflection of the way we played. Thats just the way it goes sometimes.Do you expect Amy Rodriguez and Sydney Leroux to join the team next year? I hope so because they are amazing soccer players. They were my teammates for many years. Theyre two close friends who I would love to see back on the national team. With Amy just having her baby and Sydney having her baby within the next month, the most important thing is getting back healthy. As long as they can do it healthy, I would love to see them back as my teammates.You and Sydney always dress up for Halloween. Any plans for this October? Im sure shell have some good ideas. Well see. Ask me in like two months.What do you think of Sweden advancing to the gold-medal game? Its hard for us to swallow because we want to be there, but at the end of the day, I just hope its a good match for the fans.Who are you picking: Sweden or Germany? I dont know. Im not really rooting for one over the other.Whats next for the team? Now, its just rebuilding and continuing to get back on course. We have two friendlies in September. That will be about getting the team back together, thinking positively and getting back on the right track. Cheap MLB Custom Jerseys . -- Vincent Lecavalier got everything but the desired result in his return to Tampa Bay. Discount MLB Custom Jerseys . -- Matt Ryan needed one of the best games of his career to lead the Falcons and their depleted offence out of their three-game losing streak last week. http://www.mlbcustomjerseys.com/ .C. -- Chris Thorburn thinks one of the reasons the Winnipeg Jets have been successful under new coach Paul Maurice is that theyre playing together as a team. Wholesale MLB Custom Jerseys . After a lengthy wait, persistent rain finally forced the postponement of the Nationals game against the Miami Marlins on Saturday night. The teams, and a few thousand fans, waited nearly four hours from the 7:05 scheduled start time before an announcement was made shortly before 11 p. Authentic MLB Custom Jerseys .Y. -- Bills receiver Stevie Johnson has a bone to pick with the NFL schedule maker. WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. -- New Orleans Saints receiver Michael Thomas is technically an unproven rookie with hardly a week of training camp under his belt.Could have fooled his teammates, and even coach Sean Payton.You wouldnt know he was a first-year player if you just came to practice, Payton said. You would just think hes one of the receivers out here making a lot of plays.Payton used the word amazing, to describe one play made by his sure-handed, second-round pick. And that was only the first of two one-handed catches, in tight coverage, of long touchdown passes down the left sideline.To make both plays, Thomas had to extend and contort his body to the point of crashing to the turf. Yet he found a way to corral the ball each time, drawing roars of approval from not just spectators, but other players on the field.When Thomas has been able to stay on his feet after a catch, he has demonstrated the ability to pick up considerable yards after the catch, once using a sudden jump-step to avoid a defender before sprinting toward the sideline and turning the corner.He has been encouraging when you see him in traffic. Hes got really good hands away from his body. So, hes not someone that lets the ball get in on his chest, Payton said. That will give him a chance to have a little bit more run-after-the-catch ability.Thomas made yet another tough grab during Wednesdays 11-on-11 drills, when he reached up to snag a slant pass that second-string quarterback Luke McCown zipped between quickly closing defensive backs Keenan Lewis and Jamal Golden.Both defenders met Thomas as the pass arrived, trying to rip the ball away as they made the tackle. They were unable to dislodge the ball from Thomas grip.I love that kid. He has a nose for the football, said McCown, a 13th-year veteran who has lined up with Thomas several times in the first handful of camp practices.Hes got this kind of -- golly -- just this want to get the ball no matter where its at, McCown said.Thats what you want in a receiver -- a guy that just wants the ball to be in his ZIP code, and hes going to find a way to come down with it, whether theres somebody hanging on him or not.The 6-foot-3, 212-pound Thomas was drafted 47th overall. He had solid, but not necessarily extraordinary statistics at Ohio State last season, catching 56 passes for 781 yards and nine touchdowns.But the Saints were less concerned with Thomas stats than his particular skills.At the very least, his height and sure hands made him a good candidate to help fill the void ccreated by the departure of Saints all-time leading receiver Marques Colston, who was released last winter, following his 10th season.ddddddddddddAlready, Thomas is getting a number of snaps with starting quarterback Drew Brees, who hasnt hesitated to throw the rookies way and has praised how quickly he learns.Thomas also has a former star NFL receiver in the family -- his uncle, Keyshawn Johnson. Thomas is not as flamboyant as his uncle. He is more soft-spoken and emphasizes humility, even as he projects confidence.After a recent practice, Thomas could be seen doing extra sprints; he was punishing himself for a false start in full team drills.That was my idea. I let the team down, I feel like, by moving too early, Thomas said. I can cost the team by doing that, so do something to correct it. Stay humble.Still, Thomas said he and his uncle talk, all the time, and that Johnson has been an important resource, teaching him how to hone his receiving skills and develop into an all-around pro.Thomas eagerness to explore ways to improve led him to strengthen his hands with yoga-type exercises.Brandin Cooks, who was New Orleans leading receiver last season, said he recalled hearing about Thomas affinity for hand yoga in the offseason, but forgot all about that until he saw the first of Thomas spectacular one-handed catches in training camp.Im like, `Maybe theres something to it, Cooks said. He has great hands.Whether Thomas turns out to be as productive as his famous uncle remains to be seen, but his acrobatic catches in camp have heightened expectations.Theyre probably going to expect that from me, so Im probably going to get another opportunity to make that (type of) play, so be ready when it presents itself, Thomas said. Its a momentum game. So if I can start that fire (with a big play), Id like to be that person.Game notes CB Keenan Lewis, who began training camp on the Saints physically-unable-to-perform list, took part in his first practice on Wednesday. ... DT Nick Fairley and S Erik Harris, who both left practice with undisclosed injuries on Saturday, returned on Wednesday. ... Payton said the Saints have signed S Jamal Golden, DE Matt Shaughnessy and G Jordan Walsh. ... The Saints have waived DT Lawrence Virgil and assigned S Alden Darby and WR Kyle Prater waived-injured designations.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '