USWNT star Megan Rapinoe: Olympic semifinal loss to Canada 'bitter to swallow'

United States Women's National Team star Megan Rapinoe said Monday's semifinal defeat to Canada at the Tokyo Olympics is a "bitter one to swallow." 

The USWNT fell 1-0 thanks to a Jessie Fleming second-half penalty shot and will miss out on the chance to compete for a gold medal. 

"It's terrible. We just didn't have it today," Rapinoe said after the match, according to ESPN. "Just too many errors from us again. I felt like the space was there for us to play and we just couldn't get into it, too many touches or, you know, an errant touch. That's football. They got, I think, one shot on goal, a PK, and from what it sounds like it was a PK. So yeah, it's a bitter one to swallow. Obviously we never want to lose to Canada. I don't think I've ever lost to Canada.

"So it's a bitter one. Obviously there's still a lot to compete for. That's what I told the girls and what we talked about in the huddle. It's not the color we want, but there's still a medal on the line. That's a huge thing and we want to win that game, but yeah, this is ... this sucks. It sucks."

Monday's loss marked the first time the USWNT have been defeated by Canada since 2001. The U.S. women were looking to become the first team to win a World Cup and Olympic gold back to back.

The USWNT has struggled mightily at this summer's Olympics, beginning with a 3-0 defeat to Sweden in the opening match of the group stage that snapped a 44-game unbeaten streak. 

The Americans defeated New Zealand 6-1 in the second game of the group stage and secured a scoreless draw against Australia in the third game. They then defeated the Netherlands on penalty kicks in the quarterfinals to reach the semifinals against Canada. 

Rapinoe told reporters Monday that nothing has been clicking for the U.S. women since they arrived in Tokyo last month. 

"It just hasn't flowed for us. It hasn't been easy," she said. "But it just didn't click for us. I don't know if it was just roster rotations. I know it's a tough tournament, trying to save people."

The USWNT will play Australia in the bronze medal match on Thursday. It could be the final time many of the American women compete at the Olympics as they near retirement, including Rapinoe (36), Carli Lloyd (39) and Becky Sauerbrunn (36).