EVER SINCE the United States women’s national team hoisted the World Cup trophy in July, life hasn’t slowed down much for most players, including forward Amy Rodriguez.

First, there was the whirlwind of media coverage surrounding the team’s victory in Canada. Then the players returned to their clubs to finish out the NWSL season. And in the middle of all that, the players managed to fit in four Victory Tour matches with the national side.

Now, only three weeks after the NWSL season came to a close, the U.S. is back at it again with two more Victory Tour match-ups this week against Brazil. The first game is on Wednesday (10pm ET, ESPN2) in Seattle and the second will be played in Orlando four days later (2:30pm ET, Fox Sports 1).

While the team’s early post-World Cup matches didn’t present much of a challenge—the U.S. won those four matches by a combined score of 28-2—Brazil, led by five-time World Player of the Year Marta, should present a far greater test. That said, Rodriguez doesn't believe the team will be too worried about results.

"They're important, but we're also taking things with a grain of salt because there's a lot of time between now and February,” Rodriguez told American Soccer Now. “We are going to be focusing on ourselves a lot more over these next three months in preparation for February. Jill and the coaching staff are going to be preparing an excellent plan for us to build up to that moment.”

For her part, Rodriguez heads into these matches on quite a roll. After the World Cup she returned to her club and dominated the NWSL playoffs. She scored a brace in FC Kansas City’s 3-0 throttling of the Chicago Red Stars in the semifinals and then she notched the game-winning goal in a 1-0 victory over the Seattle Reign in the finals.

The championship was FCKC's second in a row, and Rodriguez scored the decisive goal in the 2014 final as well.  

"I felt like this summer turned out to be great for my career,” said the University of Southern California alum. “I'm just so happy that I was able to help the team and defend the championship that we won last year, and win it again.

“If we had lost it would have left a bitter taste in my mouth, but to know that I finished the summer off with two gold medals—two championships—feels really good."

Rodriguez has been a tour de force in the NWSL the past two seasons, scoring six goals and picking up six assists this year in a season shortened by her World Cup duties. She tallied 13 times in 2014 while being named to the league’s Best XI.

Rodriguez is quick to credit her teammates when discussing her personal accomplishments.

"I play in front of 10 amazing teammates and I felt like each game they helped me play better and better,” said the forward. “Honestly, they make me look really good. I have to thank the girls on the field with me, and my coaches, that have really put me in a position to excel and succeed."

She also believes that playing in the NWSL has been key to staying ready for the international stage.

"I feel like playing with my club team is excellent for me,” said Rodriguez. “Training every single day in a competitive environment just sharpens my play. You're getting better when you're constantly training and constantly working. Thanks to Vlatko [Andonovski] and the staff at Kansas City, I've had a great training environment and it's only prepared me better to be a player on the national team."

In the past, women’s professional soccer in the United States has struggled, and two previous leagues have folded. But this time around, things are going better with the NWSL’s fourth season right around the corner. A new expansion squad, the Orlando Pride, was also unveiled this week.

“I’m very excited for Orlando to be jumping in... I hope they're not better than my team though," Rodriguez said,  laughing. "I'm looking forward to another expansion team and wishing them the best—just second best."

After her stellar club form and dominating league opposition in two consecutive playoff runs, many have called for Rodriguez to see more time with the U.S., especially considering the fact that many of the other American strikers have been mired in goal-scoring slumps.

Rodriguez admits she’d like to be on the field more often, but is also happy to play her role.

"I would always love to have more minutes with the national team, but here at this level, it's much more competitive and we have such a good squad of forwards,” the California native said. “I'm playing my role here and when called upon, I'm ready to play and go for it. We're winning championships—so for me, I'm smiles from ear to ear."

One factor that has led Rodriguez to so much success with FCKC is her midfield provider and dear friend, Lauren Holiday. Holiday and Rodriguez first became close while playing on the U.S. youth national teams and remain extremely tight to this day.

Following the 2015 World Cup though, Holiday announced her retirement—something that will be bittersweet for Rodriguez.

"I am so excited for her to enjoy her retirement and celebrate her career. I obviously have so many great memories of her on the field, and off the field I have countless memories as well. I'm going to deeply miss her, but I think that my excitement for her to experience another part of her life outweighs my sadness."

While Holiday plays as an attacking midfielder for FCKC, she has been the U.S.’s holding midfielder for the past few years. And with her retirement there will now be a gaping hole in the U.S.’s three-player midfield.

Rodriguez says that gap will be difficult, if not impossible, to fill.

"I can't say specifically who I think could ever replace Lauren. I know that our coaching staff is going to have to, if they haven't already, put a plan in place that gets the next set of midfielders ready for the Olympics next summer. I'm sure the coaching staff is working hard on trying to figure out what to do, but there really is no replacement for her."

Rodriguez took a short sabbatical of her own, in 2013, when she was pregnant with her son. She credits that break, and starting a family, with giving her a new look on the game.

“I have a little bit more perspective. I play out of enjoyment and for fun. I play to make my son and husband proud. I think I did that before, but I didn't have that extra factor. I'm not sure what it is, it's hard to pinpoint, but I definitely enjoy playing now. I'm excited to show my son what you can accomplish when you put your mind to something and you really give it your best.”

As the Olympics draw near, Rodriguez says it’s important to stay focused on the qualifying process and not start thinking about next summer too early.

"In the past, our problem was getting too far ahead of ourselves," she said. "In 2011, when we got too far ahead of ourselves, we didn't qualify in the tournament and had to go into the playoff. But I think we've learned that lesson.

“We're in a much better space, with a good head on our shoulders and we're not going to take anything for granted. I think December is when we come together and start working on team chemistry and sharpening up again. I feel confident. I know this team. We've always trained really hard. Come February we're going to be at the top of our game again and hoping to qualify for a spot in Rio."

Still, Rodriguez knows that expectations will be high.

"Whenever you win, you set the bar of expectation. Now, the expectation for us is to turn around and win the Olympics. That's going to be our goal, our marker,” said the striker.

“We know we can be at the top of the world, so we need to maintain that. Sometimes that can be really hard. There's only one way to go, and it's down. But with the fight and determination this team has, I'm hoping we can stand on that podium and win that gold medal next summer."

John D. Halloran is an American Soccer Now columnist. Follow him on Twitter.