The Emma Hayes era has arrived, and the signs are already very good. The U.S. women’s national team were a mess after the 2023 World Cup, lacking in both quality and direction – looking a team in a state of shock after suffering their most underwhelming showing ever on the global stage. Hayes always figured to offer an injection of energy and tactical acumen once she arrived, but few would have foreseen things looking this promising so soon into her tenure.
Despite having less than a week to work with her new players, the former Chelsea coach masterminded two victories over South Korea, as the USWNT scored seven goals without conceding in a sign that their strong start to 2024 could yet translate into Olympic glory this summer.
Hayes’ debut match on Saturday was pretty comfortable as her likely first XI for Paris 2024 picked apart their overmatched opponents to the tune of a 4-0 win. Tuesday’s rematch, meanwhile, was less exciting, but still offered encouragement as Hayes shuffled her pack before her big guns came off the bench to help secure a routine 3-0 victory.
Hayes does now, however, face a real selection headache. The coach can, after all, only take 18 players to the Olympics, and will have to seriously evaluate who she can afford to cut from this most talented of rosters. It’s a good problem to have, but the decisions Hayes makes over the next few weeks will leave some feeling pretty disappointed.
GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from the Hayes’ first games in charge of the USWNT…
WINNER: Emma Hayes
What a start! There was always going to be expectation around Hayes’ arrival into the USWNT setup, such was her success at Chelsea, and this was about as dominant of a first two fixtures as she could have hoped for.
Her new team was excellent in the first game, taking to her attacking system flawlessly, and piecing together a fine showing. Hayes would have been pleased with the way they kept the ball, and picked Korea apart for most of proceedings. They didn’t really look threatened at the other end either – something that would have undoubtedly been a focus following a rocky period defensively.
She seems to have quickly established how she foresees getting the best out of the swathe of forward options she has available to her. Mallory Swanson was a revelation through the middle, while Cat Macario provided real attacking thrust from the No.10 spot.
Yes, the level of opponent could have been better, but this is still a talented Korea side who held Germany to a draw at last summer’s World Cup, and the USWNT made quick work of them – twice.
LOSER: Emma Hayes
Despite how pleased she will have been with her team’s performances, Hayes now knows exactly how difficult it will be to cut this group down to just 18 players for this summer’s tournament. Olympic rosters are far smaller than those the USWNT are used to, and thus Hayes will have to make some tough calls in terms of leaving players out whose places would be a given in a squad of 23 or so.
The Englishwoman made sure to get a good look at pretty much everyone in her squad over the course of the two Korea matches, but for some this will be their last taste of USWNT action until at least the fall. While it’s the cliched ‘nice problem to have for Hayes’, few would envy some of the demanding decisions she now has to mull over.
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LOSER: Alex Morgan
One of those who is currently on the bubble for Olympic selection is Alex Morgan. The iconic striker has battled hard to get back into contention after originally being left off the W Gold Cup roster at the start of 2024, but if Hayes uses these friendlies to inform her selection process for Paris 2024, then Morgan may well end up on the outside looking in.
The 34-year-old is still working her way back to fitness after suffering an injury playing for the San Diego Wave in April, which in turn led to her not even making it off the bench in the first Korea friendly. Morgan did, however, take her place in the starting line up for Tuesday’s game, and played like she had a point to prove as she battles some of the best attacking talents in the world for Olympic recognition.
That said, it was telling that it was only after Morgan was among a raft of players to be taken off around the hour-mark that the USWNT truly clicked, as the likes of Swanson, Sophia Smith and Trinity Rodman were introduced off the bench to good effect.
With Jaedyn Shaw and Macario also in the mix for roster spots, it feels unlikely that Hayes will use one-third of her squad on attacking players. At least one of the six attackers called-up for the Korea friendlies will have to miss out, and right now, Morgan’s place looks most in danger.
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WINNER: Mallory Swanson
Perhaps the biggest reason why Morgan might not make the Olympics, however, is the form of Swanson. The forward was excellent in the Saturday’s game, bagging a brace and orchestrating play from central areas. And on Tuesday, when things needed livening up, she provided the necessary spark off the bench. One smart run helped set up the US second goal for Smith, while she served as a constant buzzing presence through the middle, and was involved in Lily Yohannes’ debut strike to wrap up the 3-0 win.
Swanson is a different kind of player to Morgan – less of a natural finisher, yet more mobile and perhaps better suited to this all-action Hayes setup. The USWNT came into this break having not quite nailed down who would start as their No.9 this summer, but Swanson could barely have done more to show why she deserves that role in France.
WINNER: Lily Yohannes
Yohannes has a tough decision to make in the coming months. Split between eligibility for the Netherlands and U.S., the exciting 16-year-old midfielder could yet line up for either side.
The Ajax teenager was first called-up for the USWNT’s SheBelieves Cup triumph in April, but after Saturday’s clash with Korea was still waiting for her international debut. Hayes, though, was clearly keen to get a look at Yohannes, and thus threw her on for the final 20 minutes on Tuesday. Safe to say the youngster seized her opportunity and then some.
Soon after coming on, Yohannes pinged a pass down the channel, creating one of the U.S.’s better chances of the second half, and set the tone for a wonderful cameo. She bossed the game from midfield, kept the ball well, covered ground effectively, and was good value for her late goal. With it, she became the third-youngest goal-scorer in USWNT history – and offered hope for the future, too.
LOSER: The Olympic field
While the opposition may not have been the strongest, the way Hayes looks to have quickly implemented her ideas onto the USWNT must have sent shivers down the spines of some of the other teams who will be going for gold this summer. If this is what the new coach is capable of in a week, what will happen when she gets an extended period around the American squad?
Certainly, the U.S. look in a much better place now than they were heading into the 2023 World Cup, and though Spain remain the favourites for Olympic glory this summer, there is no doubt that the USWNT should be regarded as their main challengers on this evidence.
