USWNT vs. Japan player ratings: U.S. falls short as Nadeshiko takes home SheBelieves Cup

USA Today

27-02-2025

USWNT vs. Japan player ratings: U.S. falls short as Nadeshiko takes home SheBelieves Cup
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Megan Rapinoe on what Coach Emma Hayes brings to the USWNT
Megan Rapinoe explains why she's all in on Coach Emma Hayes and what she brings to the U.S. Women's National Team.
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For the first time in six years, the U.S. women's national team has failed to win the SheBelieves Cup. And for the first time under Emma Hayes, it has lost a game.
Japan ended the USWNT's five-tournament win streak in impressive fashion on Wednesday, defeating Hayes' side 2-1 in a game it mostly controlled.
Yūka Momiki stunned the USWNT with a second-minute goal for the Nadeshiko, who only needed a draw to seal the tournament title. The U.S. would answer back 12 minutes later, however, when Ally Sentnor scored her second goal of the SheBelieves Cup.
Tōko Koga would find the winner early in the second half, putting home a rebound off a free kick to give Japan three wins in its three SheBelieves Cup games.
Plenty of USWNT players weren't at their best at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, but Hayes' side will also have to admit that it lost to a Japan team firing on all cylinders.
As a reminder, here's the Pro Soccer Wire player rating scale:
1: Abysmal. Literally any member of our staff would have been been able to play at this level.
6: Adequate. This is our base score.
10: Transcendent, era-defining performance. This is Carli Lloyd vs. Japan in the 2015 World Cup final.
GK: Jane Campbell - 5
Campbell had a tough start, as she was hesitant off her line and punished on Japan's early goal. The Houston Dash goalkeeper's only save of the game came on Yui Hasegawa's free kick early in the second half, but Koga pounced on the rebound for the game-winner. It was that kind of night.
RB: Emily Fox - 5.5
Fox wasn't up to her typical standards, particularly on Japan's second when she allowed Koga to sneak in behind her and put home a rebound. The Arsenal defender also was unable to influence the proceedings going forward as the USWNT chased the game late.
CB: Tara McKeown - 5
McKeown's early unforced turnover led to a throw-in that Japan turned into a goal. From there the Washington Spirit defender had a torrid time with Japan's pressure, often struggling to find a forward pass. She was also caught out on a 25th minute chance where she was bypassed by Hikaru Kitagawa, who fired just wide.
On the bright side, McKeown was highly involved defensively with a team-high 11 defensive actions and some key interventions.
CB: Emily Sonnett - 5.5
Sonnett was caught out on Japan's opener as Momiki made a blind run off her back shoulder. The defender's recovery effort only managed to plow over Campbell and give the Nadeshiko midfielder an open goal to aim for.
Sonnett recovered well to produce some key clearances, but she also struggled in possession through most of the night in the face of Japan's press.
LB: Crystal Dunn - 6
Dunn wasn't as clean on the ball as she typically is, going 16 for 22 passing while losing possession 11 times. But she did demonstrate some solid one-v-one defending and nearly got an assist when her cross found Lindsey Heaps for a header that went straight at the goalkeeper. Was replaced at halftime.
CM: Lily Yohannes - 5.5
Yohannes didn't have it quite her own way against the ferocious pressure of Japan's midfield, but still displayed some great skill in possession. Ultimately, the teenager was unable to influence the game nearly as much as she did in a breakout display against Colombia. She was replaced early in the second half.
CM: Sam Coffey - 6
Coffey did her best to stem the tide in midfield, but it was an uphill battle for the Portland Thorns star. Coffey did her usual ball-winning and was tidy in possession, going 4-for-5 in duels and 32 for 37 in passing. But as the game went on, Coffey was bypassed more and more by Japan's swarming midfield.
AM: Lindsey Heaps - 5.5
Much like the game against Colombia, Heaps played her preferred No. 10 role but was unable to make any telling contributions in the final third. Her only real chance of the game was a first-half header on which she got little purchase, and she didn't contribute any key passes or completed crosses.
Heaps put in plenty of hard work and won a game-high nine duels, but the USWNT needs more chance generation from its captain and a player who, positionally at least, should be the focal point of the attack.
RW: Yazmeen Ryan - 6
Ryan was a livewire for the USWNT attack, particularly late in the first half when a pair of driving runs put real pressure on Japan's defense. The Houston Dash forward's end product wasn't quite sharp enough, however.
LW: Ally Sentnor - 6.5
Sentnor did everything right on her second goal of the tournament, making a great run, taking a positive first touch and burying her second touch.
Otherwise, it was a pretty rough first half for the Utah Royals star, who saw plenty of attacks fizzle out at her feet. She was replaced at the break.
ST: Catarina Macario - 6.5
Hayes complimented Macario's hold-up play ahead of the game and the Chelsea striker showed why on the USWNT's opener. Macario posted up on Saori Takarada and left the defender in the dust before playing an inch-perfect ball for Sentnor to finish.
Otherwise, Macario had to fight to get involved during her 58 minutes on the field. That was in large part due to Japan's suffocating defensive work, as the forward ended up with just 25 total touches
Sub: Jaedyn Shaw - 5
Shaw came on at halftime and slotted in as a left forward after thriving as a No. 10 against Australia. The 20-year-old was far less effective connecting with her teammates against Japan than the Matildas, though she did manage a decent turn and shot at the goalkeeper with 10 minutes to play.
Sub: Jenna Nighswonger - 6
The Arsenal fullback came on at halftime and played a much more attacking role than Dunn did, especially when the USWNT went down a goal and needed to score twice. Nighswonger won all five of her duels and helped connect on some attacking moves, but her defensive work was questionable.
Sub: Lynn Biyendolo - 6
Hayes introduced Biyendolo as the U.S. looked for an injection of pace, and the Seattle Reign attacker provided more of a threat in behind than Macario. Biyendolo had a couple tough looks but was unable to trouble the goalkeeper.
Sub: Korbin Albert - 6
Albert was deployed much higher than usual as the USWNT looked for two goals late. She connected on a few more forward passes than usual but ultimately didn't have much time or space to influence the game.
Sub: Alyssa Thompson - 6
Thompson offered a spark off the bench as she put Japan's defense on its heels, but was a bit shaky at times when offered the chance to play a final ball.
Sub: Tierna Davidson - 6.5
Davidson came on midway through the second half, and her calmness in possession and ability to hit a long switch were major assets as the U.S. chased the game late. The defender would've also scored a long-range goal were it not for a great save from Ayaka Yamashita.