Latest news with #SheBelieves
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Why USWNT's loss to Japan in SheBelieves Cup could be a ‘good thing' for Emma Hayes' team
SAN DIEGO—The U.S. women's national team has ended its five-year run as the reigning champions of the SheBelieves Cup after a 2-1 defeat to Japan. It is a disappointing result for U.S. fans, marking Emma Hayes' first loss in 15 matches since becoming head coach, but Wednesday's game against a more experienced rival was a humbling and necessary step for the Americans as they focus on developing a new generation of players. 'I always go back to what our objectives were in the first place,' Hayes calmly told reporters after the game, 'and that was to deepen our playing pool with opportunities in high-pressure situations against top opponents, and that's what tonight (Wednesday), especially, is about.' It's no secret this latest camp was designed for Hayes and her coaching staff to observe seasoned U.S. players in a tournament setting. The goal was to determine where players were in their development, and whether they are ready for a regular spot on the senior team, or would be a better fit among Hayes' burgeoning Under-23 project. 'We have to look at which players are ready for now, which players are ready for later, and which ones will go with the under-23s and which ones will develop with us,' Hayes said. 'So, from that perspective, it was mission accomplished.' Hayes experimented heavily with the SheBelieves line-up, even changing the team's starting XI entirely from their opening game against Colombia to their second match with Australia, which ended in victory. There were four senior debuts over three games, and a handful of breakout moments for young players such as 21-year-old Ally Sentnor and 17-year-old Lily Yohannes. Cat Macario, a familiar face in the national team circuit, also had a stellar comeback to the international stage after being sidelined for years because of a knee injury. She even scored for the U.S. for the first time in three years, finding the net in the 2-0 win over Colombia. 'We could look at the progress of Ally Sentnor, a young player coming into the senior camp, scoring a couple of goals, Lily Yohannes, getting her first two starts at senior level,' Hayes said. 'There are plenty of new combinations and new connections, which throw up several challenges when you play a well-polished team.' Those challenges are exactly why Hayes tapered expectations heading into the SheBelieves finale. Japan were dominant in the tournament, scoring 10 goals across three wins. They only needed a draw against the U.S. to lift their first SheBelieves title, but they quickly set the pace with an opening goal from Yuka Momiki in the second minute. 'I completely understood the quality of the opponent we would face,' Hayes said. 'They, without question, (are) one of the best teams in the world, with players that are extremely well played-in together, while probably the vast majority of them being in the middle of their season (the NWSL resumes in March). That showed in the game, and it's OK to be disappointed.' Both goals in the 2-1 loss came following errors in front of goal. While the U.S. could respond to Japan's first goal with an equalizer in the 14th minute through Sentnor, they failed to respond to Toko Koga's strike in the 50th minute. 'Every cycle, there's always a little upset like this — and it's a really good thing for this team. No one likes losing. But there's a lot of progress in our development and how we're playing, our style, our identity, and really honing in on the details,' U.S. captain Lindsey Heaps said after the game. 'We faced a really good team, they made it so difficult on us. 'It's a hard loss, but we keep moving and we stay positive.' There were glimpses of brilliance in their performance against Japan. The U.S. kept possession even and had more shots on target, with Heaps nearly scoring off several diving headers. The team was tapping on Japan's door, but it proved too little too late by full time. As Hayes said, the only way the U.S. would improve against Japan and other top-level teams was to play against them and make those mistakes in real-time. The preference, of course, is to do that during an international friendly. 'This is a big learning opportunity. We're a young team. We all haven't played together for very long,' said 20-year-old Jaedyn Shaw, who began her NWSL career in San Diego at 17 before being traded to the North Carolina Courage last month. 'It just gives us something to go and work for and really dive deep into when we go back to our clubs, and continue to evolve as a team.' Sentnor had a breakout tournament, scoring her first two international goals and netting an assist over three games to make her the sixth player to contribute in all three matches in a single edition of this tournament, following other U.S. standouts Tobin Heath (2019), Christen Press (2020), Heaps (2021), Alex Morgan (2023) and Mallory Swanson (2023), according to OptaJack. 'The young players, including myself, are just gonna learn a ton from playing against really tough opponents that are super technical,' said Sentnor. 'I would have never believed I'd be in this position this early in my career, and the players around me have just helped me so much, so I'm hoping for more caps with this team and more opportunities, but I'm just so grateful for the ones I got this tournament.' For Hayes, falling to Japan was a necessary step to grow the national team's ecosystem, which begins with expanding the player pool and identifying that next generation of players. 'You need moments to give you a sense of where you are in that path, but our future is exciting, regardless of the result,' Hayes said. 'We played one of the best teams in the world, whose nucleus have played together for a long time, and it showed. 'We need to build the group and the larger pool that we think are going to progress us to the World Cup (in 2027), and now we have to develop our game model so that it plays out in with the qualities that we know you need to have to beat the very, very best teams at the top level.' This article originally appeared in The Athletic. US Women's national team, Soccer, International Football, NWSL 2025 The Athletic Media Company
New York Times
27-02-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Why USWNT's loss to Japan in SheBelieves Cup could be a ‘good thing' for Emma Hayes' team
The U.S. women's national team has ended its five-year run as the reigning champions of the SheBelieves Cup after a 2-1 defeat against Japan in San Diego. It is a disappointing result for U.S. fans, marking Emma Hayes' first loss in 15 matches since becoming head coach, but Wednesday's game against a more experienced rival was a humbling and necessary step for the Americans as they focus on developing a new generation of players. Advertisement 'I always go back to what our objectives were in the first place,' Hayes calmly told reporters after the game, 'and that was to deepen our playing pool with opportunities in high-pressure situations against top opponents, and that's what tonight (Wednesday), especially, is about.' It's no secret this latest camp was designed for Hayes and her coaching staff to observe seasoned U.S. players in a tournament setting. The goal was to determine where players were in their development, and whether they are ready for a regular spot on the senior team, or would be a better fit among Hayes' burgeoning U-23 project. 'We have to look at which players are ready for now, which players are ready for later, and which ones will go with the under-23s and which ones will develop with us,' Hayes said. 'So, from that perspective, it was mission accomplished.' Hayes experimented heavily with the SheBelieves line-up, even changing the team's starting XI entirely from their opening game against Colombia to their second match with Australia, which ended in victory. There were four senior debuts over three games, and a handful of breakout moments for young players such as 21-year-old Ally Sentnor and 17-year-old Lily Yohannes. Cat Macario, a familiar face in the national team circuit, also had a stellar comeback to the international stage after being sidelined for years because of a knee injury. She even scored for the U.S. for the first time in three years, finding the net in the 2-0 win over Colombia. 'We could look at the progress of Ally Sentnor, a young player coming into the senior camp, scoring a couple of goals, Lily Yohannes, getting her first two starts at senior level,' Hayes said. 'There are plenty of new combinations and new connections, which throw up several challenges when you play a well-polished team.' Advertisement Those challenges are exactly why Hayes tapered expectations heading into the SheBelieves finale. Japan were dominant in the tournament, scoring 10 goals across three wins. They only needed a draw against the U.S. to lift their first SheBelieves title, but they quickly set the pace with an opening goal from Yuka Momiki in the second minute. 'I completely understood the quality of the opponent we would face,' Hayes said. 'They, without question, (are) one of the best teams in the world, with players that are extremely well played-in together, while probably the vast majority of them being in the middle of their season (the NWSL resumes in March). That showed in the game, and it's OK to be disappointed.' Both goals in the 2-1 loss came following errors in front of goal. While the U.S. could respond to Japan's first goal with an equalizer in the 14th minute through Sentnor, they failed to respond to Toko Koga's strike in the 50th minute. 'Every cycle, there's always a little upset like this — and it's a really good thing for this team. No one likes losing. But there's a lot of progress in our development and how we're playing, our style, our identity, and really honing in on the details,' U.S. captain Lindsey Heaps said after the game. 'We faced a really good team, they made it so difficult on us. 'It's a hard loss, but we keep moving and we stay positive.' There were glimpses of brilliance in their performance against Japan. The U.S. kept possession even and had more shots on target, with Heaps nearly scoring off several diving headers. The team was tapping on Japan's door, but it proved too little too late by full time. As Hayes said, the only way the U.S. would improve against Japan and other top-level teams was to play against them and make those mistakes in real-time. The preference, of course, is to do that during an international friendly. Advertisement 'This is a big learning opportunity. We're a young team. We all haven't played together for very long,' said 20-year-old Jaedyn Shaw, who began her NWSL career in San Diego at 17 before being traded to the North Carolina Courage last month. 'It just gives us something to go and work for and really dive deep into when we go back to our clubs, and continue to evolve as a team.' Sentnor had a breakout tournament, scoring her first two international goals and netting an assist over three games to make her the sixth player to contribute in all three matches in a single edition of this tournament, following other U.S. standouts Tobin Heath (2019), Christen Press (2020), Heaps (2021), Alex Morgan (2023) and Mallory Swanson (2023), according to OptaJack. 'The young players, including myself, are just gonna learn a ton from playing against really tough opponents that are super technical,' said Sentnor. 'I would have never believed I'd be in this position this early in my career, and the players around me have just helped me so much, so I'm hoping for more caps with this team and more opportunities, but I'm just so grateful for the ones I got this tournament.' For Hayes, falling to Japan was a necessary step to grow the national team's ecosystem, which begins with expanding the player pool and identifying that next generation of players. 'You need moments to give you a sense of where you are in that path, but our future is exciting, regardless of the result,' Hayes said. 'We played one of the best teams in the world, whose nucleus have played together for a long time, and it showed. 'We need to build the group and the larger pool that we think are going to progress us to the World Cup (in 2027), and now we have to develop our game model so that it plays out in with the qualities that we know you need to have to beat the very, very best teams at the top level.'
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Japan beats United States 2-1 for SheBelieves Cup women's soccer title
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Toko Koga scored early in the second half and Japan handed the United States its first loss under coach Emma Hayes with a 2-1 victory Wednesday night in the SheBelieves Cup title game. The Americans had not lost since last February when they fell 2-0 to Mexico in the CONCACAF W Gold Cup. The loss also snapped the U.S. team's string of five titles in the SheBelieves Cup, now in its 10th year. The United States and Japan were both undefeated in the tournament heading into the final match at Snapdragon Stadium. 'Of course we want to win. No one wants to lose these things,' Hayes said. 'But we didn't put out our most experienced team. We put out a team we're hoping to develop, and our goals go beyond just the SheBelieves.' The U.S. had been unbeaten in the last 14 games against Japan. The Americans' last loss to Japan came in 2012. Japan took the early lead with Yuka Momiki's goal in the second minute. But Ally Sentnor tied it for the U.S. in the 14th with an assist from Catarina Macario. Sentnor, the U.S. Soccer Young Player of the Year, has scored in both her starts for the team. Japan pulled back in front on Koga's goal in the 50th minute. She had come into the match as a second-half substitute. 'They were a higher level to us throughout the whole evening,' said Hayes, now 15-1-2 as the U.S. coach. Hayes, who took over the team late last May and led the team to a gold medal at the Paris Olympics, made 10 changes to the roster she used in a 2-1 victory over Australia on Sunday. Jane Campbell got her eighth career start in goal for the national team as Hayes looks to develop goalkeepers after Alyssa Naeher's retirement last year. The U.S. team was playing in the tournament without the trio of Mallory Swanson, Trinity Rodman and Sophia (Smith) Wilson. Rodman is rehabbing a back injury, Smith was not yet in game form and Swanson was out for personal commitments. 'I'd love to have all of our top players available, I want that, but I can only pick the players that are available," Hayes said. "I think you want to learn this lesson now. This is the game I really wanted for us to really see where players who have played less that five matches for the national team, what's really missing for them, whether its in possession or out of possession.' Japan was coming off a 4-1 victory over Colombia on Sunday. Mina Tanaka, who plays for the Utah Royals in the National Women's Soccer League, led all players in with four goals and three assists and was named tournament MVP. Colombia got its first win in its SheBelieves finale earlier Wednesday. Wendy Bonilla and Catalina Usme both scored in the 2-1 victory over Australia. The Matildas, playing without star Sam Kerr, were winless in the tournament. Kerr has not played for the national team since ACL surgery last January. ___ AP soccer: The Associated Press
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Japan beats USWNT 2-1 to win SheBelieves Cup, as U.S. suffers first defeat of Emma Hayes era
For the first time in the Emma Hayes era, the United States women's national team has lost. Japan was triumphant over the U.S. with a 2-1 win in the SheBelieves Cup, lifting the tournament's trophy for the first time. The high-powered matchup had turned to a de facto SheBelieves final in San Diego, with the two at the top of the table. But Japan held advantage based on goal differential, meaning that the U.S. needed a win in order to take the trophy, while Japan only needed a draw. U.S. manager Emma Hayes found a balance of experience on Wednesday's roster, with vets like Emily Sonnett and Crystal Dunn anchoring the back line alongside players like Lily Yohannes and Ally Sentnor — two young standouts who were both key in the USA's win over Colombia — up towards the front. Pace was always going to be key in this matchup: Japan has been on a tear in this tournament, finding the back of the net quickly and efficiently. (Against Colombia, it only took Japan's Momoko Tanikawa 18 seconds to find the back of the net.) On Wednesday it took a little bit longer, but not by much. Yūka Momiki scored after 90 seconds of play, taking advantage of a bumble between Sonnett and U.S. keeper Jane Campbell and catching the U.S. completely off guard. Japan take the lead against the USWNT in the SheBelieves Cup final after 93 seconds 🫢Watch the game on TBS and Max 📺 — B/R Football (@brfootball) February 27, 2025 But just over 10 minutes later, Sentnor got one back, hitting a beautiful finish in the box and continuing to prove her place on this roster. Ally Sentnor: The Equalizer 😤#USWNT x @VW — U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) February 27, 2025 Both teams made changes at halftime. For the U.S., Jaedyn Shaw and Jenna Nighswonger came in for Sentnor and Dunn with the hopes of reviving the attack. Early in the second half, Japan was given a dangerous opportunity, with a free kick just outside the box. Although Campbell was able to stretch for the save on the kick, 19-year-old Tōko Koga — who had just subbed in at the half — got the rebound to put Japan up 2-1 in the 50th minute. Japan 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧 are ahead of the USWNT 🇯🇵Watch the game on TBS and Max 📺 — B/R Football (@brfootball) February 27, 2025 Down by one in a must-win game, Hayes opted to switch tactics, using five substitutions before the 60-minute mark. But the USWNT looked uncomfortable taking the kind of risks that were needed to get a win on Wednesday. In the final minutes, a few missed set pieces and unfortunate offsides calls sealed the deal for Japan. Japan, knowing that a tie would be enough, could cruise to secure the win. In the 10 years since the SheBelieves began, the U.S. have only lost the annual tournament twice. Prior to this year, the USWNT has won five SheBelieves trophies in a row; that streak ended Wednesday, as the U.S. was overwhelmed by a Japanese team that, frankly, played better. For Japan, the tournament itself was a great success, trophy or not. This was a Japanese team that lost to the U.S. in the Olympic quarterfinals and the 2024 SheBelieves semifinals, a team that had lost in the quarterfinals of the 2023 World Cup. But Japan was alive again throughout this tournament: ruthless on the attack, demonstrating the same clinical precision that the team has been famous for. For the U.S., the primary goal of this tournament wasn't necessarily taking home the trophy, but proving the team's depth. Playing without some of its key players — including the Triple Espresso frontline (Trinity Rodman, Sophia Wilson, Mallory Swanson), midfield anchor Rose Lavelle and exceptional center back Naomi Girma — was always going to be tricky. On Wednesday, the U.S. proved that the depth is there, but that there is still plenty of work to do to keep its reputation as a powerhouse.
Chicago Tribune
24-02-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
United States women's national soccer team beats Australia 2-1 in SheBelieves Cup
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Lynn Biyendolo scored 42 seconds into the match and the United States beat Australia 2-1 on Sunday in the SheBelieves Cup. Michelle Cooper scored her first international goal in her second appearance for the U.S., which improved to 2-0 in the four-team round-robin tournament. Biyendolo's goal was the fastest by a U.S. player since Ashley Hatch scored 24 seconds into a match in November 2021, also against Australia. Biyendolo, formerly Lynn Williams, was married in the offseason. It was her 22nd international goal. Michelle Heyman scored in the 80th minute for Australia. Cooper's goal in the 68th minute made it 2-0. 'It was absolutely surreal,' Cooper said. 'I looked at (teammate Ally Sentnor) and I said, 'I'm so sorry' because I basically stole it from her. But she was like, 'It's OK, I'm happy for you.' So it felt great.' U.S. coach Emma Hayes changed her entire starting lineup following the team's 2-0 victory over Colombia on Thursday in the tournament opener in Houston. It was just the sixth time in the team's history that the full lineup was swapped out in back-to-back games. Gisele Thompson and Claire Hutton made their first starts for the national team. Gisele's older sister Alyssa Thompson also started. Mandy McGlynn was in goal for the United States as Hayes continues to consider a top goalkeeper following Alyssa Naeher's retirement last year. Hayes has been bringing in new players and tinkering with lineups ahead of Women's World Cup qualification next year, and Cooper appreciated the opportunity. 'I just want to get to know the players and build good connections and get to know the staff, to hopefully build a relationship and build their trust in me to be on this team,' Cooper said. The Matildas continue to struggle without superstar Sam Kerr, who hasn't played for the national team in more than a year after ACL surgery. In Sunday's earlier SheBelieves match, Japan beat Colombia 4-1. Mina Tanaka, who plays in the NWSL with the Utah Royals, scored in the eighth minute and again on a penalty in the 80th. Real Madrid's Linda Caicedo scored for Colombia. The final SheBelieves matches will be played Wednesday in San Diego. The United States plays Japan and Colombia faces Australia. The winner of the tournament, now in its 10th season, is determined by accumulated points. Originally Published: February 23, 2025 at 8:11 PM CST
