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Fox Sports
2 days ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
USWNT top points: GK depth, 'Triple Expresso' options, and the 'Rolls-Royce' returns
The U.S. women's national team concluded another camp with a pair of victories to build on. The Americans defeated China 3-0 on May 31, and followed that up by cruising past Jamaica 4-0 on June 3. USWNT coach Emma Hayes has been saying for months that she'd like to identify a "core group" of players who will be a major part of her plans for the 2027 World Cup and 2028 Olympics by June. She reiterated that point at the beginning of training camp last week, with the caveat that the team is still missing key pieces like the 'Triple Espresso' forward line of Mallory Swanson (pregnant), Sophia Wilson (pregnant) and Trinity Rodman (back injury), as well as Rose Lavelle and Tierna Davidson (both of whom are coming back from injuries). Even so, Hayes has been working diligently with her staff to develop talent and widen the player pool so that when players aren't available for selection, the team won't skip a beat. That was evident in the two wins, which Hayes discussed after Tuesday's night's match vs. Jamaica. "When I watch the team, they very much molded into an Emma Hayes team," the U.S. manager said. "That's how I feel when I watch us. I feel like there's a lot of composure to the performances." The Americans have the luxury of time to keep building, as the next major tournament is not for another two years when Brazil hosts the 2027 World Cup. There will be qualifying next year and plenty more friendlies and camps, including when the USWNT faces the Republic of Ireland twice at the end of June and Canada at the beginning of July. With all of that in mind, here are three takeaways from the USWNT's latest international window: A front-runner in goal? The biggest question facing the USWNT entering 2025 was, who would replace legendary goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher after she retired from international duty at the end of last year? It seems now, after a few camps to start the year, that Hayes has a leader in Phallon Tullis-Joyce. Tullis-Joyce, 28, started both matches for the USWNT and posted consecutive clean sheets. The Manchester United goalkeeper has had a successful past few months, becoming her club's starter, earning her first three USWNT caps and claiming a share of the 2024-25 WSL Golden Glove with a league-high 13 clean sheets. Does this mean Hayes is closer to officially naming a No. 1 goalkeeper? "That matters more externally than it does internally," Hayes said. "And the reason why is, I have to prepare a group of players to be ready to compete in a World Cup. If I only develop one [goalkeeper], then I'm going to have a group behind [that player] who are even more underdeveloped. "I think it's fair to say Phallon's experience at this moment in time, with the current group that I've got, is ahead." Hayes went on to say that it's not "as simple as just saying you're my No. 1 and develop one [goalkeeper]. I think it would be foolish of me to do that in case someone falls out of form or they get injured or those things. But Phallon is doing a tremendous job with everything that I'm asking." Hayes also called up Seattle Reign's Claudia Dickey and Utah Royals' Mandy McGlynn for this camp, though they did not see the pitch. The USWNT manager decided to play Tullis-Joyce in both games so she could build connections with the center backs, especially Naomi Girma, as the two had not previously played together. Building depth in the attack With the 'Triple Espresso' out for a while, Hayes has no choice but to find other options at those positions. While the task seems daunting – given Swanson, Wilson and Rodman combined for 10 of the team's 12 goals at the Olympics last year – Hayes has made progress on the depth chart front. Alyssa Thompson was especially impressive during this window. The 20-year-old, who has been in top form for both club and country this year, started at left winger in both matches and was a total terror against two opponents that held a high defensive line. She was faster than any defender who marked her, was able to get in behind, and wreaked havoc in the box. In the first match against China, Thompson assisted Catarina Macario's opening goal before creating another scoring chance that led to Sam Coffey scoring the USWNT's second goal. Against Jamaica, Thompson had a shot deflected that led to an Ally Sentnor goal. Add in the performances by Macario (goal vs. China), Sentnor (brace vs. Jamaica), and Michelle Cooper (assist vs. China) and Hayes has plenty of attacking threats no matter which lineup she rolls out. Not to mention veteran Lynn Biyendolo, who scored two goals against Jamaica off the bench. "She does it time and time again," Hayes said of Biyendolo. "She knows how to do that role really well. It's not to be underestimated. She always contributes to the team's performance in a profound way, and it's not easy. She could have had a hat-trick coming off the bench. That's a testament to her quality." While the 'Triple Espresso' has time to come back – and likely will – for the 2027 World Cup, Hayes is still finding ways to be ruthless in front of goal. Girma the 'Rolls-Royce' Girma returned to the USWNT for the first time in 2025 after battling injuries to start the year. The Chelsea defender played the full 90 minutes in both matches, and wore the captain's armband vs. Jamaica since Lindsey Heaps started on the bench. Hayes cited Girma's leadership and maturity in the back, and noted how those qualities helped Tullis-Joyce as well as some younger defenders remain calm and cool against both opponents. "Naomi, it's like getting the Rolls-Royce out of the garage," Hayes said with a chuckle. "What an unbelievable football player – just like a Rolls-Royce is an unbelievable car. She just brings a level of composure and decision-making in the deepest spaces that's just so underrated. "I thought she communicated well as a leader [vs. Jamaica]. That was important to the team. We can put her back in the garage for a couple of weeks." Laken Litman covers college football, college basketball and soccer for FOX Sports. She previously wrote for Sports Illustrated, USA Today and The Indianapolis Star. She is the author of "Strong Like a Woman," published in spring 2022 to mark the 50th anniversary of Title IX. Follow her at @LakenLitman . recommended Get more from United States Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more in this topic
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘Triple Espresso' led the USWNT to Olympic gold. Now, they must move forward
Alyssa Thompson and Ally Sentnor are among the younger candidates to fill key roles with the key attacking trio out. Photograph: Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF The first time we saw the free-flowing force of Mallory Swanson, Sophia Wilson (née Smith) and Trinity Rodman starting together was 1 June 2024 – Emma Hayes' first match in charge of the national team, with little more than a month to go before the Olympics. Their mutual arrival to the US frontline was delayed by injuries and other uncertainties, but they emerged just in time for a blistering gold medal run. The self-styled 'Triple Espresso' trio combined for 10 of the USA's 12 goals in Paris. They were dynamic. They were fun. They were each capable of match-saving heroics, sparks of individual radiance that propelled the team to the next round: Rodman's heroic quarter-final strike in the 105th minute against Japan; Wilson's goal 95 minutes into a grueling semi final against Germany; then Swanson with the decisive gold medal goal against Brazil. Advertisement That was the last time we'd see them together for quite some time. Related: NWSL standouts LaBonta, Abello named to USWNT roster for friendlies On 5 March (one week after the US lost to Japan in the SheBelieves Cup final), Wilson announced she was expecting her first child. On 8 May, Swanson shared news of her first pregnancy as well. Rodman dealt with back issues, making her first appearance for the US since the Olympics in April (she took just five minutes to score). The winger has since has stepped away, focusing on rehabbing her chronic back pain. Given their youth and unique talents (Rodman, Wilson and Swanson will be just 25, 26 and 29, respectively, at the next World Cup) it seems improbable they won't eventually return as a trio. But the adage Steinbeck made famous from a Robert Burns poem certainly rings true in soccer: the best laid plans of sports and its stars oft times go awry. Advertisement Right now, Hayes is focused on building the team she'll need to make a trophy-contending run at the 2027 World Cup. We're two years out, wading through the 'build depth' and 'experiment' phase, but Hayes can't wait too long to prepare the team she'll need to contend with the world's elite on the most competitive international stage in soccer. Nor can she hang her managerial hat on the expectation that Triple Espresso will be available and healthy when Brazil 2027 arrives. Last week, Hayes named the 24-player training camp roster that will face Fifa's No 17-ranked China this Saturday, and No 40 Jamaica next Tuesday. The squad includes an interesting array of goal threats aspiring to stick around while Triple Espresso is unavailable. In this way, the trio's absence can be seen as a good thing. It forces a talented player pool to identify and perfect replicable goalscoring moments, while whittling down a wider range of players who can provide those goals. It also provides a young, emerging generation of players the opportunity to accrue valuable minutes against top competition, and potentially claim a lasting role. Nobody has taken firmer hold of that opportunity than Alyssa Thompson. After missing the '24 Olympic team, the 20-year-old winger played her way back into the national team picture with a series of statement performances with Angel City in the NWSL. She's kept up the pace in 2025, scoring five goals with two assists in nine matches for ACFC, averaging 0.8 goal contributions per 90, the highest such mark any NWSL player in camp. Advertisement Alyssa's 19-year-old sister Gisele joins her this window, and though she plays fullback for Angel City (and was placed there in previous call ups) the younger Thompson sister that loves to get forward is listed as one on this roster. Given Gisele's ability to contribute in the attack (the right back has three assists and one goal in 10 appearances for Angel City, with the highest assists per 90 of any NWSL player present) it seems Hayes' penchant for helping to mold young players could be in effect with the younger Thompson. Of the seven forwards on this US roster, four are aged 22 or younger. The Thompson sisters are joined by 22-year-old Michelle Cooper, who returns to camp with two goals and one assist in five games for first-place Kansas City, and 21-year-old Utah Royals midfielder/forward Ally Sentnor. Cooper and Sentnor both collected their first USWNT goals in the SheBelieves Cup. 24-year-old Emma Sears also returns to the roster with five goals in ten games for Racing Louisville, one among many examples that club output matters a lot for Hayes in this era. Trusted veterans like 32-year-old Lynn Biyendolo are also present, bringing the intrepid experience of 78 appearances and 22 goals for the USWNT with her, alongside 25-year-old Cat Macario, who was coached by Hayes at Chelsea, where she scored 11 goals across all competitions this year. It seems likely Hayes will deploy those one of those two more experienced forwards as strikers atop her preferred 4-2-3-1, with some degree of rotation among the wingers around them while she experiments. Advertisement Related: 'July BBQ written all over it': Do US Soccer's new kits hit the mark? Of course, replicating the output of Triple Espresso will be a team effort. In midfield, Kansas City veteran Lo'eau LaBonta has earned her first USWNT callup at the age of 32, where she is joined by three teenagers (Claire Hutton, Lily Yohannes, and Olivia Moultrie) and gold medalists Sam Coffey and Lindsey Heaps. A mix of athleticism and ball skills pervades that midfield group, where perhaps even bigger questions linger than among the Espresso-less forward formation. With multiple outside backs present that like to play an attacking role (including veterans like Emily Fox or Crystal Dunn, as well as first time callup Kerry Abello and Houston Dash defender Avery Patterson, who has two goals for the Dash this season), we can expect them to play a part in what looks like an aggressive attack that may need to unlock compact defenses. By no means are any of these players secure in their spots. Hayes has emphasized the importance of club form; that seems evident in this camp. Olympians Korbin Albert and Jaedyn Shaw, as well as Mia Fishel (who recently returned from ACL injury) have all been semt to the concurrent U23 camp, but are each notable talents that can return to the senior squad. Other players in the U23 camp, like NWSL rookie standout Riley Tiernan – who is tied with her teammate Alyssa Thompson for seven goal contributions, the second-most in NWSL – have plenty of time to work their way in through the league or youth national team performances. Advertisement Hayes noted in her roster drop that, 'As has been one of our focuses this year, this camp and the following camp are going to be two amazing opportunities to develop squad depth.' There's nothing quite like Triple Espresso. But the coming week of tests promises continuation of the year's theme: experimentation, rotation, and essential experience for a broader player pool that will help form the foundation of any trophy-contending team.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
USWNT's Mallory Swanson, Cubs' Dansby Swanson expecting first child
USWNT star forward Mallory Swanson and her husband, Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson, are expecting their first child. The couple announced the news in posts on their personal Instagram accounts on Wednesday. The update brings closure to what had become one of the biggest mysteries in American soccer. Mallory Swanson, who scored the winning goal in the gold medal game of the 2024 Olympics, had not played for the USWNT or the Chicago Stars in 2025. She hadn't acknowledged the reason for her months-long absence. Dansby Swanson has been an everyday starter for the Cubs, playing all but one of their first 38 games. When fielding questions about her absence, the Stars and the USWNT said it was her 'personal matter' to share. Chicago stated that it was 'fully supportive of her decision' ahead of their 2025 opener, with the winger having signed a contract extension through 2028 before the start of last year. The extension came a year after Dansby Swanson signed a seven-year deal with the Cubs, bringing the couple to the same market after he spent his first six big league seasons with the Atlanta Braves. Advertisement Mallory Swanson's absence has made this a bit of a rebuilding year for Chicago. The team (then known as the Red Stars) narrowly claimed the final spot in last year's playoff field largely on the back of her brilliance, but now sits at the bottom of the 14-team NWSL table. In her absence, the attack has been headlined by Ally Schlegel and Brazil international Ludmila. The club was the first team to make a coaching change this season, dismissing Lorne Donaldson — who had previously worked with Swanson during her youth club days in Colorado — after 26 regular season games on the job. USWNT coach Emma Hayes has experimented with a host of new options amongst her player pool, minimizing the absence of Swanson and other key players. Swanson is the second player from last summer's vaunted USWNT attack, nicknamed 'Triple Espresso,' to expect a child. Portland Thorns striker Sophia Wilson (née Smith) has also missed all of 2025 and announced her pregnancy in March. The third member, Trinity Rodman, is also absent from the NWSL season as she hopes to address her ongoing back issues. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. Chicago Cubs, Chicago Red Stars, NWSL 2025 The Athletic Media Company
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Emma Hayes is putting her USWNT players in the frying pan. Who can handle the heat?
Emma Hayes is putting her USWNT players in the frying pan. Who can handle the heat? Compared to the bright, breezy environment of SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles for game one, the United States women's national team's (USWNT) swift rematch with Brazil at San Jose's PayPal Park carried an inverted energy, atmospherically and competitively. Advertisement The latter ended in a 2-1 defeat for the U.S. before a packed house of 18,000 in California's Bay Area on Tuesday night, the booming, sold-out crowd competing with the periodic sound of planes touching down at the nearby airport. The first, in the sunshine of Saturday afternoon, brought 32,303 people to a venue that holds 70,000 to see what turned out to be a secure 2-0 win for the hosts. Match two also embodied the classic traits of a return fixture against the same opponent, with noticeable changes to the previous lineup. But as U.S. head coach Emma Hayes has reiterated throughout this window, experimentation was going to be the prevailing theme of these two fixtures. She is working toward identifying a core group of players by the end of June who will eventually compete in the 2027 World Cup finals. 'I wanna put players in the frying pan and I want you to feel the heat,' Hayes said in her post-game news conference late Tuesday night. 'This camp was always about expanding and experimenting (with) that player pool. I really feel like that is becoming so clear to me on which players I think are really ready for us right now, which ones are not.' With that mandate, this could, arguably, have been a period better enjoyed behind closed doors for the team. Advertisement Of the 22 players (including alternates) selected for the 2024 Olympics, headlined by Sophia Wilson, Mallory Swanson and Trinity Rodman as the Triple Espresso forward line, only 10 made the most recent roster. The starting 11 on Tuesday averaged just 17 caps and formed the youngest USWNT roster in 24 years. It was bound to look as challenging as it felt — especially when that group, unlike Saturday's squad, was tasked with handling 2023 National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) MVP Kerolin for 90-plus minutes. When caterpillars retreat to their cocoons, part of the process of transformation can be aesthetically unbecoming and grotesque. For the USWNT, though, that metamorphosis is happening in real-time and out in public view. The revolution is being televised, and Hayes is unconcerned with how it might look to an untrained eye. 'We could play 11 relatively experienced players now and build those connections, there's no problem,' Hayes had told reporters on Friday. 'But if we get to a World Cup in two years and all of a sudden, an Ally Sentnor or Lily Yohannes are completely underprepared, then you're going to say, 'Well, why didn't we give them the opportunities in that period?'.' Hayes shared that Sentnor, a 21-year-old striker and No. 1 NWSL draft pick of the Utah Royals in 2024 who is known for scoring long-range bangers, had told her that the SheBelieves Cup finale in February that saw the USWNT fall to Japan 2-1 had been the most difficult game she'd played in her career. The manager also pointed out Yohannes, whose skill and promise as a midfielder became popular knowledge following her Champions League debut at 16 (she is now 17) for Dutch club Ajax, had not been involved in the U.S. youth national team system very long and thus has limited experience with international competition outside of Europe. Advertisement 'It's a completely different situation that we have to expose them to,' Hayes continued, 'and if I put on the field (a lot of) 17, 18, 19, 20-year-olds, I'm setting them up to fail, in my honest opinion, so we have to drip-feed it in, whether it's some of them in one game, some of them in another game, (or) some of them from the bench.' This week's collective four halves of soccer against Brazil provided that. Saturday's game kicked off with the five most-capped players on the roster — Lindsey Heaps, Crystal Dunn, Emily Sonnett, Emily Fox and Rodman — in the starting 11. The second half, however, saw the entries of Yohannes and 20-year-old Jaedyn Shaw, plus a national-team debut for Houston Dash defender Avery Patterson, 22. Last night, by contrast, 31-year-old Sonnett was the most-capped player at kick-off with 106. Next in line? Midfielder Korbin Albert with 25 at age 21. Claire Hutton watched the first match from the bench as an unused substitute, then started the second to double her number of international caps. The 19-year-old, who plays for the Kansas City Current, roamed about central midfield Tuesday night with Albert and distinguished herself with her stuck-in defending and positioning, according to Hayes. Advertisement 'We've done a lot of film with her this week, a lot of detailing,' said Hayes, adding that the Americans' goal, scored by Catarina Macario in the first minute of the game, came as a result of Hutton stepping up further away from the back line, which allowed her to intercept the ball and initiate the decisive counter-attack — something she and the coaching staff have been working on with her. Hutton, for her part, spoke with Sentnor, one of her best friends and did play in that first match, on the team's flight up to the Bay Area from LA. She knew what she experienced Tuesday night would be 'a whole different beast' compared to Saturday. 'It's international football. You're gonna get clobbered if you take too many touches on the ball,' Hutton said. 'So it's just a learning moment and a moment to move forward on.' It's no secret that the state of the USWNT's midfield has for years been shrouded in concern, but the teenager's aggression toward an opposing team that relishes one-versus-one duels demonstrated for Hayes that she is suited for this level. Advertisement 'Listen, for a 19-year-old to play like that against Brazil is a superb performance from her. One in which I know she is ready to progress with us,' Hayes said. And while the second half of Tuesday's game saw the return of more veteran players — Heaps, Sam Coffey, Dunn and Alana Cook, and even Shaw, subbed on for her 25th cap — Hayes found the group's performance flat, which they never quite recovered from. The USWNT's expected goals figure for the second half was zero, and Hayes said only one player broke into the top 10 for pass completion. Patterson's determined performance as a left-back crackled with possibility, but concerns remain in the middle defensively — both in terms of the ongoing audition to be Naomi Girma's co-conspirator, and the ability of both goalkeepers who played in this window, Phallon Tullis-Joyce and Mandy McGlynn, to distribute the ball with precision. 'I think both her (McGlynn) and Phallon have had the opportunity to play against a top opponent, just like Jane (Campbell) had the opportunity to play against a top opponent with Japan, and I think it's fair to say I'm a lot clearer,' Hayes said Tuesday night. Advertisement It's hard to imagine these players returning to their clubs after these two games without stacks of notes and feedback from Hayes and, for the younger set, the veteran teammates around them. 'Every time I go into camp, it's definitely a learning experience and developing as a player,' 19-year-old defender Gisele Thompson told reporters in the mixed zone. 'I think I can learn so much from all of these players, especially Crystal, (and) Emily Fox. They've helped me so much along the way. Just being in these camps helps me as a player, even (at) club.' Gisele Thompson and Hutton both spoke of confidence in their reflections on camp, how the experience and what they learned from it bolstered their toolbox as players, imbuing them with excitement about how they'll integrate their notes. 'That was a battle. I've never played a game like that before,' Hutton said of last night's game, the beginnings of a laugh escaping from her response in the mixed zone. 'So knowing that I had that, I can do anything now.' This article originally appeared in The Athletic. US Women's national team, Soccer, NWSL, Women's World Cup 2025 The Athletic Media Company
New York Times
09-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Emma Hayes is putting her USWNT players in the frying pan. Who can handle the heat?
Compared to the bright, breezy environment of SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles for game one, the United States women's national team's (USWNT) swift rematch with Brazil at San Jose's PayPal Park carried an inverted energy, atmospherically and competitively. The latter ended in a 2-1 defeat for the U.S. before a packed house of 18,000 in California's Bay Area on Tuesday night, the booming, sold-out crowd competing only with the periodic sound of planes touching down at the nearby airport. The first, a Saturday afternoon meeting, brought 32,303 people to a venue that holds 70,000 to see what turned out to be a secure 2-0 win for the hosts. Advertisement Match two also embodied the classic traits of a return fixture against the same opponent, with noticeable changes to the previous lineup. But as U.S. head coach Emma Hayes has reiterated throughout this window, experimentation was going to be the prevailing theme of these two fixtures. She is working toward identifying a core group of players by the end of June who will eventually compete in the 2027 World Cup finals. 'I wanna put players in the frying pan and I want you to feel the heat,' Hayes said in her post-game news conference late Tuesday night. 'This camp was always about expanding and experimenting (with) that player pool. I really feel like that is becoming so clear to me on which players I think are really ready for us right now, which ones are not.' With that mandate, this could, arguably, have been a period better enjoyed behind closed doors for the team. Of the 22 players (including alternates) selected for the 2024 Olympics, headlined by Sophia Wilson, Mallory Swanson and Trinity Rodman as the Triple Espresso forward line, only 10 made the most recent roster. The starting 11 on Tuesday averaged just 17 caps and formed the youngest USWNT roster in 24 years. It was bound to look as challenging as it felt — especially when that group, unlike Saturday's squad, was tasked with handling 2023 National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) MVP Kerolin for 90-plus minutes. When caterpillars retreat to their cocoons, part of the process of transformation can be aesthetically unbecoming and grotesque. For the USWNT, though, that metamorphosis is happening in real-time and out in public view. The revolution is being televised, and Hayes is unconcerned with how it might look to an untrained eye. 'We could play eleven relatively experienced players now and build those connections, there's no problem,' Hayes told reporters last Friday in Los Angeles. 'But if we get to a World Cup in two years and all of a sudden, an Ally Sentnor or Lily Yohannes are completely underprepared, then you're gonna say, 'Well, why didn't we give them the opportunities in that period?'' Advertisement Hayes shared that Sentnor, a 21-year-old striker and No. 1 draft pick of the Utah Royals in 2024 known for long-range bangers, told her that the SheBelieves Cup final that saw the USWNT fall to Japan 2-1 had been the most difficult game she'd played in her career. The manager also pointed out that Yohannes, whose skill and promise as a midfielder became popular knowledge following her Champions League debut at 16, had not been involved in the U.S. youth national team system and thus has limited experience with international competition outside of Europe. 'It's a completely different situation that we have to expose them to,' Hayes continued, 'and if I put on the field 17, 18, 19, 20-year-olds, I'm setting them up to fail in my honest opinion, so we have to drip-feed it in, whether it's some of them in one game, some of them in another game, (or) some of them from the bench.' The collective four halves of soccer provided that. Saturday's game kicked off with the five most-capped USWNT players on the roster — Lindsey Heaps, Crystal Dunn, Emily Sonnett, Emily Fox, and Trinity Rodman — making the starting 11. The second half, however, saw the entries of Yohannes, Jaedyn Shaw, and a national team debut for Houston Dash defender Avery Patterson. On Tuesday night, by contrast, Sonnet was the most-capped player at kickoff with 106. Next in line after Sonnett? Midfielder Korbin Albert with 25 caps. Claire Hutton watched from the bench in the first match and played in the second. The 19-year-old midfielder who plays for the Kansas City Current in the NWSL roamed about the center back position Tuesday night with Albert and distinguished herself with her stuck-in defense and positioning, according to Hayes. 'We've done a lot of film with her this week, a lot of detailing,' said Hayes, adding that the U.S.'s goal, scored by Catarina Macario in the second minute of the game, came as a result of Hutton stepping up further away from the backline, which allowed her to intercept the ball and initiate the counterattack — something she and the coaching staff have been working on with her. Advertisement Hutton, for her part, spoke with Sentnor, who is one of her best friends and who did play in the first match, on the team's flight up to the Bay Area from Los Angeles. She knew what she experienced Tuesday night would be 'a whole different beast' compared to Saturday. 'It's international football. You're gonna get clobbered if you take too many touches on the ball,' Hutton said. 'So it's just a learning moment and a moment to move forward on.' It's no secret that the state of the USWNT's midfield has for years been shrouded in concern, but the 19-year-old's aggression toward an opponent that relishes one-versus-one duels demonstrated for Hayes that she is suited for this level. 'Listen, for a 19-year-old to play like that against Brazil is a superb performance from her. One in which I know she is ready to progress with us,' Hayes said. And while the second half of Tuesday's game saw the return of more veteran players — Heaps, Sam Coffey, Dunn, and Alana Cook, and even Jaedyn Shaw, who subbed on for her 25th cap — Hayes found the group's performance flat, which they never quite recovered from. The USWNT's expected goals in the second half was zero, and Hayes said only one player broke into the top-10 for pass completion. Patterson's determined performance as a left-back crackled with possibility, but concerns remain in the middle — both in terms of the ongoing audition to be Naomi Girma's coconspirator, and the ability of both goalkeepers who played in this window, Phallon-Tullis Joyce and Mandy McGlynn, to distribute the ball with precision. 'I think both her (McGlynn) and Phallon have had the opportunity to play against a top opponent, just like Jane had the opportunity to play against a top opponent with Japan and I think it's fair to say I'm a lot clearer,' Hayes said Tuesday night. Advertisement It's hard to imagine the players returning to their clubs without stacks of notes and feedback from Hayes and, for the younger set, the veteran teammates around them. 'Every time I go into camp it's definitely a learning experience and developing as a player,' defender Gisele Thompson told reporters in the mixed zone. 'I think I can learn so much from all of these players, especially Crystal, Emily Fox. They've helped me so much along the way. Just being in these camps helps me as a player, even (at) club.' Both Thompson and Hutton spoke of confidence in their reflections on camp, how the experience and what they learned from it bolstered their toolbox, imbuing them with excitement about how they'll integrate their notes. 'That was a battle. I've never played a game like that before,' Hutton said, the beginnings of a laugh escaping from her response in the mixed zone. 'So knowing that I had that, I can do anything now.'
