17-year-old midfielder Lily Yohannes, the youngest player on the U.S. Women`s National Team (USWNT), recently returned with the squad to the location where she made her national debut and scored her first USWNT goal almost exactly one year prior.
Yohannes started in a friendly match against China at Allianz Field in Minnesota. The USWNT secured a 3-0 victory, with goals coming from Catarina Macario, Sam Coffey, and Lindsey Heaps. Throughout the game, Yohannes served as a key option for ball progression and was essential in maintaining possession.
She recorded seven recoveries, placing her second on the team in this metric during the win. Both Coffey and Yohannes effectively managed the midfield tempo, neutralizing China`s attempts at high pressure. This performance marks another positive development for the young defensive midfielder.
Head coach Emma Hayes recently celebrated her first year in charge. Lily Yohannes` progression under Hayes could be seen as perfectly timed or perhaps coincidental, but regardless, the teenage talent is only at the beginning of her journey.
After the match, Hayes told reporters, “I thought Sam [Coffey] was superb. I thought Lily [Yohannes] grew into the game. Their roles as what we call low support players when the ball is wide were important. I thought they connected very well with the wide players, and their rotations to receive the ball in deeper positions were excellent. Overall, I think the team chemistry and cohesion have significantly improved during this camp.”
Yohannes is emerging as one of the most promising young talents in women`s football. She has demonstrated exceptional playmaking skills and remarkable maturity for her age, both for the USWNT and her Dutch club, Ajax. A technically proficient midfielder, Yohannes has rapidly established herself as a regular fixture on USWNT rosters throughout 2025, aligning with the team`s preparations for the 2027-28 international cycle.
During pre-match media availability, Hayes remarked, “I keep telling everyone, she`s only 17. She still has several years ahead to gain experience as a professional. I believe the next two years of her development will be crucial. Her time at Ajax has provided an incredible development pathway. For me, that experience has, I think, significantly advanced her positional understanding in a way that makes her perform beyond her age.”
Although not yet a consistent starter, Yohannes has already gained recognition in Europe for her vision, composure, and tactical intelligence. At just 16, she became the youngest player ever to start a UEFA Women`s Champions League group stage match. She is also the eighth-youngest player in history to debut for the USWNT and the third youngest to score for the senior national team.
Last year, much discussion surrounded Yohannes` potential eligibility to represent either the United States or the Netherlands. Born in Virginia, Lily relocated with her family to Europe in 2017. It was in Europe that she developed through the Ajax academies before joining the first team on a professional contract in 2023.
She received her initial call-up to the USWNT for Emma Hayes` first official matches as head coach in June 2024. The following November, the teenage midfielder formally committed her international future to the U.S. national team.
In a social media post last year, Yohannes stated, “I want to express my deepest gratitude to both the United States and Dutch Football Federations for their unwavering support and patient guidance during my decision-making process regarding my international future. Their dedication and encouragement have been invaluable, and I offer my heartfelt thanks to both Federations.”
“After careful consideration,” she continued, “I have decided to commit to representing my country, the United States. The U.S. is my homeland, my birthplace, and where my extended family lives. These strong ties have motivated me to honor my roots and proudly commit to U.S. Soccer. I am excited and eager to continue working hard and earn my spot on the U.S. Women`s National Team.”
Since the beginning of 2025, Yohannes has been included in every senior roster, participating in January camps, the SheBelieves Cup, and the initial summer friendlies. She currently has six national team appearances and one goal from her debut. However, Emma Hayes is taking a patient approach with Yohannes, ensuring her development continues steadily at the international level, even as her public profile grows.
Hayes commented, “She has developed physically over the past 12 months, and tactically, particularly in possession. When she plays for her club, they often have possession against teams defending in mid to low blocks. So, I think she has refined that aspect of her game. For us, playing against opponents like Brazil and Japan provided extremely high-level matches that will benefit her significantly in the future. But as I consistently reiterate, she still has considerable development ahead. I anticipate her journey will have ups and downs; we`ll see truly excellent moments alongside more challenging ones. I believe this is to be expected from a 17-year-old.”
Hayes added, “She possesses unbelievable maturity and coachability. I know she is someone who will become an important part of our program, but I am committed to her development, and we must be patient, considering her young age and limited international and high-level experience.”
As Yohannes accumulates experience in both the UWCL and with the USWNT, she is actively learning from her surroundings. She attributes her growth to the positive impact of all her USWNT teammates, specifically mentioning captain Lindsey Heaps and forward Catarina Macario as influential figures.
Yohannes commented, “Everyone has been incredibly helpful and made joining the team much easier. I could name so many players, from Lindsey [Heaps] to Cat [Macario], literally all the experienced players. They`ve been here for a long time, so they understand what it`s like to be new. Now that I`ve spent more time in camp, I feel my comfort level has grown, and I`m focused on continuing to improve.”
Her exceptional maturity is a defining characteristic. Despite her young age, she exhibits the composure of an experienced player, rarely appearing rushed on the ball and consistently making intelligent choices. This quality has helped her earn trust from both her club and national team coaches. Yohannes` playing style is marked by her outstanding passing range and her ability to control the pace of the game. She is effective in both defensive midfield and more advanced roles, excelling at splitting defenses with accurate through passes and retaining possession when pressured.
During Ajax`s 2023-24 UEFA Women`s Champions League campaign, she demonstrated her bravery when facing top European opponents. She showed a natural talent for finding space and effectively connecting the defense and attack. Her assist in Ajax`s win against Roma, where she won the ball back and initiated an attacking move, specifically highlighted her capability to break down defenses with a key pass.
Captain Lindsey Heaps commented, “I think performing at the club level with Ajax and playing in the Champions League is one thing, but stepping up to the international level is a different environment and requires a different adjustment. I think she has fit in seamlessly. I believe everyone has seen how special she can be; she`s perhaps a different type of footballer than we`ve typically seen, displaying many unique qualities. I`m truly proud of her progress. But, of course, she is still only 17, so there is much more to come.”
Team vice-captain Naomi Girma, returning to the national team this year, also experienced a rapid rise in profile. Shortly after being drafted by San Diego in the 2022 NWSL Draft, her exceptional performances as a center-back quickly earned her both Rookie of the Year and Defender of the Year awards. Her consistent high level of play subsequently led to her inclusion in the 2023 USWNT World Cup squad.
While the situations are only partially comparable – the next World Cup is still two years away – Yohannes` impact and role can certainly expand during this period. It`s not unrealistic to imagine her making that World Cup roster as a 20-year-old if her development progresses as expected.
Girma observed, “I believe she has developed significantly over the past year. When she first joined as a young player, she already seemed like she`d been playing with us for some time. You could see she possesses that natural calmness and confidence on the ball. I think that`s an exceptionally valuable quality for a midfielder.”
“She`s very level-headed,” Girma added. “Even with her profile rising, she remains completely true to herself. It`s wonderful to see someone like her succeed and truly establish her place within the team.”
Dominic Ashworth