Since taking the helm of the U.S. women`s national team, Emma Hayes` tenure was always expected to feature a period of significant experimentation. Tasked with revitalizing the squad following their earliest-ever exit at the 2023 Women`s World Cup, Hayes has wisely used the two-year window leading up to the next World Cup to broaden the player pool. An unforeseen challenge during this experimental phase, however, has been operating without the dynamic trio of Trinity Rodman, Mallory Swanson, and Sophia Smith.
Hayes hasn`t had access to this key offensive group since their gold medal victory in Paris last August. Rodman is currently sidelined with a persistent back injury, while Swanson and Smith are on maternity leave. Their collective absence is undeniably significant; this trio has long been seen as central to the USWNT`s attacking identity, a reputation solidified by scoring 10 of the team`s 13 Olympic goals.
Despite being without these established stars, the months since the Olympics have allowed Hayes to provide opportunities to a wide range of players vying for a spot in the U.S. attack, truly embodying the experimental approach she promised. Since August, Hayes has integrated 11 new forwards into the team who were not part of the squad last summer, ten of whom are 25 years old or younger. The USWNT`s performance has been encouraging during this time, scoring 22 goals while conceding only eight across 11 matches, suggesting the team`s attacking depth chart is potentially deeper than ever before.
The depth and attacking prowess were clearly visible in the recent 3-0 victory over China. Hayes` side generated 3.01 expected goals from 18 shots, frequently exploiting China`s high defensive line. Starting Alyssa Thompson, Catarina Macario, and Michelle Cooper proved fruitful, as each player played a crucial role in all three goals. Macario delivered a particularly impressive performance, contributing a goal and an assist, while Cooper also notched an assist. Their play often felt effortless, which Hayes attributed to the entire team`s hard work and improved understanding during this period of experimentation.
When you`re trying to put together so many new players as a coach, you want to make sure that every time you`re with them, you`re making less and less tactical corrections and this week, we`ve made less than we`ve ever had to make. Because Avery Patterson knows where to be [on] both sides of the ball, so does Lily [Yohannes], so does Michelle Cooper and so that, in return, means the whole group can go up a higher level because they`re getting better at their understanding of that. That`s the first thing.
Macario and Thompson are among the more seasoned players within this new attacking generation. Macario debuted in 2021 and her absences have primarily been due to injury, while Thompson was a member of the 2023 World Cup squad. Coupled with their strong club form, they stand out as leading figures in Hayes` player expansion initiative, especially Macario, who, despite having played as an attacking midfielder for the national team, has recently thrived in a No. 9 role.
Cat, she`s being tough on herself. She got a goal, her all-around play, she wanted it at a higher level and that`s okay. She can aspire to that but she`s a wonderful football player and we`re blessed to have her so we`re happy with her.
Michelle Cooper has also integrated well into the team during her third year as a professional, now boasting one goal and one assist in five international appearances. She performed effectively in a wide position against China and is clearly beginning to establish herself within the USWNT`s attacking options, though there is still room for development.
She`s a firecracker. She really is. I didn`t think her touch was the best today and I told her that. … I think Michelle is someone, whether she starts or from the bench, she`s such a threat in behind. She`s got a goal threat not just in terms of the creation but finishing and she`s growing into the shirt. She brings a lot of personality and charisma to the team. She`s so coachable and you can be straight up with her, as well and she`ll take that and be able to pick it up and what I love immensely about her is she`ll give everything for the shirt going backwards as well. When it`s time to defend, do the dirty work, she`s not afraid of that and [will] get stuck in.
Ally Sentnor and Emma Sears are two other promising, less-experienced forwards on the current roster who have also made positive impressions early in their senior national team careers. Sentnor was a standout performer at the February SheBelieves Cup and has scored two goals in eight appearances, while Sears has one goal in five caps. Both players could get another opportunity to showcase their abilities in the upcoming friendly against Jamaica.
Hayes acknowledged that the work with this group is far from finished, which is expected given that many are gaining their first significant international experience. However, it`s undeniable that the U.S. is making crucial progress during this transitional phase. This period is refreshing the hyper-competitive environment within the national team, which could make roster selection decisions significantly challenging for Hayes in two years.
We wanted to be a bit more dynamic in our rotations so the timing of our rotations to pull their wide players out. I thought in the first half, we did that really, really well. What we didn`t do as well as we wanted to was [that] we tried to find the spaces in between when actually, the space was in behind so sometimes we overplayed. They want to give us some areas, we take them areas but I`m asking them to deliver a performance with a level of patience so I`m not going to criticize them for that. I feel like, tactically, we`ve gone up another level. I really feel that way. I feel that there`s so many more players that are so much more in control, that were able to do more and I was pleased with the performance.
Dominic Ashworth