USWNT’s SheBelieves Cup Journey: A Lesson in Growth and Patience
SAN DIEGO, California — It was a mere 93 seconds into the match when the atmosphere at Snapdragon Stadium shifted dramatically. The U.S. women’s national team supporters, a vibrant sea of red, white, and blue, were left in stunned silence. What was expected to be a triumphant conclusion to the SheBelieves Cup turned into a moment of disbelief as Japan‘s Yuka Momiki capitalized on a stray pass, scoring in the second minute.
Despite the early setback, the U.S. team quickly responded. Rising star Ally Sentnor found the equalizer in the 14th minute, reigniting hope among the fans. However, Japan’s tactical prowess and creative play soon regained control of the match. Their relentless pressing and incisive passing culminated in a second-half goal by Toko Koga, leaving the U.S. trailing once more.
As the clock ticked towards the 85th minute, the reality of the situation set in for many U.S. fans, who began to make their way to the exits. The team, unable to find another goal, faced a 2-1 defeat, marking the end of their five-year streak of SheBelieves Cup titles. For head coach Emma Hayes, this was her first loss since taking charge of the USWNT last year. Despite the disappointment, Hayes remained composed and reflective.
“I always go back to what our objectives were in the first place, and that was to deepen our playing pool with opportunities in high-pressure situations against top opponents, and that’s what tonight especially was about,” Hayes stated post-game. The former Chelsea manager emphasized the importance of evaluating players in challenging settings to understand their readiness for future competitions.
Hayes continued, “I think we look through the lens of our objectives and say listen, we’ve certainly looked at our players in this setting, and we’ve definitely got a better understanding of where they are within that journey…which players are ready for now, which players are ready for later, and which ones will go with the [U]23s, and which ones will develop with us.” From her perspective, the mission was accomplished.
While the loss was a tough pill to swallow, context is crucial. Heading into the SheBelieves Cup, Hayes opted for a youthful squad, partly due to the unavailability of more senior players. This included 10 call-ups with four or fewer caps, four of whom had no prior caps. Regardless of the tournament’s outcome, development and expanding the player pool were Hayes’ primary goals.
Hayes highlighted the progress of players like Ally Sentnor, who scored a couple of goals, and Lily Yohannes, who earned her first two starts at the senior level. “There are plenty of new combinations and new connections, which throw up a number of challenges when you play a well-polished team,” she noted.
Earlier in the tournament, the U.S. team showed promise with victories over Colombia and Australia. Led by youthful talents like Michelle Cooper, Jaedyn Shaw, Giselle Thompson, and Claire Hutton, the team initially seemed to strike a balance between experimentation and success. However, as Hayes acknowledged, things don’t always go as planned.
“We’ve won the gold medal in the summer, and we are wanting to compete to win the World Cup, so we have to keep developing and development isn’t linear. It isn’t just in one direction,” Hayes explained. She emphasized the need for moments that provide insight into the team’s progress, expressing excitement for the future despite the result.
Hayes added, “As I’ve said, we played one of the best teams in the world today, whose nucleus have played together for a long time, and it showed. So for us, we need to build the group and the larger pool that we think are going to progress us to the World Cup, 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.”
The good news for the USWNT and their coach is that they have time. Assuming they remain one of the top-ranked sides in Concacaf, World Cup qualification won’t begin until the winter of 2026. While ambitions will be high for any competition or game they play, Hayes is tempering expectations in light of their recent run.
“We have to be patient too in our expectations,” Hayes advised. She pointed out that players like Cat Macario, who has played sparingly for the national team in the past two years, are still building back to full fitness. With most players just entering their preseason, Hayes stressed the importance of being reflective about their current stage of development.
Looking ahead, Hayes faces the challenge of fine-tuning her USWNT puzzle. The tolerance for experimentation is limited without consistent success, and further missteps could invite criticism. The upcoming friendlies against Brazil on April 5 at SoFi Stadium and April 8 at PayPal Park will be crucial for adjustments. In their last two meetings, the U.S. narrowly defeated Brazil with 1-0 wins in the Olympic and Gold Cup finals.
Building towards World Cup dreams means learning from Wednesday’s result, though the timeline for adjustments remains uncertain. “It’s really important to remember moments like this, the learnings that we take from it, and I look forward to the next opportunity we’re together to build on some of that progress and learn the most important things when you play a top-class opponent,” Hayes concluded. “I’d rather do that now than much later.”
Originally Written by: Cesar Hernandez
