Lily Yohannes, the 17-year-old midfielder and youngest player on the U.S. Women`s National Team, recently returned to the location where she made her national debut and scored her first USWNT goal nearly one year ago.
Yohannes started for the team in a friendly match against China at Allianz Field in Minnesota, where the USWNT defeated China 3-0. She played a crucial role in ball progression and maintaining possession throughout the match, often acting as a vital link for the team.
Defensively, she was also effective, ranking second on the team with seven total ball recoveries during the victory. Both Yohannes and teammate Sam Coffey were instrumental in controlling the tempo in midfield and stifling China`s pressing attempts. Her performance highlighted another step forward in the development of the young defensive midfielder.
Head coach Emma Hayes recently celebrated her first year in charge, and Lily Yohannes` development trajectory under her guidance seems remarkably well-timed. Regardless of whether it`s perfect timing or fortunate happenstance, the teenage talent is clearly just beginning her journey.
I thought Sam [Coffey] was superb. I thought Lily [Yohannes] grew into the game, and their roles to be what we call low support players when the ball’s gone out wide.
I thought they connected really well with [those] wide players and their rotations out to get on the ball in the lowest spots was really good. But I think the team chemistry, the team cohesion has improved a lot [in] this camp.
Hayes commented after the match, praising the midfield duo and the team`s overall progress.
Yohannes has rapidly emerged as one of the most exciting young talents in women`s football. She has demonstrated exceptional playmaking abilities and maturity beyond her years, both for the USWNT and her Dutch club, Ajax. A technically gifted midfielder, Yohannes has already become a regular fixture on USWNT rosters in 2025, signaling her importance in the team`s build-up towards the 2027-28 international cycle.
I keep saying to everyone, she’s 17. She’s still got a couple of years of years of experience as a professional. I think the next two years of development will be important for her.
I think it’s been an unbelievable development pathway for her to be at Ajax. That, for me, has, I think, advanced her positional play in a way that makes her stand out beyond her years.
Hayes told media before the game, emphasizing the importance of her club environment for her early development.
Although she is not yet a consistent starter, Yohannes has already made significant headlines in Europe due to 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 game. For the USWNT, she is the eighth-youngest player all-time to debut and the third youngest to score for the senior national team.
Last year, discussions around Yohannes also centered on her potential eligibility to represent either the United States or the Netherlands. Born in Virginia, she moved with her family to Europe in 2017, where she progressed through the Ajax academies and eventually joined their first team on a professional contract in 2023. She received her first call-up to the USWNT under Emma Hayes in June 2024, and the teenage midfielder officially committed her international future to the United States in November of that year.
I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the United States and Dutch Football Federations for their unwavering support and patient guidance as I made my decision regarding my international future.
After much consideration, I have decided to commit to represent my country, the United States. The U.S. is my homeland, my birthplace, and where my extended family resides. These strong connections have driven me to honor my roots and proudly commit to U.S. Soccer.
I am excited and eager to continue putting in the work and earn my place on the U.S. Women’s National Team.
Yohannes stated last year regarding her decision.
Since the beginning of 2025, Yohannes has been included in every senior USWNT roster, participating in January camps, the SheBelieves Cup, and now the recent summer friendlies. She currently has six international appearances and one goal (scored on her debut). Hayes` approach to Yohannes` integration is cautious, ensuring the young player continues her development at the international level without being rushed, even as her profile grows.
She’s physically developed in the last 12 months, tactically, in possession. When she plays for her club team, they generally have the ball against sort of mid to low blocks. So, I think she’s developed that side of her play.
I think for us, playing against opponents like Brazil and Japan were extremely high-level games that will serve her well in the future. But as I always keep saying, she’s got a lot of development to do. I think it will be up and down, and I think they will see really good moments, and I think we’ll see different moments. I think it’s what you can expect from a 17-year-old.
Hayes explained, discussing Yohannes` physical and tactical growth.
She’s got unbelievable maturity and coachability, and someone who I know is going to become an important part of our program, but I’m invested in that development, and we have to be patient with that, considering her tender age and her lack of international and high-level experience.
Hayes added, highlighting the teenager`s impressive mental attributes.
As Yohannes gains diverse experiences with both Ajax in the UWCL and the USWNT, she is actively absorbing knowledge from her environments. She credits all her USWNT teammates for positively influencing her integration, specifically mentioning captain Lindsey Heaps and forward Catarina Macario as key examples.
Everybody is really helpful and has made my joining the team so much easier. I would say from Lindsey [Heaps], to Cat [Macario]. Literally, I can name so many players, all the experienced players, they’ve been here for so long, so they know how it is coming in as a first-timer.
Now that I’ve been in camp for a little while, I think I’ve grown my comfortability, I would say, and I’m just trying to continue to grow.
Yohannes shared about settling into the team environment.
What particularly distinguishes Yohannes is her maturity. Despite her young age, she plays with the composure of a seasoned professional, rarely appearing rushed on the ball and consistently making intelligent decisions. This quality has quickly earned her trust at both club and international levels. Her game is defined by an excellent passing range and the ability to control the tempo of play. Comfortable operating in both deep-lying and more advanced midfield positions, she excels at breaking defensive lines with precise passes and retaining possession under pressure.
During Ajax`s 2023-24 UEFA Women’s Champions League campaign, she demonstrated her fearlessness against elite European opposition, effectively finding space and linking play between defense and attack. Her assist in Ajax’s victory over Roma, which originated from her forcing a turnover and initiating an attacking sequence, highlighted her capability to unlock stubborn defenses with a single pass.
I think it’s one thing to do what she’s doing in clubs at Ajax and playing in Champions League, but to come into the international level, I think it’s always like a different environment, a different step up, but I think she’s fit in seamlessly.
And I think you guys have all seen how special she can be, and she’s just a different kind of footballer than maybe we’re used to, and seeing a lot of special qualities. So, I’m really proud of what she’s doing. But I mean, she’s still 17 years old, so we’ve got a lot [more] to come.
Lindsey Heaps commented on Yohannes` smooth transition to the international stage.
Team vice-captain Naomi Girma, back with the national team for the first time this year, understands a rapidly rising profile. Shortly after being drafted by San Diego in the 2022 NWSL Draft, her outstanding performances as a centerback quickly earned her Rookie of the Year and Defender of the Year awards, leading to her inclusion in the 2023 USWNT World Cup squad.
While the career paths are not perfectly parallel, especially with the next World Cup still two years away, Yohannes` role and impact could certainly grow significantly in that time. It is not unrealistic to consider her a strong candidate to make that World Cup roster as a 20-year-old if her impressive development continues.
She’s grown so much in the past year. She came in as a young player, but she seemed like she had been playing with us for a while, and you could tell she just has that calm and that sense of confidence in the ball too.
So, I think that’s such a good trait to have in a midfielder.
Girma observed about Yohannes` presence and composure.
She’s just level-headed. And I feel like, as much as she’s rising, she’s still very much herself.
It’s really great to see someone like her doing so well and really establishing herself in the team.
Girma added, highlighting Yohannes` grounded personality despite her success.
