From the moment Emma Hayes took over coaching responsibilities for the U.S. women`s national team, a phase of experimentation was inherently expected. Hired to rebuild the squad after their earliest-ever exit at the 2023 Women`s World Cup, Hayes has wisely used the time since the team`s Olympic gold medal victory to broaden the player pool. Taking advantage of the two-plus year runway until the next World Cup, she is actively exploring various options. An unforeseen element of this experimental era, however, has been the necessity to do so without the formidable attacking trio often dubbed the “triple espresso”: Trinity Rodman, Mallory Swanson, and Sophia Smith.
Hayes has not had access to this influential group since the gold medal match in Paris back in August. Rodman is currently managing a persistent back injury, while Swanson and Smith are on maternity leave. Their combined absence was always going to be significant – the trio has long been identified as the future torchbearers of the USWNT`s attacking identity, living up to this by netting 10 out of the team`s 13 goals at the Olympics.
In the months since they last played together, Hayes has seized the opportunity to evaluate a diverse array of players for potential roles in the U.S. attack, fully embracing the spirit of experimentation she promised post-Olympics. Since August, Hayes has worked with 11 forwards who were not part of the team last summer; ten of these players are aged 25 or younger. The USWNT has scored 22 goals across 11 games during this stretch, conceding only eight, which indicates early signs that the team`s attacking depth chart is perhaps stronger than ever before.
The USWNT`s attacking capabilities were clearly evident in Saturday`s 3-0 triumph over China. Hayes` side generated 3.01 expected goals from 18 shots against China`s high defensive line, which was frequently exploitable. Hayes started Alyssa Thompson, Catarina Macario, and Michelle Cooper, and her selection paid off, with each player playing a key role in all three goals. Macario delivered a particularly outstanding performance, contributing both a goal and an assist, while Cooper also recorded an assist. Their play often felt effortless, something Hayes attributed to her entire team`s dedication and hard work throughout this period of experimentation.
“When you`re trying to integrate so many new players as a coach, you hope that with each gathering, you need fewer and fewer tactical corrections,” Hayes commented after the match. “This week, we`ve needed fewer than ever. Because Avery Patterson understands where to position herself on both sides of the ball, and so do Lily [Yohannes] and Michelle Cooper. That, in turn, lifts the whole group`s performance level as they improve their tactical understanding. That`s the first thing.”
Macario and Thompson are among the more seasoned players within this refreshed attacking unit. Macario made her national team debut in 2021 and has only missed time due to injury, while Thompson was part of the 2023 World Cup squad. Coupled with their strong club form, this duo is arguably leading the charge in Hayes` player pool expansion project. This is particularly true for Macario, who has played as an attacking midfielder for the national team but has recently excelled as a number nine.
“Cat is hard on herself,” Hayes noted. “She scored a goal, and her overall game was good, but she wanted it to be at a higher level, and that`s fine. She can strive for that. But she is a magnificent football player, and we are fortunate to have her. We are very happy with her.”
Meanwhile, Cooper has transitioned smoothly into her third year as a professional and now boasts one goal and one assist in five international appearances. She performed effectively in a wide role against China on Saturday. While there is still room for growth, she is undeniably beginning to establish her position within the USWNT`s attacking depth chart.
“She`s a firecracker,” Hayes said about Cooper. “She really is. I didn`t think her first touch was her best today, and I told her that… Michelle is someone who, whether starting or coming off the bench, provides a significant threat running in behind defenses. She has a goal threat not just through creating chances but also through finishing. She`s growing into the shirt. She brings a lot of personality and charisma to the team. She is very coachable, and you can be direct with her; she absorbs it and applies it. What I immensely appreciate about her is that she gives absolutely everything for the shirt defensively as well. When it`s time to defend and do the hard work, she`s not afraid and will get stuck in.”
Ally Sentnor and Emma Sears complete the group of less experienced forwards currently on the roster, both of whom have also made positive impressions early in their senior national team careers. Sentnor was a standout performer at February`s SheBelieves Cup and has two goals in eight appearances so far, while Sears has netted one goal in five caps. Both players could get another opportunity to shine on Tuesday when the USWNT concludes the international break with a friendly against Jamaica.
Hayes acknowledged on Saturday that her work with this group is far from complete, which is understandable given that many are young players gaining their first significant international experience. However, it is difficult to deny that the U.S. team is making crucial progress during this transitional period, reigniting the highly competitive environment within the national team, which promises to make roster decisions extremely challenging for Hayes in two years` time.
“We aimed to be more dynamic in our rotations to draw their wide players out,” Hayes explained. “I thought we executed that really well in the first half. Where we didn`t perform as well as intended was trying to force passes into the spaces between defenders when the real opportunity was actually in behind them; sometimes we overplayed. They gave us certain areas to exploit, and we took them, but I`m asking the players to deliver performances with a level of patience. So I won`t criticize them for that. I genuinely feel that tactically, we`ve elevated our game another level. There are so many more players who are now much more in control, capable of doing more. I was pleased with the overall performance.”
