U.S. Women`s National Team head coach Emma Hayes is set to reach her one-year mark in the position as the team wraps up its current international window with a match against Jamaica on Tuesday.
Originally planned as a two-game series against China, the schedule change brings a familiar Concacaf opponent in the form of the Reggae Girlz. The upcoming match between the Stars and Stripes and Jamaica will be held at Energizer Park in St. Louis. The United States enters the game following a decisive 3-0 victory over China on Saturday, while Jamaica is coming off an April window that saw them suffer two losses against regional rivals Mexico.
Hayes and her squad will aim for a second consecutive shutout after splitting their April series against Brazil, securing a 2-0 win before a 2-1 loss. With a solid win against China already kicking off the summer schedule, the coaching staff continues to evaluate the talent pool. Several players are earning their initial appearances with the national team. Midfielder Lo`eau LaBonta made her debut at the age of 32 on Saturday, and defender Kerry Abello along with goalkeeper Claudia Dickey could potentially earn their first caps on Tuesday evening.
Jamaica`s challenging April period included conceding seven goals across two defeats to Mexico. Head coach Hubert Busby Jr. will be missing key players for this fixture, including prolific striker Bunny Shaw, midfielder Drew Spence, and experienced goalkeeper Rebeca Spencer. The coach has not provided a specific timeframe for Shaw`s return as she continues to recover from a foot injury.
Historical Record
Tuesday`s encounter will be the sixth overall meeting between these two nations. The USWNT boasts a perfect record, having won all five previous matches against the Reggae Girlz. Their most recent face-off occurred during the 2022 Concacaf W Championship, which served as a qualifier for the 2023 FIFA Women`s World Cup. In that game, the U.S. national team dominated with a 5-0 victory, featuring goals scored by Sophia Smith, Rose Lavelle, Kristie Mewis, and Trinity Rodman.
USWNT Team Insight
The U.S. team was tested early in their match against China, facing significant pressure in the opening five minutes, but eventually broke through just before the half-hour mark. They went on to win comfortably, 3-0, showing improved tactical awareness and quicker decision-making, particularly when facing China`s high press rather than a more defensive and structured formation.
Ever the high-performance unit, some players immediately voiced a desire for further improvement during post-game interviews. Coach Hayes views this attitude as a positive reflection of the group`s tactical evolution. She believes that putting players in scenarios where they must find solutions is beneficial for their development.
Following the match against China, Hayes commented, “When you are working with so many new players, as a coach, you hope that with each session, you need to make fewer tactical adjustments. This week, we`ve needed fewer corrections than ever before. Players like Avery Patterson know their positioning on both sides of the ball, as do Lily [Yohannes] and Michelle Cooper. This, in turn, allows the entire group to operate at a higher level because their understanding is improving.”
She added, “I am asking them to deliver a performance with patience, so I won`t criticize them for that. I truly feel that tactically, we have moved up another level. I feel that way strongly. I feel that more players are in greater control, which allows us to accomplish more on the field.”
Jamaica Team Insight
As Jamaica prepares for the next World Cup cycle, head coach Hubert Busby Jr. is also focused on evaluating his available players, especially with several experienced team members currently sidelined. The program aims to build upon the success of their two previous World Cup appearances.
A two-game losing streak against Mexico did cause some concern among the team`s loyal supporters on the island. However, Busby insists that the squad is progressing positively by facing strong Concacaf opponents and with a planned match against England later this month. He views these matches as crucial opportunities for experimentation and gaining a comprehensive understanding of the team`s capabilities before vital World Cup qualifiers, emphasizing that results are not the sole focus.
After announcing the Reggae Girlz roster, Busby explained, “As we transitioned from the previous game to this one, we looked at several things and tried different players in different positions. We had discussions about trying things out, which is the purpose of these games. We are aware of our strengths and weaknesses, and we must effectively utilize these opportunities. I know everyone wants to win every single match – that is what we are here for – but these games are for us to experiment and try different approaches. We cannot do this during World Cup qualifiers, so we need this chance to see the complete picture.”
He continued, “There are all these small puzzle pieces, or jigsaw pieces, that we need to assemble to create the final product. We are not close to where we need to be yet, but I believe we are in the process of getting there… It is always about progression. Even if it doesn`t always seem like it because the results might not show it, we extract the information, gain a better understanding of our current status, and add it to our toolkit, filing it away for future use.”
Match Prediction
The USWNT prepared for a team that might sit deep against China but instead faced a side that pressed high. They could find themselves overly prepared for a Jamaica team that typically employs a mid to low defensive block. Given the significant number of key players unavailable for Jamaica, this match has the potential to be another one-sided affair.
Prediction: The USWNT is favored to win.
