It was a fully wild yr for the U.S. girls’s nationwide crew: a brand new head coach, an Olympic gold medal and extra retirements from the greats of this system, from ahead Alex Morgan to goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher to former captain and centerback Becky Sauerbrunn.
It was a yr of change, a yr of pleasure and a yr of re-establishing the crew on the world stage, incomes again the No. 1 world rating. 2024 was a yr of goodbyes, whilst this summer season felt like an introduction to a brand new model of the USWNT, led by gamers reminiscent of Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith, Mal Swanson and Naomi Girma.
It’s troublesome to actually sum up every little thing that occurred for the nationwide crew this yr, however listed below are among the greatest and largest moments — and a short stay up for what 2025 has in retailer.
The excessive level
It’s onerous to disregard the Olympic gold medal-winning aim because the second of the yr, particularly when the build-up was greater than 12 months within the making.
For almost a decade, Swanson has been a fixture of the USWNT discourse. From her senior worldwide debut in 2016 by her function as a rotating winger and full again on the 2019 World Cup-winning squad, most of that dialogue centered on her potential. Simply as she was incomes that common first-choice function and scoring targets for enjoyable in early 2023, a torn patellar tendon threatened to deliver that transient time within the highlight to an abrupt shut.
Mallory Swanson returned to the highlight this summer season on the Olympics. (Michael Madrid / USA TODAY Sports activities)
Swanson returned to motion this spring, first with the Chicago Pink Stars and shortly after with the USWNT. It took a bit of time earlier than her knee might deal with her ordinary nimble footwork on the ball, her intelligent runs past a flat-footed protection and the facility behind her well-placed photographs. By the point the Olympics kicked off, she seemed nearer to her ordinary self, weaving up the attacking third with ‘Triple Espresso’ companions Rodman and Smith with some good and less-heralded decoy runs to present both fellow ahead extra room.
Because the match progressed, opponents discovered methods to at the very least include ‘Triple Espresso’. Within the second half of the gold medal match, america wanted to discover a extra direct route to take advantage of a compact Brazilian block. After a savvy upfield ball from Korbin Albert, Swanson collected the ball on the nook of the field.
The onerous months of restoration paid off, as Swanson dribbled into the center of the penalty space and positioned her shot to goalkeeper Lorena’s far submit. It was sufficient to declare the Olympics’ prime prize — and, within the course of, full a dream she’d put into writing as a sixth-grader. How’s that for a personality arc?
Finest recreation
If you happen to solely caught the USWNT throughout their triumphant Olympic run, do your self a favor and throw on the CONCACAF W Gold Cup quarterfinal towards Colombia.
Coming into the match, america was nonetheless in its post-World Cup disaster. They’d simply misplaced to Mexico for the primary time since 2010 within the group stage, a consequence which doubled as their first residence defeat towards any CONCACAF opponent since 2000. Interim head coach Twila Kilgore had entrusted relative newcomers in her match squad, and the group stage outcomes had been solely underwhelming. Defenders seemed like they had been enjoying with worry and opting to recirculate reasonably than break traces with their passes. Forwards weren’t assured as they neared aim. Midfielders had been scampering all around the subject in useless to attempt to create numerical benefits.
Worst of all, there was a visual lack of pleasure throughout the roster. It could take an announcement win to revive this system. A matchup towards a Colombia aspect that superior additional within the 2023 World Cup than the USWNT offered that probability.
Colombia rattled the hosts by urgent excessive upfield, desirous to drive nervous defenders into turnovers and beat them on the break. After years of desirous to personal possession below Kilgore and predecessor Vlatko Andonovski, america tried one easy trick that Colombia hated: enjoying direct, storming to a 3-0 lead at halftime and finally profitable the match.
It was clear Colombia weren’t comfortable about it. Their fouls grew to become more and more chippy, resulting in viral encounters from each Rodman and Morgan. The latter’s cool resolve and onerous work main the road made it amongst her best shifts for her nation. Within the speedy aftermath, it felt as if this system was beginning to rediscover its id as a favourite. With the advantage of additional hindsight, it was really a pivotal morale-boosting win forward of head coach Emma Hayes’ arrival.
Finest participant
What’s left to say about Naomi Girma at this level?
The Olympics had been Girma’s coronation tour as among the finest defenders on this planet — although to Hayes she’s stands alone within the prime spot already, at solely 24 years previous. For Hayes, Girma already has all of the instruments: composure, anticipation, management – you identify it.
“She’s the most effective defender I’ve ever seen,” Hayes informed reporters within the blended zone after the shutout Olympic semifinal victory towards Germany. “Ever.”
Naomi Girma has established herself as a pacesetter on the sphere. (Daniela Porcelli / Getty Photos)
In 2023, Girma grew to become the primary defender to win U.S. Soccer’s participant of the yr award on the ladies’s aspect, and whereas the goalscoring triple menace of Swanson, Rodman and Smith all have their very own circumstances for the award this yr, it’s honest to count on Girma wins back-to-back. (She obtained my vote this yr. — Meg Linehan)
Whereas she might win the award primarily based on her efficiency in France this summer season — she was, notably, the one subject participant to play each single minute of the match — Girma added a few exclamation factors to her 2024 resume in October.
All yr, the defender had a nostril for aim along with her her different tasks on the sphere, however “Two Purpose Girma” made her debut in Louisville towards Argentina. Not solely was there no epic wait obligatory for her first worldwide aim, however she scored her second in the identical recreation.
Defender Naomi Girma scores her first worldwide aim for the #USWNT 🔥
🎥 @USWNT pic.twitter.com/4MsXa0h2VV
— The Athletic Soccer (@TheAthleticSCCR) October 30, 2024
This crew might face some huge adjustments in 2025 as they try to qualify for the 2027 World Cup, however there’s no query over who the linchpin is: Girma is each the soul and brains of this crew. In any case, as Rodman stated this summer season, “she’s the glue”.
A second of adversity
Whereas there was loads of change on the sphere, the U.S. additionally confronted one thing off the sphere that it hasn’t publicly handled lately. The crew, which has usually introduced a united entrance within the face of adversity like equal pay, needed to handle the aftermath of anti-LGBTQ+ posts shared by one among its personal.
Earlier this yr, midfielder Korbin Albert apologized for her actions after receiving widespread criticism for sharing anti-LGBTQ+ content material on social media. Her apology got here after exterior stress, together with that of former USWNT midfielder Megan Rapinoe. The content material included a video, publicly shared by the participant, of a sermon given in a Christian worship house speaking about how being homosexual and “feeling transgender” is improper.
The incident prompted an official response from USWNT gamers by way of their captains on the time, Alex Morgan and Lindsey Horan.
“We’ve labored extraordinarily onerous to uphold the integrity of this nationwide crew by all the generations and we’re extraordinarily, extraordinarily unhappy that this normal was not upheld,” Horan stated throughout a press name in April. “Our followers and our supporters really feel like this can be a crew that they will rally behind. And it’s so essential that they really feel and proceed to really feel undeniably heard and seen.”
Korbin Albert was included within the USWNT Olympic roster regardless of controversial shares on social media. (Alex Broadway / Getty Photos)
All year long, followers made their dissatisfaction with Albert’s actions heard, typically booing when her identify was introduced in stadiums, together with throughout Pleasure month. The booing continued into the crew’s last worldwide matches of the yr, with followers booing when Albert subbed into the sport at Wembley towards England on November 30.
Earlier than the Olympics, Hayes stated Albert made the 18-player roster on advantage and that she is a “large human being“, whereas additionally acknowledging that Albert has “work” to do in relation to her feedback. After the sport in England, Hayes stated she was centered on teaching soccer.
“After all, I perceive the booing, and everyone is entitled to their opinions on it,” Hayes stated after the 0-0 draw with England. “My job is to not weigh in on the talk, my job as a soccer coach is to supply a soccer crew. And like I all the time do, I’ve sat down with Korbin, I’ve had a number of conversations along with her to be sure that self-development piece is there.”
Whereas the crew has appeared to maneuver previous the saga as Hayes continues to incorporate Albert within the squad, there’s little doubt Albert’s actions and the crew’s response had been a key a part of the 2024 story.
The stat that sums up 2024
14: the variety of consecutive months that the USWNT hadn’t been atop FIFA’s rankings earlier than making their triumphant return to the highest in August 2024. In a broader context, it’s an encouraging signal for the whole lot of ladies’s worldwide soccer, as extra competitors on the highest degree is important.
GO DEEPER
USWNT returns to prime of FIFA world rankings after Olympic gold
Nonetheless, it was by far the longest this system has spent ranked decrease than No. 1. In complete, the USWNT has been exterior of first place for simply 22 complete months since 2008. The latest “stoop” makes up 63.6 per cent of their complete time exterior of pole place. It’s been a staggering run of success for america over almost 20 years and one that appears able to endure after Hayes’ first yr in cost.
Emma Hayes is a vocal head coach. (Andy Lyons / Getty Photos)
Favourite quote
Hayes is a strolling quote machine. It’s one thing she acknowledged in an NWSL convention room stuffed with reporters on her first official day on the job, joking that the USWNT had by no means had anybody with a character like her earlier than.
The blended zone following the USWNT’s extra-time Olympic semifinal win over Germany in Lyon, France, was the ultimate style of life exterior the chaos of Paris. Hayes was in an understandably good temper whereas holding court docket after the ultimate whistle. As she was ushered off, somebody lastly requested her if she needed Spain within the upcoming last. A throwback, maybe, to her parting phrases at Chelsea. (“I’ve obtained to f––ing beat the Spanish in some unspecified time in the future,” one other very good quote in its personal proper.)
“I don’t care,” Hayes replied with a drained grin. “I desire a drink.”
She earned celebratory drinks just a few days later when the U.S. gained gold.
Did that actually occur?
If the Olympics had gone poorly, the reply to this query in all probability would have been the 2-0 loss to Mexico on the W Gold Cup. The loss, a reasonably complete one, felt like a large reminder that the USWNT mystique was lengthy gone. Now, on the opposite aspect of the yr following a gold medal, that evaluation doesn’t really feel solely unfaithful — however we’ve seen that the USWNT mentality nonetheless serves a goal.
So as an alternative, goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher saving three penalties and changing one among her personal not as soon as, however twice, in the identical calendar yr towards the identical crew (sorry to Canada) is the “wait, what?” second of the yr.
ALYSSA NAEHER CAN SAVE AND CONVERT PENALTIES 🤯 pic.twitter.com/vewrwXwto5
— Attacking Third (@AttackingThird) March 7, 2024
In a yr the place much more stalwarts of this system retired with out huge farewell excursions, Naeher included, she at the very least gave an ideal send-off all through 2024 with a number of huge performances. I don’t assume we’ll ever see something fairly like this once more.
Participant to observe in 2025
The post-Olympics story of Hayes’ first yr was her proactive introduction of a number of newcomers into her nationwide crew pool. The work started in earnest along with her Olympic squad, as Emily Sams, Hal Hershfelt and Croix Bethune had been named alternates regardless of by no means showing for the USWNT earlier than the tune-up friendlies. That introduction manifesto grew to become extra proactive within the fall, with greater than half a dozen extra gamers incomes their first cap.
Yazmeen Ryan emerged as a post-Olympic standout for the U.S.(Teresa Kroeger / Getty Photos for USSF)
There are nearly too many contemporary faces to confidently single one out right here, however I’ll stump for Yazmeen Ryan as one to observe subsequent yr. The 25-year-old from Norman, Oklahoma, has flourished since becoming a member of Gotham FC in 2023, changing into a daily starter for the two-time NWSL finalists and showcasing her versatility by filling quite a few roles. Regardless of the place she traces up she’s hellbent on progressing the ball upfield, which she will do with give-and-go passing or her personal dribbling prowess. That skillset is invaluable on the worldwide degree.
She may not be shoehorned into a hard and fast function like Crystal Dunn was at left again, however Ryan’s capability to fill a number of roles and do work between the containers ought to maintain her in Hayes’ plans for the foreseeable future.
Greatest query for 2025
As Hayes patiently wades by her information-gathering period, we glance to the goalkeeper pool, the place the character of the place doesn’t permit as a lot flexibility when it comes to switching starters round. Following Naeher’s retirement, a swap must occur. Two of essentially the most distinguished backups who’ve earned time behind Naeher, Casey Murphy and Jane Campbell, are 28 and 29 respectively. That doesn’t age them out of the goalkeeper spot, nevertheless it doesn’t essentially make them gamers to construct round previous 2028.
With the goalkeeper place, is it sufficient to have somebody who will carry the crew by 2027-28, after which begin the method once more? Or will that interim era of gamers of their late twenties primarily get skipped for a more recent era, reminiscent of Mandy Haught or Shelby Hogan – or perhaps a younger Teagan Wy? Maybe there will likely be a recall for Phallon Tullis-Joyce, who can be 28 however might assist problem the remainder of the pack after her time in England with Manchester United.
It’ll be unusual to see somebody who’s not Naeher in internet for the U.S. after so lengthy of the crew quietly relying on her — that’s the character of goalkeeper lifecycles. Whoever it’s may also should be ready to compete for a decade-long tenure.
(Prime picture: Andrea Vilchez / Getty Photos)
