The U.S. Women’s National Team’s reputation for historic success precedes them, but before they arrived in France last month, there was something surprising missing from the 2024 Olympic squad. Not a single member of the team had won a gold medal, and the disappointment of last year’s early exit from the Women’s World Cup was a noticeable omission from their resume. It didn’t help that new coach Emma Hayes had just four games to work with the team before heading to the Olympics, and many had to temper their expectations.
The baggage hardly bothered them. After six games in 17 days across France, the U.S. women’s national team won its first Olympic gold medal in 12 years, completing its redemption trajectory in record time with a 1-0 win over Brazil at the Parc des Princes in Paris on Saturday. It was the result of several big bets paying off after the disappointment in Melbourne, and the answer to a series of unknowns that have lingered for the U.S. women’s national team over the past year.
In a matter of weeks, despite the short gap between the first game in early June and the opening game of the Olympics in late July, US Soccer’s decision to hire Hayes proved to be a wise one. The gold medal also demonstrated the progress that head coach Twila Kilgore has made in Hayes’ absence, giving young players ample opportunity to play with a younger version of the USWNT in Paris and reap the rewards. The attacking trio of Mallory Swanson, Sophia Smith and Trinity Rodman have made their mark on the international stage, scoring three goals each, with Swanson adding one more for the only goal of the gold medal game.
But the feat is even more impressive when you consider how much work remains to be done. The U.S. women’s team’s 9-1 group stage outscored their opponents, but it seemed like they were rejoining a national team with a history of dominating their rivals, only to find themselves in a much more timid knockout stage. The U.S. didn’t concede a single goal during that stretch, continuing the defensive prowess they showed at last year’s Women’s World Cup. They also scored just three goals on their way to gold, needing two overtime periods to get there. Against Brazil, they were arguably the worst team in the game, but Swanson’s goal broke the momentum of the game and they were fortunate to be able to withstand their opponents’ attacking play at times in the first half.
Hayes has inadvertently addressed the struggles she faced in her Olympic preparations. She has occasionally played a key role as a rookie on the team, and has admitted that the USWNT has historically favored veterans over newcomers before the tournament, inadvertently hindering her own development as a result. Hayes was bold enough to leave Alex Morgan out of the team, opting instead for younger, more in-form players, but she held her ground once she arrived in France. She rotated rarely in lineup selections and substitutions, desperately trying to build chemistry while forcing players to fatigue.
Her approach often felt like a distraction. Hayes clearly decided early in the game that fostering connections was the most important, even if fresh legs might have prevented a dull finish to the game. Her position still feels forced due to the short preparation period leading up to the Olympics, and she likely feels right about the fact that she was rewarded with a gold medal.
But this feels more like the beginning of a new chapter than a happy ending, largely because of the imperfections that have been on display in France. Swanson, Smith and Rodman have been able to carry the team on their shoulders on several occasions, and veteran goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher has had some big moments, but the U.S. women’s team has some areas that need improvement.
Chief among them is the midfield imbalance that has existed since Sam Mewis was forced out of the team due to injury after the Tokyo Olympics and is set to retire in 2024. Hayes seems to be aware of this, and despite establishing a new status quo at the Olympics, he has made some key decisions. Corbin Albert started the gold medal game against Rose Lavelle, and Lindsey Horan moved into an attacking role that suits her better than the deeper role she usually plays alongside Lavelle. The trio of Albert, Horan and Sam Coffey still isn’t perfectly balanced, confirming that this is a long-term project that Hayes may have to make difficult decisions about at some point.
There is still plenty of time until the next major international tournament, the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil, if they qualify. The post-Olympic period will be Hayes’ chance to truly show her true intentions for the national team. In an increasingly competitive sport, it is much harder to get to the top of women’s football.
While Hayes has focused on the tangibles over the next few years, he has also impressively recovered some of the intangibles in record time. Despite the glaring imperfections against Brazil, Hayes and his teammates have recaptured the sense of inevitability that has defined the USWNT for decades. This squad is full of players who have yet to experience it at the international level, but winning is still part of the team. But the players who have not yet experienced winning have wasted no time in their quest to finally get on the podium.
There’s still a lot to learn about this version of the USWNT and its new coach, who will be looking to live up to the billing after a strong start to the Hayes era. But when it comes to first impressions, Hayes and company have done a good job of making a strong impression.
