It was a completely wild yr for the U.S. ladies’s nationwide staff: 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 staff on the world stage, incomes again the No. 1 world rating. 2024 was a yr of goodbyes, at the same time as this summer season felt like an introduction to a brand new model of the USWNT, led by gamers comparable to Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith, Mal Swanson and Naomi Girma.
It’s tough to actually sum up every part that occurred for the nationwide staff this yr, however listed here are a number of the finest and largest moments — and a short stay up for what 2025 has in retailer.
The excessive level
It’s laborious to disregard the Olympic gold medal-winning purpose because the second of the yr, particularly when the build-up was greater than 12 months within the making.
For practically a decade, Swanson has been a fixture of the USWNT discourse. From her senior worldwide debut in 2016 via 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 carry 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 somewhat time earlier than her knee might deal with her traditional nimble footwork on the ball, her intelligent runs past a flat-footed protection and the facility behind her well-placed pictures. By the point the Olympics kicked off, she regarded nearer to her traditional self, weaving up the attacking third with ‘Triple Espresso’ companions Rodman and Smith with some good and less-heralded decoy runs to offer both fellow ahead extra room.
Because the event progressed, opponents discovered methods to no less than include ‘Triple Espresso’. Within the second half of the gold medal match, the US wanted to discover a extra direct route to use a compact Brazilian block. After a savvy upfield ball from Korbin Albert, Swanson collected the ball on the nook of the field.
The laborious months of restoration paid off, as Swanson dribbled into the center of the penalty space and positioned her shot to goalkeeper Lorena’s far publish. 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 sport
Should you solely caught the USWNT throughout their triumphant Olympic run, do your self a favor and throw on the CONCACAF W Gold Cup quarterfinal in opposition to Colombia.
Coming into the match, the US was nonetheless in its post-World Cup disaster. That they had simply misplaced to Mexico for the primary time since 2010 within the group stage, a consequence which doubled as their first dwelling defeat in opposition to any CONCACAF opponent since 2000. Interim head coach Twila Kilgore had entrusted relative newcomers in her event squad, and the group stage outcomes had been totally underwhelming. Defenders regarded like they had been enjoying with concern and opting to recirculate reasonably than break traces with their passes. Forwards weren’t assured as they neared purpose. Midfielders had been scampering everywhere in 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 in opposition to a Colombia aspect that superior additional within the 2023 World Cup than the USWNT supplied that probability.
Colombia rattled the hosts by urgent excessive upfield, desirous to pressure nervous defenders into turnovers and beat them on the break. After years of desirous to personal possession beneath Kilgore and predecessor Vlatko Andonovski, the US 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 completely satisfied about it. Their fouls turned more and more chippy, resulting in viral encounters from each Rodman and Morgan. The latter’s cool resolve and laborious work main the road made it amongst her biggest shifts for her nation. Within the instant aftermath, it felt as if this system was beginning to rediscover its identification 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 the most effective defenders on this planet — although to Hayes she’s stands alone within the prime spot already, at solely 24 years outdated. For Hayes, Girma already has all of the instruments: composure, anticipation, management – you identify it.
“She’s the perfect defender I’ve ever seen,” Hayes informed reporters within the blended zone after the shutout Olympic semifinal victory in opposition to Germany. “Ever.”
Naomi Girma has established herself as a frontrunner on the sector. (Daniela Porcelli / Getty Photos)
In 2023, Girma turned the primary defender to win U.S. Soccer’s participant of the yr award on the ladies’s aspect, and whereas the goalscoring triple risk 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 acquired 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 event — Girma added a few exclamation factors to her 2024 resume in October.
All yr, the defender had a nostril for purpose along with her her different tasks on the sector, however “Two Purpose Girma” made her debut in Louisville in opposition to Argentina. Not solely was there no epic wait needed for her first worldwide purpose, however she scored her second in the identical sport.
Defender Naomi Girma scores her first worldwide purpose for the #USWNT 🔥
🎥 @USWNT pic.twitter.com/4MsXa0h2VV
— The Athletic Soccer (@TheAthleticSCCR) October 30, 2024
This staff might face some huge modifications 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 staff. In spite of everything, as Rodman stated this summer season, “she’s the glue”.
A second of adversity
Whereas there was loads of change on the sector, the U.S. additionally confronted one thing off the sector that it hasn’t publicly handled lately. The staff, which has sometimes introduced a united entrance within the face of adversity like equal pay, needed to handle the aftermath of anti-LGBTQ+ posts shared by one in every of 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 outdoors 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 flawed.
The incident prompted an official response from USWNT gamers through their captains on the time, Alex Morgan and Lindsey Horan.
“We’ve labored extraordinarily laborious to uphold the integrity of this nationwide staff via 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 it is a staff that they’ll 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 Delight month. The booing continued into the staff’s last worldwide matches of the yr, with followers booing when Albert subbed into the sport at Wembley in opposition to England on November 30.
Earlier than the Olympics, Hayes stated Albert made the 18-player roster on benefit and that she is a “great 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 all people 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 staff. And like I at all times do, I’ve sat down with Korbin, I’ve had a number of conversations along with her to guarantee that self-development piece is there.”
Whereas the staff has appeared to maneuver previous the saga as Hayes continues to incorporate Albert within the squad, there’s little question Albert’s actions and the staff’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 girls’s worldwide soccer, as extra competitors on the highest stage is critical.
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 outdoors of first place for simply 22 complete months since 2008. The newest “droop” makes up 63.6 per cent of their complete time outdoors of pole place. It’s been a staggering run of success for the US over practically 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 full of 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 outdoors 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 acquired to f––ing beat the Spanish sooner or later,” 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 a number of days later when the U.S. gained gold.
Did that basically 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 totally unfaithful — however we’ve seen that the USWNT mentality nonetheless serves a function.
So as an alternative, goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher saving three penalties and changing one in every of her personal not as soon as, however twice, in the identical calendar yr in opposition to the identical staff (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 no less than gave an ideal send-off all through 2024 with a number of large performances. I don’t suppose we’ll ever see something fairly like this once more.
Participant to look at in 2025
The post-Olympics story of Hayes’ first yr was her proactive introduction of a number of newcomers into her nationwide staff 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 turned 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 look at subsequent yr. The 25-year-old from Norman, Oklahoma, has flourished since becoming a member of Gotham FC in 2023, turning into a daily starter for the two-time NWSL finalists and showcasing her versatility by filling quite a few roles. Irrespective of the place she traces up she’s hellbent on progressing the ball upfield, which she will be able to do with give-and-go passing or her personal dribbling prowess. That skillset is invaluable on the worldwide stage.
She may not be shoehorned into a set function like Crystal Dunn was at left again, however Ryan’s means to fill a number of roles and do work between the packing containers ought to hold her in Hayes’ plans for the foreseeable future.
Largest query for 2025
As Hayes patiently wades via her information-gathering period, we glance to the goalkeeper pool, the place the character of the place doesn’t permit as a lot flexibility by way of switching starters round. Following Naeher’s retirement, a swap should occur. Two of probably 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, however 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 staff via 2027-28, after which begin the method yet again? Or will that interim era of gamers of their late twenties basically get skipped for a more recent era, comparable to Mandy Haught or Shelby Hogan – or perhaps a younger Teagan Wy? Maybe there can 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 web for the U.S. after so lengthy of the staff quietly relying on her — that’s the character of goalkeeper lifecycles. Whoever it’s may additionally must be ready to compete for a decade-long tenure.
(High picture: Andrea Vilchez / Getty Photos)