USWNT blossoms under head coach Emma Hayes — but this is just the beginning

MARSEILLE — If you’re in the mixed zone of the Stade de Marseille after an Olympic soccer match, you’ll see an impromptu tap show. As each player enters the small maze of ropes to fulfill their tournament obligations, their pimples create a chaotic rhythm, punctuated by their laughter or sighs, depending on which side of the scoreline they’re on.

For the U.S. women’s national team on Sunday night, fresh off a dominant 4-1 win over Germany, the good vibes continued. Center back Naomi Girma giggled as she took baby steps in the press box, while fellow defender Jenna Nighswonger offered to help her keep her balance. Some simply stopped, unlaced their cleats and opted for socks. Whatever method they used, everyone shared the same cheerful, yet determined, mood.

Because while the USWNT lead Group B with six points from their two games so far and are guaranteed a quarterfinal spot at the 2024 Olympics, this is just the beginning. A win or draw against Australia will secure top spot in the group and a trip to Paris later this week to begin the knockout rounds.

“We’re playing with more structure and discipline, and I think we’re having fun,” midfielder Rose Lavelle said as she assessed the difference in the start between these games and last summer’s World Cup. “We have a lot of really special players and we’re finally starting to connect. But we know we’re at a higher level.”

At last year’s World Cup, the U.S. scored four goals in three group stage games before being eliminated by Sweden on penalties in the round of 16. At this summer’s Olympics, the U.S. has already scored seven goals in two games, including four against Germany alone.

And speaking of those special players – with the starting forward line of Sophia Smith, Mal Swanson and Trinity Rodman all having now scored, with Smith getting her turn in the spotlight on Sunday thanks to a brace – there was a theme in the mixed zone:

“That’s typical Mal.”

“Soph is Soph.”

“Give Trinity the ball and let her do her thing.”

Swanson, Rodman and Smith have combined to score the majority of the U.S. national team’s goals at the Olympics (Getty Images)

The way the players talk about their teammates is more than just a casual acceptance of the players’ talent level and the assumption that it will reveal itself. It is a reminder of the deep trust they have in each other to perform at the most important moments, and of a certain level of selflessness.

“I’m going to do whatever I can to contribute to this team,” Swanson said. “It doesn’t matter who scores, as long as we get the results we need. That’s what matters. What happens on the training field pays off, and it shows.”

There are bigger tests ahead. It’s clear the USWNT feels ready, despite still believing they haven’t reached their full potential.

“This is probably only game six or seven where we’re playing together up front,” Smith said after the game. “We’re really clicking, really fast. I think this is only 70 percent of what we can do.”

Compared to last summer, when the U.S. national team played strong defense, including a stellar World Cup performance from Girma in central defense and goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher doing her best to carry the team, and compared to the lackluster farewell games, the team has found its attacking firepower, and it has done so early in these Games.

“You see a collective effort from top to bottom,” Naeher said Sunday. “You know the defensive mentality of the group, and then to add four more goals is huge for us, to find the net, especially early on; sets the tone from the start.”

The early leads were important, but it was perhaps Lynn Williams’ second-half goal that felt most like a breakthrough for the U.S. on Sunday. Her team finally showed some much-needed ruthlessness throughout the game with that late goal.

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Emma Hayes was particularly pleased with that, especially after the US failed to score a goal against Zambia in the second half.

“That was just a confirmation: one of the importance of selection and the importance of finishers coming onto the pitch,” Hayes said. “You’ve got to take chances when they come. This is top level.”

But like the players, Hayes looked beyond the goal from a results perspective. He spoke not just about Williams as a player, but also about Williams as a person.

“A player who embodies everything you want in a team, someone who cares, someone who practices with great intensity, someone who is purposeful, and everything she does deserves what she got tonight,” Hayes said. “She doesn’t give up on herself, but most importantly, she’s the best teammate you could possibly have.”

Williams was originally a replacement on the USWNT roster (Getty Images)

This was perhaps best illustrated by the fact that when asked what she thought of her goal, Williams immediately replied that she was mainly excited about the win.

“There were times when we had to weather a storm, especially in the second half,” the American defender said. “I think that’s the cool thing about this team and the great thing is that nobody looks scared in those moments. Everybody does their role defensively and offensively. I don’t know if it’s a different gear — it’s just more of a belief that we’re going to get the job done, no matter what somebody throws at us.”

Hayes said she learned things about the team on Sunday, things she would have liked to have seen in terms of character and resilience: a goal against Germany, then an immediate goal against and great saves from Naeher, but also defensive contributions across the board.

Of course, she saw some lapses. Lavelle said the team were their own toughest critics, so she’ll have company there, but Hayes saw the USWNT out of their comfort zone thanks to the “top-level opponent” Germany provided in Marseille, and she saw the team from all sides. She’s ready to work with that.

“The front three were generally dynamic as hell, really fun to watch. The main thing is they enjoyed it,” Hayes began, before apologising for what happened next. All they did on Sunday was secure three points.

“We’re not here to surprise everyone before a game and then not do it again. We have to build the momentum,” she said. “First of all, recovering from these kinds of games — you can imagine the adrenaline — that’s probably my biggest concern right now.

“You get so high, the comedown is like any hangover. We have a day and a half to recover before we go on the training pitch. We have to analyse the things that are in our control and we have to beat Australia. It’s as simple as that.”

The players have a rest day without traveling on Monday, but a rest day does not necessarily mean 24 hours off. Certainly not in a tournament like the Olympics.

“We’re going to be happy tonight,” Lavelle promised, “then in two days we’ll have another game.”

(Top photo: Getty Images)