Emma Hayes’ debut on the international stage was nothing short of remarkable. Leading the U.S. women’s national team to a gold medal in her first major tournament at the 2024 Paris Olympics, despite having limited time with the squad beforehand, speaks volumes about her coaching prowess.
There were plenty of highlights during the tournament including the electric chemistry of the attacking trio, dubbed the “Triple espresso,” that had featured Sophia Smith, Mallory Swanson and Trinity Rodman, all shining in every game, as well as Naomi Girma’s commanding performances in defense. However, despite all the success, areas for improvement emerged — particularly in the midfield — where refinement will be key going forward.
This raised a few questions post-Olympics about how Hayes should address it and whether there needs to be a long-term overhaul to the midfield. Several players are performing well, but who should Hayes be looking at to start in her long-term midfield? Her latest roster, for a pair of games against Iceland and a friendly against Argentina in the coming week, offers a first look at the answer.
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