CHESTER – A day that began with a tribute to the history of the United States women’s national team seemed like it would lead to celebration when Rose Lavelle netted a goal just 35 seconds into the match. However, the team allowed two goals from corner kicks and struggled to find their rhythm, resulting in a frustrating 2-1 loss. Losses like the one to Portugal will happen, raising questions about how the USWNT can handle adversity, an experience they aren’t used to.
“We just haven’t played together for a long time, I didn’t recognize us,” manager Emma Hayes stated after the game. “I felt that we rushed everything. We didn’t look like the team that we’ve been working on, but that’s what happens when you’ve got 113 days apart. I actually felt it the last two days in training. There were many missed connections, just taking a bit of time for us to synchronize. Sometimes you need a wake-up call like that.”
Bumps during this camp were anticipated due to the extended time apart and considering Portugal’s robust performance. They were defensively solid, physical, and capitalized on set pieces to challenge the USWNT effectively. Even at their peak, the US wouldn’t have typically allowed execution against them, but Wednesday showed the team making too many uncharacteristic errors.
Hayes admitted this was the team’s poorest display under her management, but she is confident it will improve. Some improvements will come with time, while others will depend on the return of players like Naomi Girma, Sophia Wilson, Trinity Rodman, and Mallory Swanson, who are all key to the squad’s future ambitions for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. With Concacaf qualifying just a year away, there’s ample time for Hayes to mold the squad’s direction.
“Our job isn’t to be completely polished on set pieces at this stage. The momentum we built in the first half of the season is great, but it isn’t guaranteed. Just because we did well earlier, it doesn’t mean we can simply show up,” Hayes mentioned.
Two days from now, the USWNT will face Portugal once more allowing another chance for improvement while closing this camp against New Zealand in Kansas City. Hayes is even planning to add a player from the U-23 squad to the senior team for the upcoming match, indicating competition remains fierce. Those seeking USWNT selection need to seize these opportunities knowing it could lead to an appearance under Hayes’ direction, who started in October 2024.
After breaking a five-match winning streak, seeks of accountability are already rising within the team. Keeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce expressed her desire for redemption in the next match. “Losing matches isn’t within our DNA,” she affirmed, emphasizing the team’s determination to remedy this situation moving forward.
“I felt like it was a game of whack-a-mole. Every attempt I made to address an issue led to another springing up. I despise those kinds of games as a coach, but thankfully we have another game coming up in a few days which gives us a chance to correct the performance, not the result, but the performance,” Hayes said.
Despite the setback, the USWNT should consider this a lesson learned, although the pressure mounts for Hayes and her team to ensure this remains an isolated incident.
