HARRISON, N.J. – Days before the U.S. women’s national team faced off against Colombia in their SheBelieves Cup finale, head coach Emma Hayes had established a key theme: surviving and advancing. This mindset was crucial as they navigated their three-game tournament, which included victories over Argentina and Canada.

The match against Colombia on Saturday was intensely competitive, with the U.S. securing a hard-fought 1-0 win thanks to an 82nd-minute goal by Alyssa Thompson. This victory marked the U.S.’s eighth SheBelieves Cup title, albeit after a particularly challenging contest where they only recorded zero shots on target for the first 35 minutes.

“I thought we were sluggish in the first half,” said Hayes. “Everything was a step off, and we were too deep in midfield, which slowed us down.”

Despite their struggles, the USWNT was able to adjust and retain historical strengths in performance, showcasing a gritty resolve that bodes well for their upcoming Concacaf W Championship.

A newfound emotional control emerged during the match, especially highlighted in Sam Coffey’s remarks: “We didn’t allow the disruptions to throw us off our game, showing maturity that we lacked in previous matches.”

Ultimately, this SheBelieves Cup echoed the sentiment that mastering emotional control and dynamism will be key as the USWNT moves towards World Cup preparations.