The youngest player on the U.S. women’s national team, 17-year-old midfielder Lily Yohannes, returns to the place where she made her national debut and scored her first USWNT goal nearly one year ago. The Stars and Stripes will face China for a friendly at Allianz Field in Minnesota, as head coach Emma Hayes also marks one year on the job. Yohannes’ trajectory alongside Hayes might be considered perfect timing or happenstance, but either way, the teenage talent is just getting started.

She has emerged as one of the most exciting, upcoming talents in women’s soccer. She showcased elite playmaking ability and maturity beyond her years for both the USWNT and Dutch club Ajax. A technically gifted midfielder, Yohannes has quickly become a mainstay on rosters in 2025 as part of the USWNT’s build-up to the 2027-28 international cycle.

“I keep saying to everyone, she’s 17. She’s still got a couple of years of experience as a professional. I think the next two years of development will be important for her. I think it’s been an unbelievable development pathway for her to be at Ajax. That, for me, has advanced her positional play in a way that makes her stand out beyond her years,” Hayes told media during pre-match availability.

While she’s not a consistent starter yet, Yohannes has made headlines in Europe with her vision, composure, and tactical intelligence. At just 16, she became the youngest player to start a UEFA Women’s Champions League group stage game and became the eighth-youngest player all-time to debut for the USWNT and third youngest player to score with the senior national team.

Part of the buzz around Yohannes last year was her potential eligibility to play for either the United States or the Netherlands. Lily was born in Virginia, but moved with her family to Europe in 2017. It was there that she participated with Ajax academies and later joined the first team on a full contract in 2023.

“I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the United States and Dutch Football Federations for their unwavering support and patient guidance as I made my decision regarding my international future. Their dedication and encouragement have been invaluable, and I extend my heartfelt thanks to both Federations,” Yohannes said in a social media post last year.

Since the start of 2025, Yohannes has been named to every senior roster from January camps, SheBelieves Cup and now the first friendlies to kick off summer. She now has six appearances for the national team, and her one goal from her debut; but Hayes’ approach to Yohannes is not to be rushed. The manager is still making sure the young player continues her development at the international level, even as Yohannes’ profile rises.

“She’s physically developed in the last 12 months, tactically, in possession. When she plays for her club team, they generally have the ball against sort of mid to low blocks. So, I think she’s developed that side of her play… But as I always keep saying, she’s got a lot of development to do. I think it will be up and down…

As Yohannes continues to gain experience across UWCL and with the USWNT, she is absorbing as much as she can from the environments around her. She credits all of her USWNT teammates for having an impact on her and points to USWNT captain Lindsey Heaps and forward Catarina Macario as examples of influence.

“Everybody is really helpful and has made my joining the team so much easier. I would say from Lindsey [Heaps], to Cat [Macario]. Literally, I can name so many players, all the experienced players, they’ve been here for so long, so they know how it is coming in as a first-timer. Now that I’ve been in camp for a little while, I think I’ve grown my comfortability, I would say, and I’m just trying to continue to grow,” Yohannes said.

What sets her apart is her maturity. Despite her age, she plays with the poise of a seasoned veteran, rarely rushed in possession, and consistently makes smart decisions. This trait has earned her trust at both club and international levels. Yohannes’s game is defined by her elite passing range and ability to dictate tempo. She’s comfortable in both deep-lying and advanced midfield roles and excels at breaking lines with precise through balls while maintaining possession under pressure.

As they prepare for their upcoming match, both Yohannes and Hayes acknowledge the importance of continued development amidst rising expectations.