Emma Hayes' rebuild of USWNT is focused on process, not hype
Rotation? Check. Young players getting their shot? Check. Tactical clarity? Almost there.
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Hayes isn't simply constructing a roster. It's a system, a culture and a framework designed to restore the U.S. to the top of the women's game, one deliberate decision at a time.
'My job is to make sure that they compete for when they're actually ready, and maybe it won't be all at the same time for all of them,' she told reporters. 'My job is to create sustained winning. It's not my job, it's what I live for. 2027 World Cup, 2028 Olympics, 2029 Gold Cup, 2031 regardless of how long I'm here, and that's what my job is.'
Hayes sure takes her job seriously. In just over a year at the helm, she has turned the USWNT into a live laboratory. There are no guarantees. It does not matter where players come from. She's not afraid to test, tweak, and teach.
'The exciting thing about coaching is … you have a clear model,' she said. 'There's probably some particular things I don't want to talk about now, because I want to win the game, but we've really leaned into parts of our model in the last two camps and started to see a return on all of that intentional and deliberate practice.'
Deliberateness is the key to Hayes's success. Her coaching philosophy hinges on trust in the process and long-term development over short-term success. Under her reign, the team has proven successful, scoring 15 goals in four games in this last international window. When asked about individual players she is picking and choosing for key positions in the team, Hayes responded confidently. There are no guarantees. Take Sam Coffey. Hayes surprised Coffey with the captain's armband on Sunday, a move all her players now understand will be the norm.
'She's an impeccable learner. She's always wanting to improve her game. It never ends. It's never enough … and I think her game has gone to a whole new level,' said Hayes. But when listening to Hayes, it is clear that Coffey's inclusion, like many others she decided to bring on for this camp, isn't just about form. Every call-up is a lesson, every minute on the pitch a test of tactical understanding in order for Hayes to place them within the big picture strategy for her team. Even against Canada, arguably the USWNT's toughest rival in the region and for this camp, Hayes is not changing her process for the opponent.
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'I only focus on us,' she said with a grin. 'And it's not because it's Canada or anyone. I only focus on that. Seventeen goal zone entries is exceptional, but still only four goals. Are we taking the right decision when we're in the right areas? Sometimes. Are we executing at the top level in the right situations?'
Her approach is already reshaping the team's dynamic.
In Sunday's friendly against Ireland, Hayes rotated her entire starting XI, something that hadn't happened with the U.S. in nearly 25 years. That kind of risk-taking only works if the system in place is sound and the players are prepped. Especially in a squad where the competition is brutal, where even star players and veterans like Rose Lavelle, Lindsey Horan and Lily Yohannes are fighting for a spot in the starting XI. But that's Hayes's plan for her team, and she is in it for the long run.
'Our motto is to make every second count in our interactions with them and also maximize the time we can build relationships. Because sometimes it means being with different groups at different times,' she said about her long-term plans. 'I pinch myself every day that I'm in this job. This is like the biggest honor to me, maybe even more so than I thought it would be. And so often people say, be careful what you wish for, because dreams don't necessarily match up with it. They're right about that. This one's better.'
(Top photo of USWNT coach Emma Hayes with Rose Lavelle: Jason Mowry / Getty Images)
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