Emma Hayes, Casey Stoney and a rivalry now playing out on the international stage

New York Times

a day ago

Women's soccer has come a long way since Casey Stoney was playing as a defender for Chelsea and the England national team. During her career, even basics like a club tracksuit were out of reach. 'That's all changed — and it's thanks to Emma Hayes,' she told The Guardian in 2021.
Stoney has never hidden her respect for Hayes and the role she has played in reshaping the women's game, but she is just as clear about her ambition to beat her. Especially now, with Canada under her command. 'I definitely feel the rivalry. I feel the intensity of the game,' Stoney said before her side's 3-0 loss to Hayes' United States Women's National Team on Wednesday, which was followed by an icy handshake.
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Hayes, known for her dry sense of humor, is a team builder and extraordinary tactician, while Stoney is a player-first manager. Their rivalry does not seem to be a heated one, but it sure raises the bar and sets the scene for great soccer.
Over the past decade, the two women have shaped elite teams on both sides of the Atlantic, building cultures and collecting trophies. Hayes spent 12 years turning Chelsea into the best team in the English women's game. Under her leadership, they won seven Women's Super League titles, reached the UEFA Champions League final in 2021 and became known for Hayes' signature possession-based, physically demanding brand of football.
Stoney made her name as a player with 130 England caps and with a successful professional career with Charlton, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea, where she briefly served as player-manager. But it was not until 2018, when Manchester United handed her the keys to its newly formed women's team, that Stoney's managerial career took off. In just three seasons, she took United from the second division to top-four WSL contention. She is known for her defense-first approach and an emphasis on player welfare.
The first true test of their rivalry came in January 2021, with Stoney's United on an upward trajectory and Chelsea chasing their next title. Hayes' side won 2-1. Stoney admitted after the game that she had 'taken notes' on Chelsea's preparation and Hayes' leadership. Hayes was respectful of what Stoney achieved at United.
'They've signed really good players like (the USWNT World Cup winners) Christen Press and Tobin Heath,' Hayes told The Guardian. 'Casey's doing a brilliant squad-building job.' In many ways, that match cemented the dynamic between the two women: Stoney, the up-and-coming overachiever and Hayes, the insatiable winner.
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The rivalry was not fueled by personal animosity; it was born of proximity, ambition and two managers trying to outdo one another in a sport that, until recently, rarely gave women a stage.
In July 2021, Stoney made a surprise jump to the United States, taking over expansion club San Diego Wave. It was a risky decision. New team, new league, new culture, but one that paid off quickly. When she made the move from England to NWSL, she told the late Grant Wahl that the biggest factor for her was that she was going to coach a 'women's-only soccer team, not reliant on anyone else'. In 2022, she was named NWSL Coach of the Year. In 2023, she led San Diego to the NWSL Shield.
In November 2023, Hayes surprised the football world by announcing she would be leaving Chelsea to take the U.S. job. She remained with the London club through the end of the 2023-24 season before formally beginning her role with the U.S. in May 2024. Within three months, she had led the team to Olympic gold in Paris and given debuts to 17 players in a bold generational reset.
When Stoney was named the Canada head coach in January, what began as a distant rivalry evolved into a continental match-up. Her appointment came after the dismissal of Bev Priestman, who was fired following a drone surveillance scandal.
'Neither of us is coaching our native countries, but I think that adds more responsibility,' Stoney said before their meeting this week. 'But I'm really looking forward to playing against her team. She's done a great job here in the U.S. in such a short time, a testament to her as a coach and as a leader and what she's done in the game.'
While the respect is clear, Stoney made no secret of her desire to win. 'My focus is squarely on what we can do with Canada.'
After the USWNT's second goal on Wednesday, a stunning header from Claire Hutton, the cameras cut to Hayes on the touchline, fist-pumping in celebration. You did not need the audio; her lips said it all. 'F*** yes, f*** yes, f*** yes.'
But she was still humble at the press conference. Hayes's squad delivered yet another win, this time in front of a sold-out crowd of 19,215 in Audi Field.
Throughout the June international window, she spoke with words and actions about her job being to make sure the team is winning consistently through 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2031. And that is why the looming rivalry between the U.S. and Canada is so compelling. Hayes is committed to building a legacy with the USWNT, the most decorated team in women's soccer. Stoney has resilience and is just starting her tenure, trying to develop Canada into a consistent contender.
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For the next few years — Hayes is with the USWNT at least until the 2027 World Cup, and Stoney signed with Canada until 2028 — these two soccer powerhouses will be guiding two North American giants.
With soccer in the spotlight more than ever, the margins are thinner and the ambitions greater.
'Casey demonstrated at both Manchester United and San Diego that she's worthy of coaching at the international level,' Hayes said after the game. 'I think it's too early to talk about her impact with Canada. She's just got the job.
'That said, I'm focused on us. I'm not here as an adopted American to worry about Canada's long-term development. I've got enough on my plate, and I'm certainly not giving her a headstart.'
(Top photos: Getty Images)