Compared to the past few windows, Saturday’s 3-0 win was a game where the U.S. women’s national team looked in complete control.
The attack kept the pressure on China, continuing to threaten their defense as it frequently adjusted the height of its line of confrontation. Catarina Macario provided a goal and an assist; Lindsey Heaps and Sam Coffey scored from their midfield roles.
However, head coach Emma Hayes’ post-match press conference started with a question about the long-awaited return of Naomi Girma and how the team benefited from her 90-minute shift.
“We’ve missed her, we really have,” Hayes said. “Just in terms of the way we control the game; her, in a deeper space, just making decisions when to play forward, when not to.”
As the first million-dollar transfer in women’s soccer history, this year has only intensified the scrutiny that comes with being one of the world’s best players in her position. Her time at Chelsea was not as smooth as the club and player had hoped. She exited her debut in early March with a calf injury, feeling the strain having gone nearly four months without playing a club match. Her first minutes back with Chelsea came in mid-April and this international window marked her first with the U.S. in 2025.
“I gave her a hug after…
