New coach, new energy, new players. This is not the same U.S. women’s national team that bowed out of the 2023 Women’s World Cup in the round of 16 last summer. New head coach Emma Hayes has made that clear. Even with nine changes to the starting line-up from Saturday’s win over South Korea in Denver, the U.S. found its groove again on Tuesday, defeating the same opponent 3-0 in Minnesota.
Whether it was moving Crystal Dunn to the attack, a position she hadn’t played in for the U.S. since 2017, or giving 16-year-old Lily Yohannes her first cap, Hayes has shown, in two games, that the team is ready for a fresh start. And the changes are paying off. Dunn and Yohannes both scored on Tuesday along with forward Sophia Smith, who added a physics-defying goal.
Here are the key takeaways from the last USWNT game before Hayes confirms her 18-player roster for the Paris Olympics.
Lily Yohannes scores in USWNT debut
While a friendly appearance doesn’t cap-tie a player to a nation, seeing Yohannes enter the game in the 72nd minute was another step in the team’s ongoing post-World Cup refresh. The 16-year-old was given the freedom to drift off of midfielder Sam Coffey, looking to play in the wingers, which she was comfortable doing right off the bat. At points she was also asked…
