LAFAYETTE, Ga. — As much as U.S. coach Emma Hayes loves winning, she has even loftier ambitions for the national team — and women’s soccer overall.
“I want every little girl and woman, no matter what your practice is in our sport, to feel like this is more than just playing a game,” Hayes said. “I actually think we can impact society in some way.”
When Hayes first took over as coach of the national team shortly before the 2024 Olympics, there was little time to fully realize her vision. But early last year she spoke about the WNT Way, which is now taking shape in the run-up to both next year’s Women’s World Cup in Brazil, and the 2031 tournament, which is likely to be hosted by the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica and Jamaica. She’s already made structural changes within the team itself, combining the senior and under-23 teams during training camps to help evaluate talent.
Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone said. More is only part of it,” Parlow Cone said. I think it’s been incredibly important,” former national team player Crystal Dunn said. Hayes said she plans to continue to grow herLENS project, while also leading the U.S. team.
Of course, there are still games to play. The U.S. faces a major test starting Saturday at Washington, D.C.’s Audi Field in the first of two games against defending Women’s World Cup champion Spain. The second game is Tuesday in Chester, Pennsylvania. The matches are part of the team’s preparation for World Cup qualifying later this year. The United States is uniquely positioned to reimagine the women’s game as a leader on the world stage, U.S. “I feel as president and as a coach and as a former player that we have a responsibility to grow this game, not only here domestically but internationally as well. And when I say grow it, I don’t just mean more, right? “But how do we help everyone create a more developmentally appropriate, fun, engaging environment for the female player across the landscape, regardless of the level. “Having a coach care so much about the holistic person and player, I think, was something that we all were like, ‘Oh, this is very new. This feels very different. “It’s been really helpful for everyone to feel like it’s a safe place to be vulnerable and speak about things that affect us all but you are always too afraid to speak about in the sense of like, you’re not feeling too good, you’re on your period. How do you voice that to a coach that hasn’t once asked you about any symptoms you have or what your cycle is like?
