USWNT Win vs. South Korea as 16-Year-Old Yohannes Hyped By Fans for 1st Career Goal
Jun 5, 2024
ST PAUL, MINNESOTA - JUNE 04: Lily Yohannes #6 of the United States celebrates scoring during the second half against the Korea Republic at Allianz Field on June 04, 2024 in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)
The future is here, and her name is Lily Yohannes.
The 16-year-old starlet, making her USWNT debut, scored a goal in the country's 3-0 win over South Korea on Tuesday night.
Lily Yohannes scores 10 minutes into her debut ๐
Lily Yohannes is the eighth-youngest player all-time to debut for the #USWNT and is the youngest player to take the field for the USWNT since March 2001 ๐บ๐ธ pic.twitter.com/oStZnjSdfa
— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) June 5, 2024
Crystal Dunnโmaking her first start at forward since 2017โand Sophia Smith joined her on the score sheet, while Emma Hayes earned her second win as manager in as many tries. The USWNT certainly looks like a team to be reckoned with ahead of this summer's Paris Olympic.
There were plenty of storylines on the night, but it's hard to argue against Yohannes being the biggest one. Unsurprisingly, folks on social media were singing her praises:
Lily Yohannes is 16 years old, youngest USWNT player since 2001.
Just scored in first game and it wasnโt even her best play. Sheโs ridiculous. pic.twitter.com/gqziGdocmC
It's hard not to be excited about the USWNT at the moment. Hayes was incredibly successful at the club level as a manager and it taking over the reins of a program with an abundance of exciting young talent.
Those young players like Yohannes, Smith, Trinity Rodman and Jaedyn Shaw, among othersโpaired with more veteran players like Mallory Swansonโhave the United States looking like the favorites heading into Paris.
Mal Swanson and Sophia Smith have something special. What a flick from Mal. Add in Trinity Rodman, and Jaedyn Shaw starting the play and this team is looking lethal (and deep) #USWNT
Sophia Smith is pure magic โจWhat a #GOAL ๐ Jayden Shaw, Trinity Rodman and Sophia Smith are quite the attacking trio. ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ#USWNT
— Jillian Carroll Letrinko (@JillianC_arroll) June 5, 2024
The USWNT should have a chip on its shoulder heading into the Olympics, a competition it hasn't won since 2012. The country also had its worst-ever result at the World Cup in 2023, falling short in the Round of 16.
That feels like the end of an era. Out went Vlatko Andonovski, in came Emma Hayes and a youth movement of enticing young talent.
Yohannes isn't going to be a major factor for the United States for a few years yet, given her age, but there's no doubting that she's next.
USWNT vs. South Korea: 2024 Friendly Top Storylines and Predictions
Erik Beaston
Jun 4, 2024
COLUMBUS, OH - APRIL 9: Jaedyn Shaw #8, Trinity Rodman #22, Sophia Smith #11, and Mallory Swanson #9 of the United States celebrate a goal during the SheBelieves Cup game between Canada and the United States at Lower.com Field on April 9, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Miller/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
It is a new day for the United States women's national team following the retirements of Kelley O'Hara, Julie Ertz and Megan Rapinoe and the introduction of new head coach, Emma Hayes.
The team may be missing familiar faces, women who guided the side to World Cup and Olympic victories, but a new generation of stars are ready to break out and establish themselves as the future of the country's international efforts.
Who are they and what storylines should fans keep an eye on as the United States looks to send a message loudly and clearly on the world's stage that it remains one of the best, most dangerous teams in women's soccer?
Find out with this preview.
Date, Time, Viewing Info
When: Tuesday at 8:00 p.m.
Streaming: Max, Peacock
TV: truTV, Universo
Storyline to Watch: New Head Coach Sets Tone for USWNT
The women's national team kicked off a new era a week ago with Hayes' first victory as head coach, a 4-0 win over South Korea. The victory was one-sided and served as a showcase for the Americans, but Hayes has not been shy about keeping her team humble.
"There's lots of work to do. There's lots of holes in our play, no question, but it was a good start," she told reporters in her postgame press conference.
She continued, "I've trained them quite hard this week, and I think with the altitude, the heat and the training, I thought there was a little lethargy, but I thought the team stuck at it."
Hayes understands the power of compliments, too, and did not hesitate to deal them out when necessary, including to the returning Mallory Swanson.
"She's a player I always admired so to get the opportunity to coach her, see firsthand the quality she possesses, but she's a connector. She's really magnetic, as a human being, too, in the way she operates in the team. She can multitask, she can do what she's doing on the pitch," she said.
Swanson missed considerable time last year with a torn left patella tendon but announced her return to the international stage with a two-goal performance that established her as one of the focal points of the United States' offensive attack.
"It's so special." ๐ฃ Highlands Ranch native Mallory Swanson (@MalPugh) talks about scoring 2 goals for the #USWNT in her return home to Colorado โฌ
Hayes also spoke highly of Sophia Smith, who showed out in the victory over South Korea, specifically what the future holds for the 23-year-old forward.
"Soph, she stretched the pitch out really well, thought she linked well with Mal. There's another level, in my opinion, yet โฆ She really wants to do well for this team but with the right amount of coaching and time, I think we can add a lot to her."
Tuesday's game will represent the final opportunity for Hayes to examine the roster and evaluate the players on it. Expect all to get a look as the new head coach makes her final determinations on exactly which players will represent the country in Paris at the Olympics.
Veteran Alex Morgan will see action Tuesday after she missed the first match against South Korea due to hip tightness. Hayes expects a "nice and fresh" Morgan, who is still a leader on the team despite the coach's shift in focus to Swanson, Smith and Trinity Rodman as a trio around whom to build this national team.
Prediction
Look for Hayes to rotate players and lineups as she gets a feel for her team.
Morgan will get playing time and look to impress, as will Rose Lavelle, who is returning from her own injury. Lavelle set up one of Swanson's two goals a week ago, showing no signs of long-term effect from the lower leg injury, and should see even more playing time, which will put 19-year-old forward Jaedyn Shaw in an interesting position.
WHO ELSE BUT JAEDYN SHAW?? ๐ฅ
Frisco, TXโs finest levels it up in Atlanta with this brilliant long range strike. Her 5th goal in 5 @USWNT starts. And sheโs only 19 years oldโฆ ๐ฑ pic.twitter.com/eZ1tHr1F6U
The midfielder from San Diego Wave FC leads the team in goals (5 in 2024) but saw herself relegated to substitute status in the first South Korea game amid Lavelle's return to the pitch and an injury of her own.
How Hayes utilizes Shaw and the rest of her team remains to be seen but, even if things do not go as smoothly as she might like, the coach should lead her side to another impressive victory.
Hayes said the team is ready to put their World Cup disappointment from 2023 behind them, and it continues Tuesday night in St. Paul, Minnesota with another inspiring win.
USWNT beats South Korea, 2-0
USWNT Win Friendly vs. South Korea as Fans Encouraged by Start of Emma Hayes Era
Jun 1, 2024
COMMERCE CITY, COLORADO - JUNE 01: Casey Phair #13 defends the U.S. Women's National Team at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on June 1, 2024 in Commerce City, Colorado. (Photo by C. Morgan Engel/Getty Images)
The U.S. Women's National Team fared just fine in their first game under new head coach Emma Hayes, routing South Korea 4-0 in an international friendly on Saturday.
Hayes was named head coach in November but finished out the season with Chelsea Women before joining the USWNT for training camp. Saturday's international friendly marked her first match with the team.
The USWNT took a 1-0 lead in the 34th minute thanks to a goal from Mallory Swanson, and Tierna Davidson gave them some insurance just four minutes later.
After halftime, the USWNT struck early in the 48th minute as Davidson notched her second goal to give her squad a 3-0 lead. Swanson also picked up a double, scoring again in the 74th minute to put the game further out of reach.
Following Saturday's dominant win, fans were impressed and encouraged by the start of Hayes' tenure.
Mallory Swanson scores the first goal of the Emma Hayes era ๐บ๐ธ
Hayes will have a handful of international friendly matches to acclimate to the USWNT throughout June before competing in Copa Amรฉrica at the end of the month. After that, she will lead the team into the Paris Olympics in July.
If Saturday's win is any indication of the success Hayes will have during her tenure, she could enjoy plenty of success.
USWNT's Emma Hayes Calls Deion Sanders 'Someone I Really Admire' After Meeting
Jun 1, 2024
COMMERCE CITY, CO - MAY 31: Emma Hayes of the United States talks to the media before USWNT training at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on May 31, 2024 in Commerce City, Colorado. (Photo by Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)
As Emma Hayes gains her bearings as the head coach of the U.S. women's national team, she made time to meet with a coaching legendโbut not one who coaches soccer.
Hayes, who was named head coach in November, met with Colorado football coach Deion Sanders this week as the team was in Colorado for an international friendly against South Korea. Per The Athletic's Melanie Anzidei, Hayes took it upon herself to set up the meeting.
"The girls (on the USWNT team) asked me afterward, 'Did you know who he who he was?' And I said, 'I was the one who set it up,'" Hayes said. "He is someone I really admire."
— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) May 29, 2024
Hayes said she spoke to Sanders about caring for others and doing the things they love. She also admitted that she was "fangirling" meeting the Pro Football Hall of Famer.
Hayes led the USWNT in their first match of her tenure on Saturday against South Korea. She spent the last 12 years leading Chelsea in Women in the Women's Super League. Under her direction, Chelsea finished at the top of the Champions League eight times, including five consecutive seasons from 2019 to 2024.
Now, she takes on a new task of coaching the U.S. Women's National Team. After her initial match against South Korea on Saturday, Hayes and the USWNT will have a handful of international friendly matches before competing in Copa Amรฉrica starting in June. In July, they will compete in the Paris Olympics.
USWNT vs. South Korea: Top Storylines and Predictions for 2024 Friendly
Jun 1, 2024
BOULDER, CO - MAY 29: Head coach Emma Hayes of the United States women's national team talks with Alex Morgan during USWNT training at Prentup Field on May 29, 2024 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)
The Emma Hayes era begins for the United States women's national team on Saturday.
Hayes was named USWNT head coach earlier in the year, but she did not formally take charge until the end of the Women's Super League season, where she won her seventh league title with Chelsea.
Hayes has four games, starting with Saturday's match against South Korea, to prepare the USWNT in person for the Summer Olympics.
The USWNT is in need of a bounce-back performance on the international stage after the round-of-16 exit at last summer's Women's World Cup.
Saturday's contest in Denver, as well as Tuesday's game in St. Paul, will be more about the Americans refining their play under Hayes than the result itself against South Korea, even though the Americans are expected to win.
USWNT vs. South Korea Info
Date: Saturday, June 1
Start Time: 5 p.m. ET
TV: TNT, truTB
Live Stream: Max
Preview
The biggest storyline surrounding Saturday's game is how the USWNT will look with Hayes finally on the sideline.
Hayes agreed to coach the USWNT a few months ago and has watched games from afar as she finished out her time at Chelsea.
Hayes will change around tactics and the approach to some games, but she noted that she wants the American DNA to still be within the squad.
"We all know the main ingredients of the American DNA, and that will not change under my stewardship," Hayes said, per ESPN.com's Jeff Carlisle.
The USWNT won the Concacaf W Gold Cup and the SheBelieves Cup with Hayes watching from afar in 2024.
The Americans are 5-2-1 in 2024 with the only loss coming against Mexico and both draws versus Canada. They beat Canada in penalty kicks on two occasions to win both of their competitions.
South Korea is not on the same level as Mexico and Canada, so a victory is expected solely based on the gap in talent between the two squads.
That means the focus will be on the USWNT more than anything for a few reasons.
First, it will be the initial lineup thrown out on the field by Hayes. It will give us a look into which players and formation she prefers.
Hayes' biggest decision will be at forward, where 34-year-old legend Alex Morgan is fighting for a spot on the Olympics roster. The abundance of talent at forward will make Hayes' decision tough on which players to bring to Paris for the Olympics.
Morgan hasn't scored for the USWNT since February 23. Sophia Smith and Jaedyn Shaw have three goals each in the six matches since then. Trinity Rodman has also turned in some solid performances over the last six games.
Catarina Macario, Mallory Swanson and Crystal Dunn are also in competition for the attacking spots on the Olympics roster, and because the squad is so deep there, Morgan may miss out on a major international competition.
The same level of positional competition is in play in defense and midfield, but the depth is not as robust as it is at forward, which is why so much focus is on the players in the final third.
A handful of goals are expected against a South Korea side that allowed five against Portugal earlier this year.
A multi-goal victory is the bare minimum requirement for the USWNT no matter who finds the back of the net in Hayes' managerial debut.
Prediction: USWNT 4, South Korea 0
Video: Deion Sanders Meets Emma Hayes at USWNT Training Camp in Colorado
May 29, 2024
BOULDER, CO - APRIL 27: Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders comes out of the locker room for warmups before the Black and Gold spring game at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado on Saturday, April 27, 2024. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Colorado football head coach Deion Sanders met with new USMNT manager Emma Hayes and the rest of the squad on Wednesday.
— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) May 29, 2024
The USWNT has a pair of friendlies against South Korea on June 1 and 4 as it prepares for the Olympics later this summer.
It will be a busy summer for the USWNT, with friendlies against Mexico (July 13) and Costa Rica (July 16) before the team takes on Zambia, Germany and Australia in its Olympics group.
The team is looking to bounce back from the disappointment of the 2023 World Cup, which saw the USWNT lose to Sweden in the Round of 16, a shocking result for the most successful women's federation in the sport and the country's earliest-ever exit from the competition.
The USWNT has won both the World Cup and Olympics a record four times.
Sanders, 56, took over as Colorado's head football coach ahead of the 2023 season after a Hall of Fame NFL career and a successful stint as Jackson State's head coach.
He quickly turned the Buffaloes into the cultural center of the college football universe, with several celebrities roaming the sidelines for home games, though Colorado finished just 4-8 and went 1-8 in Pac-12 play.
The Buffaloes will move to the Big 12 for the 2024 season, joining Arizona, Arizona State and Utah as Pac-12 defectors in the conference. USC, UCLA, Washington and Oregon also left the conference for the Big Ten, while Stanford and California are heading to the ACC.
TMZ: Dennis Rodman's Daughter Trinity, NFL's Trinity Benson Confirm Dating in Photos
May 23, 2024
COLUMBUS, OHIO - APRIL 09: Trinity Rodman #22 of the United States looks on during the second half of the 2024 SheBelieves Cup against Canada at Lower.com Field on April 09, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images)
United States Women's National Team star Trinity Rodman and NFL wide receiver Trinity Benson now share more than just a first name.
TMZ Sports noted Rodman, who is the daughter of basketball Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman, confirmed she is dating Benson on an Instagram post she captioned, "Trinity squared."
Dennis Rodman's Daughter, Trinity, Goes IG Official W/ NFL Player Boyfriend | Click to read more ๐ https://t.co/7xSQh1GMVx
Rodman is known for much more than being the daughter of the Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons legend who won five NBA championships. She was the youngest player drafted into the NWSL in the league's history and plays forward for the Washington Spirit.
She helped lead the Spirit to the 2021 NWSL title.
Rodman also has 36 appearances for the USWNT, which is a number that figures to continue increasing in the coming years since she is only 22.
As for Benson, he is currently a free agent this offseason.
He appeared in nine total games for the Detroit Lions during the 2021 and 2022 campaigns and tallied 10 catches for 103 yards.
USWNT Legend Carli Lloyd, Husband Brian Hollins Announce Pregnancy
May 1, 2024
HARRISON, NEW JERSEY - JUNE 25: 2-time FIFA World Cup Winner and investor in NJ/NY Gotham FC emcees the World Cup Send Off for the players going to represent their countries in the 2023 FIFA World Cup after the National Women's Soccer League Match between the Chicago Red Stars and NJ/NY Gotham FC at Red Bull Arena on June 25, 2023 in Harrison, New Jersey. (Photo by Ira L. Black - Corbis/Getty Images)
United States women's national team star Carli Lloyd announced Wednesday she and husband Brian Hollins are expecting a child together.
"It has been a rollercoaster of a journey to get to this point," she wrote on social media. "We are beyond excited to be parents! I couldn't have gotten through this without my amazing husband, Brian. He truly kept me going."
Her parents were interviewed during the broadcast of her farewell USWNT match in October 2021 and they reflected on the sacrifices that were required of her during her playing career. Her father said that there might be more family holidays and vacations in store and "maybe children."
Even a world-class athlete can't be spared from the conversations with mom and dad about grandchildren.
Lloyd was a two-time World Cup winner with the U.S. and a member of the 2008 and 2012 squads that won gold medals at the Summer Olympics. She was honored as the FIFA World Player of the Year in 2015 on the heels of the USWNT's World Cup triumph earlier that summer.
The 41-year-old retired with the second-most caps (316) and third-most goals (134) in national team history.
Lloyd said she and Hollins are expecting their child in October.
USA, Mexico Withdraw Bid to Host 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup; Eye 2031 Tournament
Apr 29, 2024
COLUMBUS, OH - APRIL 9: Alex Morgan #13 and Lindsey Horan #10 of the United States raise the SheBelieves Cup trophy after the SheBelieves Cup match between Canada and USWNT at Lower.com Field on April 9, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)
The United States and Mexican soccer federations have withdrawn their joint bid to host the 2027 Women's World Cup and instead will turn their attention to winning a bid for the 2031 event, according to ESPN's Jeff Kassouf and Jeff Carlisle.
The joint bid between the two countries was one of the three finalists for the 2027 Women's World Cup, going up against Brazil and a joint bid from Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands.
U.S. Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone released the following statement:
Hosting a World Cup tournament is a huge undertakingโand having additional time to prepare allows us to maximize its impact across the globe. I'm proud of our commitment to provide equitable experiences for the players, fans and all our stakeholders. Shifting our bid will enable us to host a record-breaking Women's World Cup in 2031 that will help to grow and raise the level of the women's game both here at home as well as across the globe."โฏโฏ
FIFA will decide the 2027 hosts on May 27 in Bangkok.
The United States and Mexico are already hosting the 2026 Men's World Cup alongside Canada, with host cities in Vancouver, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Guadalajara, Kansas City, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Monterrey, Mexico City, Toronto, Boston, New York City, Philadelphia and Miami. The final will be played at MetLife Stadium[a] in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The United States previously hosted the Women's World Cup in 1999 and 2003. Mexico has never served as a host of the women's event.
"The strength and universality of our professional women's leagues, coupled with our experience from organizing the 2026 World Cup, means that we will be able to provide the best infrastructure as well as an enthusiastic fan base that will make all the participating teams feel at home and to put together a World Cup that will contribute to the continued growth of women's football," Mexican Football Federation president Ivar Sisniega said in a statement.
Brazil has never hosted the women's event, while Germany did so in 2011.
The next time we see the United States women's national team take the field, Emma Hayes will be leading them from the sidelines. Currently finishing her finalโฆ
