Olympic Games Preview: United States of America

Above: USWNT prior to their match against South Korea in June. Photo: USWNT on Instagram

by Aimee Reynolds (/7/24)

Emma Hayes, the new head coach, is ranked fifth in the world after a disappointing exit from the Women’s World Championships and will do everything she can to lead her team back to the medals.

After qualifying for the Olympic Games in France, the United States of America stands as the most successful team in women’s football with four previous Olympic victories. Will 2024 be the year of their fifth victory?

Team

Goalkeeperstarring: Casey Murphy, Alyssa Naeher.

Defenders: Tierna Davidson, Emily Fox, Naomi Girma, Casey Krueger, Jenna Nighswonger, Emily Sonnet.

Midfielders: Korbin Albert, Sam Coffey, Lindsey Horan, Rose Lavelle, Catarina Macario (withdrew injured).

Forward: Crystal Dunn, Trinity Rodman, Jaedyn Shaw, Sophia Smith, Mallory Swanson.

Substitute players (can only be selected if one of the above players is injured): Croix Bethune (MF), Jane Campbell (GK), Hal Hershfelt (MF), Lynn Williams (FW)

Catarina Macario was replaced by Lynn Williams as she was unable to prepare physically due to a persistent irritation in her right knee.

Head coach

Above: Emma Hayes after an interview about her appointment as head coach Photo: USWNT on X

Hayes only joined the States in May 2024 after Vlatko Andonovski stepped down following the country’s worst World Cup performance in history. Hayes won her first two games as coach with a combined seven goals against South Korea. But could they have done more against a team ranked 20th in the world? Speaking after those games, the US manager explained that her team is young and that people need to be “patient.”

Coaching at international level is something new for the Briton who no longer has the day-to-day player relationships she built up so well to lead Chelsea to success. Despite this, Hayes and her team are ambitious enough to change their previous tactics to accommodate the new role.

While Hayes is best known for her trophy-laden time at Chelsea, winning the Women’s Super League (WSL) five times in a row and seven times overall, her career wasn’t all in England. In 2002, she came to the US and managed New York’s Long Island Lady Rivers, becoming the youngest manager in the league and leading them to their first title in the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference.

Olympic history

The US is the most successful team in the world. Between 1996-2012 and in 2021, the country has won medals at the Olympic Games. However, in Rio, during the 2016 Olympic Games, they finished fifth in one of their worst Olympic Games in history.

If we go back to 1996, head coach Tony DiCicco was leading arguably some of the greatest players of all time, including Mia Hamm and Julie Foudy. At the 2020 Olympics, which were moved to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic, the USWNT arguably underperformed by winning bronze. After a slow start, losing their first match to Sweden, they made it to the semifinals, but a 1-0 loss to Canada sent them to the bronze medal match against Australia in a stunning match that the U.S. won 4-3.

How They Qualified

They secured a place at the Olympic Games in Paris with a 1-0 win over Canada in the final of the CONCACAF W Championship, claiming their ninth title thanks to a penalty from star striker Alex Morgan (who is no longer in the current squad). It was her third goal of the 2022 tournament. Morgan also won the awards for best player and top scorer (this was jointly awarded to Jessie Flemming, Julie Grosso and Khadija Shaw).

The final took place in Guadalupe, Mexico, with an attendance of 17,247 spectators. This match was decisive for direct qualification for the Olympic Games, which ultimately went in favor of the USA.

Strengths

The USWNT have a young roster with new talent that they bring to the tournament that is hard to match, the fire they have to prove themselves on the big stage can trump experience. The versatility throughout the tournament suits tournament football incredibly well, for example Crystal Dunn (forward) can also play left back which is a huge advantage for Hayes.

Development Areas

After being eliminated from the 2023 Women’s World Cup, their last major tournament, the U.S. still has a lot of improving to do. The rest of the world has dramatically overtaken the States in recent years.

Main cast

Sophia Smit: At 23, Sophia Smith is one of the biggest names in women’s football. She made her senior international debut in November 2020, becoming the first player born in the 2000s to play at senior level. This will be Smith’s first ever Olympic Games. She brings a mix of speed, passion, vision, goals and versatility to Hayes’ young Olympic team.

Smith’s stats are daunting for any team. During the current NWSL season, the Portland Thorns forward has scored 10 goals in 12 games. Internationally, she has scored 19 times.

One to watch

Jaedyn Shaw: At 19, she is the youngest player on the roster, but her talent extends much further. She has scored three goals and provided one assist in 14 games in the NWSL so far. She is breaking records internationally, making history by becoming the first USWNT player to score in her first four starts. Shaw is known for her creativity with the ball under pressure, maintaining possession with her technical skills and her agility to get around defenders, which will be a plus heading into her first-ever Olympic Games.

Success would be

The USWNT’s standards are high, but they haven’t quite been able to reach that bar in recent years. Success would be to return to their winning ways and make it all the way to the finals.

Group matches

July 25 USA vs Zambia, 9pm, Stade de Nice.

July 28 USA vs Germany, 9pm, Stade de Vélodrome, Marseille.

July 31st Australia vs USA, 7pm Stade de Vélodrome, Marseille.

All start times are French time.

Missed one Start other Olympic Nation Guides? Click below to stay updated!

CANADA: https://impetusfootball.org/2024/07/13/olympics-preview-canada-2/

FRANCE: https://impetusfootball.org/2024/07/14/olympics-preview-france/

COLOMBIA: https://impetusfootball.org/2024/07/15/olympics-preview-colombia/

NEW ZEALAND: https://impetusfootball.org/2024/07/16/olympics-preview-new-zealand-2/

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