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Jeff Kassouf
EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — In sports and life, there are no second chances, yet Sunday felt like a close opportunity for the United States women’s national team to redeem themselves.
After suffering a 2-1 defeat against Portugal just three days prior—an outing that marked their most disappointing performance in 18 months under head coach Emma Hayes—the Americans managed a decisive rematch victory of 3-1 at Pratt & Whitney Stadium. The two matches bore striking similarities, including a first-minute goal from the USWNT followed by a dip in performance that tested the team’s resolve.
The stakes were notably high for a friendly match, too. Historically, the USWNT has never lost four games in a single calendar year; Thursday’s loss was already their third in 2025, and another defeat could have prompted deeper concerns about the progress of Hayes’ rebuilding efforts.
This time, however, the rematch showcased a younger, less experienced US squad working cohesively rather than playing individually, which was a notable contrast to their previous loss.
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“I thought we responded well to conceding a goal, maintaining our play, and showcasing the principles that I felt were lacking in the last match. Overall, it was a much improved performance,” Hayes remarked post-game.
On Sunday, Hayes made eight changes to the lineup and introduced three teenagers, providing a glimpse into the team’s potential future as they aim for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The midfield trio of Lily Yohannes, Claire Hutton, and Jaedyn Shaw—all under 20—led the charge for better ball control, while the team also remained compact defensively, fulfilling Hayes’ expectations for a dominant performance.
Following their loss, Hayes and her staff sent players video clips to review on Friday and held small group meetings on Saturday morning to clarify necessary adjustments. Players arrived well-prepared, eager to engage with detailed notes and inquiries.
“The thirst for knowledge is incredible,” Hayes observed.
With the limited time available, the team focused on returning to fundamental skills—intensive practice with high repetitions and hundreds of passes to build connection.
While the execution was not flawless, especially after conceding another aerial goal due to defensive lapses on set pieces, defender Avery Patterson noted, “it was a completely different performance” compared to Thursday’s game. Patterson was among the three players who remained in the lineup across both matches.
Olivia Moultrie, who recently celebrated her 20th birthday, netted twice within the first ten minutes. She was instrumental in the buildup to her first-minute goal and capitalized on a stylish backheel assist from Shaw inside Portugal’s penalty area.
The impressive backheel assist for the second goal, along with Yohannes’ consistent ability to exploit gaps in Portugal’s midfield, led to a more unified USWNT performance. The Americans regained possession on Sunday after surrendering more of it to Portugal in the previous match, showcasing the style of play they are known for under Hayes, who has been in charge since last year with limited preparation prior to the Olympics and guided the team to a gold medal.
For a team that prides itself on “the USA way,” this victory represented a positive step after deviating from their character in the earlier match.
“We demonstrated unity in our formation, established shorter connections, and were able to maneuver around effectively rather than feeling disjointed,” Moultrie explained, emphasizing the importance of breaking down defenses through various means—the very components they continue to refine in different formations and rotations.
Hayes, always conscious of resetting narratives, remarked on Sunday that “sometimes… we tend to exaggerate a loss, creating a catastrophe both externally and internally.” She reiterated that the squad had gone four months without international play, causing some disconnections among players.
However, similar organization could be attributed to Portugal, who looked strong on Thursday following a lengthy break since their Euro 2025 campaign, which ended in July without a victory. Thus, while the unexpected loss on Thursday wasn’t catastrophic, it highlighted vulnerabilities in a USWNT still navigating a transition phase.
Notably, Sunday’s response came from a youthful group averaging under 21 years old, with a combined total of just 100 caps, excluding captain Emily Sonnett.
Moultrie, Ally Sentnor, and Alyssa Thompson spearheaded the team’s efforts. Additionally, 19-year-old Jordyn Bugg impressed in her role as Sonnett’s center-back partner.
As Hayes highlighted after the match, evaluating progress solely based on the two games against Portugal would be misleading. Sunday’s starting lineup, largely devoid of veterans from the previous generation, consisted of players she began experimenting with earlier this year.
What Hayes aimed to gauge was their improvement from earlier defeats this year against fellow world-class teams like Brazil and Japan. Earlier in the year, in a similar two-match series against Brazil, the USWNT won their opener but faltered in the follow-up, succumbing to Brazil’s physicality and conceding a stoppage-time goal after scoring in the opening minute, losing 2-1.
Patterson, Hutton, and Yohannes were among the starters in both the Brazil loss and the recent victory over Portugal. Not only are these matchups valuable in assessing team development, but Hayes will use them as benchmarks.
“Six months later, that was a significant improvement,” she stated. “In terms of positional, tactical, technical, and physical aspects, I felt we operated at a higher level, which signifies progress. However, it’s just a step; there are no shortcuts on the path to success, nor in player development.”
Hayes and her squad hope that the lessons learned from Thursday’s loss to Portugal will bear fruit as they approach the World Cup cycle leading to 2027, where they attempt to secure a fifth title. Every team experiences challenging moments, and this young group will face more trials before the upcoming tournament.
The 2015 and 2019 World Cup-winning teams encountered their share of alarming setbacks, including significant losses to France throughout their respective cycles and phases of subpar performance during experimentation.
In the aftermath of the match, Sam Coffey noted after netting the USWNT’s third goal, “Thursday’s performance was far below our standards. In an odd way, we needed that reality check.”
While only time will reveal the true significance of these experiences, Sunday’s response is what stands out.