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Jeff Carlisle
Emma Hayes, head coach of the U.S. women’s national team, revealed that U.S. Soccer is developing a “pre- and post-pregnancy protocol” for players, which she hopes will be implemented more broadly across the sport.
This announcement coincided with USWNT forward Lynn Biyendolo (formerly Williams) and her husband Marley sharing the news on Instagram that they are expecting their first child. This comes after a similar initiative was announced by FIFA last year.
Biyendolo is among several current USWNT players who are either pregnant or recently gave birth. Last month, Sophia Wilson welcomed her daughter, Gianna, while Mallory Swanson is also expecting to give birth later this year.
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In response to Biyendolo’s announcement, Hayes commended her, describing her as “an old soul” who will excel as a mother. She also took the opportunity to discuss the developing protocol, which currently lacks an official launch date.
Hayes emphasized that the protocol will focus on providing players with the right resources and support during their pregnancies and ensuring a safe return to play, whether following a natural birth or a C-section.
Hayes stated, “I know Biyendolo will be supported like all of our players during their pregnancy.”
Her remarks came before the USWNT’s rematch against Portugal in East Hartford, Connecticut. The team suffered a surprising 2-1 defeat to Portugal on Thursday, which Hayes compared to a game of whack-a-mole due to the team’s struggles to address issues on the field.
Despite her disappointment with the result, Hayes expressed “extreme optimism” about her team’s potential to rebound and is eager to tackle any weaknesses now, rather than wait until the upcoming 2027 World Cup qualifiers.
“We don’t want to face challenges in a major qualifier that we haven’t encountered before,” she remarked. “There were definitely hurdles in the Portugal game that we need to address, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to do so.”
“Also, we are a strong team. I remind the players to lean on each other both on and off the field, especially when times are tough. A healthy culture and great collaboration will lead to significant progress. I’m really looking forward to practice and the upcoming game.”