The former Chelsea boss will need to make some big calls in the run-up to the Paris Games as she prepares to take charge of her first games
The waiting is over and the time has arrived. Emma Hayes is here, and she's ready to lead the U.S. women's national team into a new era.
Vlatko Andonovski's era ended with a thud: the worst World Cup performance in team history. Hayes has now been brought in to light a fire under this program, beginning with the upcoming Olympics in Paris this summer.
She won't have much time to properly build that fire, though. Hayes will take charge of her first matches in the coming days when the U.S. plays a pair of pre-Olympic friendlies against South Korea. The 47-year-old has spent the past few months fully focused on Chelsea, but she's with the U.S. now and ready to lock in for an Olympic run.
It won't be easy. Time is very much against Hayes and the USWNT as all involved adjust to the new regime. And, on top of that, Hayes will have some big calls to make before submitting her 18-player roster for the upcoming tournament.
But which decisions are coming up for Hayes, and how will they impact the USWNT? GOAL takes a look…
GettyWho starts in goal?
As things stand, who starts in goal for the USWNT this summer is in a state of flux. Alyssa Naeher, the incumbent No.1, will miss the South Korea friendlies due to a thigh injury picked up while in Chicago Red Stars action, and it remains to be seen whether she will be back in time for the Olympics, which kick-off in late-July.
Casey Murphy, Jane Campbell and Aubrey Kingsbury are in the June camp, and of the three, Murphy is the presumed starter, giving the North Carolina Courage 'keeper a chance to claim the No.1 shirt that Naeher has held onto for some time.
Campbell, though, is in the mix after winning NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year last season, and you can't write off Naeher, who could certainly start at the Olympics if healthy.
The situation is very fluid, and much will depend on Naeher's fitness and form as the U.S. heads towards Paris this summer.
AdvertisementGettyWho starts next to Girma?
One centerback spot is totally set in stone. Naomi Girma is starting – no matter what, her name is locked in. The race to start alongside her, though, is very much on, and Hayes will have some tough calls to make leading up to the Olympics.
For the June friendlies, Hayes has called in veterans Emilly Sonnett and Tierna Davidson to push for that spot. She also threw in a curveball, calling in uncapped Chicago Red Stars defender Sam Staab.
Those aren't the only contenders, though. Abby Dahlkemper, Becky Sauerbrunn, Alana Cook and Eva Gaetino have all been around the team recently, too, and, even though they aren't in camp this time around, you can't write them off.
Girma is good enough to play next to just about anyone, but choosing who joins her in defense will be a big call that will have a major impact on the Olympics.
Getty ImagesWhere will Dunn play?
This is a debate that has raged on for years, and it's a credit to Crystal Dunn, really. She's so good at so many things that no one can agree on which position is her best.
For June camp, Dunn was explicitly named as a forward. That decision came after years of her playing almost exclusively at left-back for the USWNT, filling that need in defense. At club level, meanwhile, she plays in midfield, which goes to show how versatile she is.
So what does Hayes do? Dunn may still be the USWNT's best left-back, although Jenna Nighswonger has risen to the occasion over the course of 2024. The forward group, meanwhile, is already loaded with attacking talent, and the midfield has several locked in starters, too. Spots for Dunn to step in are few and far between, despite her obvious talent.
Even if she doesn't start, Dunn is a valuable depth option at the very least, and it'll be interesting to see how Hayes sees her role as her tenure begins.
Getty ImagesHow to manage the Albert fallout
Publicly, the social media row that centered on Korbin Albert during the USWNT's April camp seems to be behind everyone, but there have to be some lingering feelings within locker room.
Albert has kept out of the spotlight since she was caught liking and reposting homophobic content while also taking shots at legendary midfielder Megan Rapinoe. The Paris Saint-Germain midfielder apologized, the USWNT has talked it out and, publicly, everyone has moved on.
Albert did, however, take aim at several of her teammates' livelihoods, and there's no way that everyone involved is just able to move past that. You don't have to love all of your teammates, though, and the USWNT seems ready to move on from this entirely.
For Hayes, it'll be important to keep everyone together on the same page, particularly as Albert potentially steps into a bigger on-field role both this summer and in the coming years.