The United States Women’s National team was in trouble one year ago. It had crashed out of the 2023 World Cup early following a disappointing group-stage performance. Its legends were retiring, its coach was on the verge of dismissal, and its players faced near-constant scrutiny from the media that used to deify them.
What a difference twelve months can make. The team has found new life and is preparing for an utterly deserved gold medal final at the 2024 Paris Olympics. It’s the USWNT’s first appearance in a gold medal game since the 2012 London Games.
What’s behind that change? Investment in key USWNT personnel. Here are the three biggest difference makers for this new-look Olympic USWNT:
The unique approach of coach Emma Hayes: The USWNT always felt slightly stifled under the previous coach, Vlatko Andonovski. It struggled under the weight of its massive expectations, and Andonovski did little to help his team manage the burden.
New coach Emma Hayes, though, is a true revolutionary. She’s brought a wildly different energy to the USWNT. She’s a big proponent of off-field silliness and has encouraged her players to let loose to help ease the pressure they face.
