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- Emma Hayes to Coach the USWNT 🇺🇸
Emma Hayes to Coach the USWNT 🇺🇸
PLUS: NWSL Final is a Krieger vs Rapinoe battle of retiring icons, Aitana Bonmati wins the Ballon D’or
It’s Monday, November 6th. Give us four minutes, we give you everything The Women’s Game.
“I’VE JUST LEARNED TO BE FEARLESS” The future of the USWNT, San Diego Wave’s irreplaceable defensive wonder, Naomi Girma, spoke with Rog this past week about her approach to the game's toughest tests.
I. Emma Hayes to coach the USA 🇺🇸
Even within a week where the NWSL Final looms luminously around the corner (promising a Rapinoe vs Krieger clash of retiring icons next Saturday in San Diego) Emma Hayes to the USA is top of the ticket news.
Last Monday, I wrote this newsletter in tentative dismay that Chelsea’s decade-long gaffer of exceptional esteem seemed out of the picture. This belief followed a report from The Athletic naming three final candidates, none of which were named Hayes.
But this past Saturday morning, marching into our weekend unexpectedly and obstructing all our plans, Joe Lowery and then Jeff Kassouf reported in quick succession that Emma Hayes would indeed be installed as the next manager of the USA.
While formal announcements from US Soccer still await, it seems now rather likely that this is the case. Questions do follow, in particular how and when Emma Hayes will take the reins of this limbo-locked program, given that she’s committed to remain at Chelsea through the end of the year.
With the inaugural Concacaf W Gold Cup around the bend, and the redemptive potential of an Olympic run just beyond it, there would be little to no time for Hayes to take hold of the team and revamp it comprehensively before tournament time.
All the same, and whatever plans arrive, Emma Hayes to the USA should be celebrated for what it is: a coup of arguably the best coach in women’s football.
MORE: Men in Blazers spoke with Emma Hayes exclusively last year about her career as among the winningest coaches in the game
II. NWSL Final is a Krieger vs Rapinoe battle of retiring icons 🏆 (Saturday, November 11th, 8 p.m. EST, CBS)
At a certain point in NWSL the unpredictable becomes predictable; the potential for any contender to take hold of glory rings true this year once more. The Supporters Shield winning San Diego Wave fell 1-0 to OL Reign at home in the semi-final. Veronica Latsko defied goal-scoring angles we thought were possible to make it so.
The same fate befell the star-studded reigning champion Portland Thorns (with Sophia Smith finally back starting) while hosting Gotham FC. This extra time stunner from Katie Stengel sealed it.
It’s essential to note, underscore, sing out from the mountain tops, reiterate until blue in one’s face: the lower-ranked team proved victorious in both semi-finals this Sunday across the American West Coast, but to imagine Gotham FC or OL Reign entirely surprising in their victory would be a mistake.
In a twelve-team table of historic parity this season, both teams were among the most consistent sides. That we’ll now see them make history as they meet one another is one final treat in a year that’s bestowed so many already.
On one side of the field this Saturday: OL Reign seeks their first ever championship trophy as they say so long to their long-time legend and Seattle resident, Megan Rapinoe. Across the pitch, Rapinoe’s World Cup winning USWNT teammate and American defensive icon, Ali Krieger, looks to leave the stage of football with a Championship trophy of her own. Should Gotham lift it, it would also be their first. Here’s to that assured history yet to be made for either team this Saturday. And here’s to the promise that we’ll bid adieu to one beloved American soccer star or the other with one last trophy before the evening’s done.
In the wise words of Rose Lavelle: “It seems a bit poetic that the championship game is ending with Krieger and Pinoe's last game.”
🚨🚨THE MEN IN BLAZERS WOMEN’S AMERICAN FOOTBALL AWARDS, presented by Bud Light 🏆🏆🏆🍻
Last May, we launched our first annual American Men’s Football Awards, Presented by Bud Light. An event designed to give you a voice in deciding on America’s Premier League Player of the Year and America’s American Premier League Player of the Year.
Now, as we hurtle toward the culmination of another NWSL season o’ seasons, we announce the MiB Network’s Women’s American Football Awards in which you can decide NWSL Player of the Year, American Player of the Year and International Player of the Year. The nominees will be revealed in NEXT WEEK’S THE WOMEN’S GAME AND RAVEN NEWSLETTERS when voting will officially commence. The winners will be revealed in a special YouTube Live Night of Nights in December. It has been a magical year for the women’s game. A truly incredible World Cup, a hyper-competitive NWSL season and the inexorable growth of the game we love around the world.
III. Aitana Bonmati wins the Ballon D’or 🥇🇪🇸
Aitana Bonmati has won the Ballon D’or for 2023, a well-earned accolade for the World Cup champion and golden ball winner who has graced our eyes with her majestic midfield might across multiple competitions this past year.
As the official recipient of just the fifth Ballon d'Or doled out to the women’s side of the game, Bonmati adds this latest trophy to a cabinet that includes, in 2023 alone: a World Cup, the World Cup Golden Ball, a UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL) trophy, the UWCL Player of the Season, UEFA Player of the Year, a Supercopa, the Supercopa MVP, and a Primera División Femenina de Fútbol (Liga F) title.
It’s difficult to imagine what footballing glory comes next for the second-youngest recipient of the prize on the women’s side, but what feels near-assured is that Barcelona’s versatile magician may go on to become among the most impactful footballers of her generation.
In her acceptance speech, Bonmati spoke to her off-field aspirations:
“We should be more than athletes. We should lead by example and keep fighting together for a better, peaceful and equal world."
IV. News and Notes 🗒️
Lyon’s acclaimed goalkeeper Christiane Endler retired from the international game after making a final appearance with Chile
After England’s Lionesses suffered a second defeat in Nations League play, this time to Belgium, Scotland may need to lose to England if they hope to keep Team GB’s Olympic qualification alive
FIFA has confirmed the 2034 Men’s World Cup before the 2027 Women’s World Cup. From Meg Linehan at The Athletic: why that’s a problem
Chelsea and England’s creative force Fran Kirby speaks out about body shaming in football. Adding support to a broader conversation about mental and emotional health in women’s football, Arsenal stars Vivianne Miedema and Beth Mead also spoke out via The Athletic about panic attacks and injury anguish
Chaos in Italy as Pomigliano withdraws from the league after penalty decision
Men in Blazers Early Kickoff. Our daily news Podcast that drops at 6 a.m. every Monday through Friday and brings you all of the biggest stories, straight from Europe’s back pages. We are so bloody proud of this Podcast. If you have not given it a chance, do us a favor and listen to today’s episode which talks Emma Hayes to USWNT.
V. Parting Shots
From one GOAT to another, Brazil’s Marta and Canada’s retiring legend Christine Sinclair (who says farewell to the international game at the start of December) swap shirts as the pair of proud nations clashed in Halifax (Canada won 2-0).