Emma Hayes Era Begins with 3-0 Win 🇺🇸🇨🇳

It’s Monday, December 4th. Give us four minutes, we give you everything The Women’s Game.

TIS THE SEASON: to score a Girma to Rodman to Sophia Smith goal, then rejoice with a mistletoe celly. 

I. The Emma Hayes era begins with a 3-0 win 🇺🇸🇨🇳

The USA’s newly appointed manager, the esteemed Emma Hayes, is not yet on the touchline, guiding this transitional team from a pitchside perch. Given her commitments with Chelsea, we’ll have to wait until next summer for that. 

But with the first match since her appointment in the books (a 3-0 win against China in Fort Lauderdale), the early signs of her approach and clarity regarding the logistics of this limbo period take shape. 

First, the visit: ✈️

With the international window underway worldwide, the Chelsea gaffer swung across the sea to meet her new team in person just before the game. Though just a quick visit, the aura of excitement seemed clear as players spoke to the press. 

The immediate focus for Emma, it seems, is to understand the individuals composing the program. According to Trinity Rodman: 

“I think the biggest thing with her coming in is getting to know us as players. Because she's not gonna be able to build a foundation or start anything with us if she doesn't really get to know us as people, and know our characteristics on and off the field. So I think that's one of the biggest things that she's tried to communicate with us...”

The game:  🇺🇸🇨🇳

While they were wasteful with a few chances (lamented by Sophia Smith and interim boss Twila Kilgore in the post-match), the US held impenetrable control of Saturday’s friendly and won 3-0. 

Trinity Rodman played unencumbered, joy evident in her dynamism. She was involved in all three goals, scoring once and assisting twice. Sophia Smith earned her 15th goal in her 35th cap, the fastest player to reach 15 goals since Christen Press did in 2014, and the 11th fastest to do so in team history. Captain Lindsey Horan collected the other goal to make it three. 

The US experimented with their lineup, perfected their press, and debuted more fresh talents. NWSL Champion and Rookie of the Year Jenna Nighswonger earned her first cap alongside 18-year-old Olivia Moultrie, the first player born in 2005 to appear for the stars and stripes.  

After the match, Rodman noted: “Being able to meet Emma this camp was the start of the foundation, being able to get to know her a little bit, [the] couple days that she was here. I definitely feel like we're starting to create that new identity and we executed today.”

The day to day 📒

Twila Kilgore remains at the interim helm of the USWNT. In close communication with Emma Hayes, Kilgore told press that her role is “managing the day to day”.

While she expected Hayes to watch the 3-0 match live from across the pond, Kilgore joked that she hoped Hayes was asleep by the time the post match press conference kicked off. Kilgore said they’d likely review the performance together after Hayes had time to collect her thoughts: “I will look forward to talking to her when she's ready and has time to do that, and kind of get her viewpoint, and we'll go from there.” 

The US will play China for the second time on Tuesday night. This time in Frisco, the friendly sets off at 8 p.m. ET (TruTV, Universo, Max and Peacock). 

MORE: The inaugural Concacaf W Gold Cup confirms California locations for 2024

II. Team GB’s Olympic hopes on the ropes after massive England turnaround at Wembley; Sweden miss out for the first time ever 🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇸🇪

Unfurled on live television in the USA and set before 71,000 fans at Wembley Stadium, England climbed back from a 2-0 deficit to earn a 3-2 triumph against the Netherlands on Friday night. The match was a must-win for the Lionesses, who must qualify on behalf of Team GB through Nations League play. 

While the early lapse of goals that Lineth Beerensteyn sent past Mary Earps may haunt the lauded keeper, Sarina Wiegman’s World Cup runners-up side came out of the half determined and capable. In the space of just two minutes, England leveled the score. At minute 59 Georgia Stanway found her head on the end of a dime dropped into the box by Lauren James. Next it was Stanway who set up Lauren Hemp (earning her 50th cap at just 23) to make it 2-2. 

With adrenaline palpable through the television and across the sea, Ella Toone emerged as the stoppage time difference maker (set up by yet another elite ball into the box from Lauren James) to collect three points. 

Despite the dramatic comeback, the Lionesses dropped to the pitch with the look of defeat at the final whistle. With one match left to play this Tuesday, England can still qualify for the Olympics on behalf of Team GB, but they’ll need a favorable result elsewhere and a stunning victory to do it:

• If the Netherlands beat Belgium Tuesday, England will need to defeat Scotland in Glasgow by three more goals than the Dutch victory

• If the Netherlands draw or lose, England could qualify with a win

Should they pull it off, England would then head to the Nations League final tournament set for February. From there, two additional teams will qualify for the tournament alongside France (hosts) and Spain (already qualified) from UEFA. 

It’s a tough region to qualify from. Just ask Sweden, who lost to Switzerland 1-0 and will now miss out on the Olympics for the first-time in their program history. 

MORE: A very thorough breakdown of the situation

III. Canada deliver redemptive rout to visiting Matildas in Sinclair’s farewell 🇨🇦🇦🇺

Canada’s veteran goal-scoring GOAT, Christine Sinclair, will play her final match of international soccer this Tuesday in Canada. The match will be the second in a brace of friendlies against the Matildas, who sent the Canadians sailing unceremoniously from the group stage at the World Cup this summer, routing the reigning gold medalists with 4-0 defeat in Melbourne. 

With emotions high as the Canadians celebrated the career of Sinclair, they delivered a redemptive 5-0 victory in British Columbia against a heavily rotated Matildas side. 

Fans can catch Sinclair’s final match on Tuesday, December 5th at 10 p.m. ET, airing in the US on FS2.  

MORE: Sinclair tears up as she receives message from fellow Canadian, fellow Vancouverite, and fellow Wrexhamite, Ryan Reynolds 

IV. News and Notes 📰

1. Stanford University- the collegiate powerhouse of women’s soccer that’s given so much to the USWNT (Julie Foudy, Christen Press, Sophie Smith, Naomi Girma, the list goes on) has progressed to the College Cup Final for the first time since Smith, Girma and Macario won it in 2019. They’ll play Florida State University for the trophy in Cary, N.C. this evening (6 p.m. EST, ESPNU, ESPN+). Some names to keep an eye on from the semifinal and final leg. 

2. From 2025, UEFA has announced changes to the UWCL that will include a league phase and a new second competition. Read all about the new UEFA Women’s club football system from UEFA themselves.

3. UEFA has confirmed a provisional schedule for the 2025 Women’s Euros, set to take place across eight venues in Switzerland. Opening and closing matches for the 16-team tournament will be at St. Jakob-Park in Basel. 

4. New Louisville manager, Bev Yanez speaks about the transition from playing to coaching.

5. Rebecca Spencer and Khadija “Bunny” Shaw have come out to say the Reggae Girlz are still missing their full payments from the World Cup. 

6. After 240 caps, Sweden’s Caroline Seger announces she’ll retire from the international game after Sweden’s match against Spain this Tuesday.

7. NWSL expansion side Utah Royals have signed Imani Dorsey from 2023 champions Gotham FC through free agency, as the NWSL transfer window gets going. 

V. Parting Shots

Marie-Louise Eta has made more history, now as the first female assistant coach involved in the UCL group stage, an accolade earned when Union Berlin took on Braga last week. The Dresden-born midfielder that once played for Werder Bremen made history earlier this year as the first woman to take hold of a coaching role in the Bundesliga.