Emma Hayes Officially USWNT Manager 🇺🇸

It’s Monday, November 20th. Give us four minutes, we give you everything The Women’s Game.

32 YEARS AGO AN AMERICAN ERA BEGAN: Last Friday, November 17th, marked 32 years since the modern Women’s World Cup kicked-off. Then named the “First FIFA World Championship for Women's Football for the M&M's Cup”, China hosted and the United States won. The USA’s first-ever World Cup game? They played Sweden, of course. (And won 3-2. Mia Hamm’s goal made the difference). 🇺🇲

I. Emma Hayes to the USA 🇺🇲

The previously suspected news officially dropped Tuesday. If somehow you’ve fled society and missed the era-defining moment, it’s a generational joy to confirm: Emma Hayes is the next manager of the US Women’s National Team. 

All delight is deserved, though much remains to be seen. 

After charting a career that traverses the Atlantic — collecting a robust set of trophies en route — Hayes is well-regarded as perhaps the best manager in the women’s game. US Soccer will reportedly make her the highest paid manager in the women’s game to reflect that. 

Make no mistake: the task is tall before her. The USWNT is in a difficult place. And fans will need to wait another six to seven months before she formally takes charge. 

Still manager of Chelsea, Hayes will complete her final season with the Blues before leading the USA into next summer’s Olympics. She’ll then have just four friendlies to fine-tune her new squad before that tournament sets off. 

Whatever awaits next summer, one can reasonably hope it's redemptive, imagine it's entertaining, and believe, given the circumstances of pay and managerial prowess, it's rather historic as well. 

MORE: The Men in Blazers team broke down the news on last Wednesday’s edition of Early Kick Off. LISTEN HERE. 

AND MORE: First USWNT roster since Hayes announcement has fresh faces and evolution in store.

II. Champions League catch-up 🌍

UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL) ignited its group stage last week, with sixteen teams vying for European glory inside four groups of four. 

Eleven nations are represented across those match-ups. And while a global growth in the game has been a major victory of this year, the UWCL group stage reveals a need for acceleration. Germany, Sweden, France and Spain alone account for over 50% of this year’s contenders. And the team furthest east is in Austria, a nation distinctly central on the map. 

The opening round’s play was a mix of riveting match-ups and early demolition, with trophy-laden heavyweights Lyon and Barcelona both arriving to make a point. 

Lyon put nine goals from seven players past Slavia Praha. That includes a penalty from Ada Hegerberg, marking her 60th goal in 62 appearances in UWCL. The first winner of the Ballon d’Or Feminin is now also the first woman to score 60 goals in Champions League. 

Speaking of the Ballon d’Or: Spain’s pair of recipients (two-time winner Alexia Putellas and the recently ordained Aitana Bonmati) both booked a brace as Barcelona hosted Benfica. But it was Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala who made it 5-0, collecting UWCL goal of the week honors with this bike. 

Other early bouts were more closely contested. Frankfurt, Brann and Häcken won each of their match-ups 2-1. Ajax put PSG away 2-0. The remaining two tests ended in a draw. 

The pair of draws includes Roma, who fought to an impressive 2-2 at Bayern, showing early signs of another strong campaign. 

Emma Hayes’ Chelsea also took a controversial draw away at Real Madrid. With two questionable calls directly impacting the scoreline, Hayes (who believes a UWCL trophy would be a fairytale ending to her time in London) had virulent critiques for officials. UEFA responded, defending the present absence of VAR. 

MORE: There’s no VAR in the Champions League Group Stage. Players are calling for that to change

III. Derby News 🎯

Another weekend of delightful derby mania is in the books. 

In Spain, Barcelona proved their prowess once more, taking their 12th El Clasico from 12 El Clasico tests. Real Madrid are no flimsy foe, but there can be no present question: Barcelona reign supreme. With five goals from five players, Barcelona won 5-0 and made history as Vicky Lopez became the youngest player to score in El Clasico. 

In the north of England, the Manchester Derby swung City’s way. Appropriately full of rain, City overcame United 3-1 while down to ten players on Old Trafford’s rain-soaked pitch. To be fair to United, all three goals came before the red card shown to Laia Aleixandri. Jill Roord and Lauren Hemp opened things up. Jamaica’s finest, Bunny Shaw, made it three. Over 12 minutes of stoppage time later, City took all the points. 

In Italy, the Derby d’Italia (Juve vs Inter) served up a trouncing in Juve’s favor, who won 5-0 with Ariana Caruso collecting the first goal as well as an assist. After the match, Italy’s Caruso remarked: “How much do I want to give to this team? I don't think it can be described in words”.

MORE: Spain upped the ante for broadcast quality in the women’s game. El Clasico featured an impressive audiovisual setup to honor the matchup. 

IV. News and Notes

1. Union Berlin appointed the first female assistant head coach in team history

2. Lauren James scored her first hat-trick in the WSL

3. Emma Hayes shared devastating news last week regarding a young American talent that still has yet to appear for The Blues since signing last summer. Cat Macario may not appear until 2024, as she continues to rehab an ACL injury from 2022 that’s taken much longer than originally expected to return from.

4. Nigeria’s Football Federation has confirmed they will finally begin World Cup payments to players. However, it’s reported those payments will be subject to a 32.5% tax from Australia, reducing payouts to $42,500.

5. TNT announced plans to bid for WSL rights, challenging the BBC and Sky. 

V. Parting Shots 

The Llandough-born Welsh international footballer, Sophie Ingle, took hold of the WSL’s all-time appearance record this weekend, as she made her 184th appearance with a start against Liverpool for Emma Hayes’ Blues. The veteran midfielder has previously received an OBE for her mark on the game. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿♥️💚