Happy Monday, TWG readers! Every weekend here in Vermont I feel like a little kid with all the fun, summer activities we are able to do. Yesterday, my incredible neighbors took my me and my husband out on their boat. We went swimming, we brought Finn, and I even went tubing. Like, am I the happiest 12-year-old in the whole world? Yes.

Speaking of childlike happiness… Emma Hayes has got to be on cloud 9 after her first USWNT win this past weekend. The team looked solid, defeating South Korea 4-0 with two goals apiece from Mal Swanson and center back striker Tierna Davidson. I’ve had “American Woman” on repeat ever since, hyping myself up for more USWNT wins under Emma Hayes.

ii. Today, we dropped an incredible episode of Friendlies with USWNT goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher. We discuss our Red Sox first pitch adventure from 2019, her journey to becoming the USWNT No. 1 goalkeeper, and she even tells us which field player she would want to replace her in goal. (Hint: we agree, but I’m a little jealous.) This is an episode you don’t want to miss!

iii. After the USWNT game tomorrow night, head over to our YouTube channel for a reaction video that will be posted shortly after the final whistle. I’ll break down the game briefly before an episode of Good Vibes with Becky Sauerbrunn drops on Thursday, in which we’ll chat all things USWNT, Emma Hayes, and Olympics.

iv. Make sure you’re following along with us on social media as Rog and I head to Kansas City this week for our first ever TWG live show! I can’t wait to raise an Olipop with you all. You can use code TWG20 for 20% off your first order at drinkolipop.com/TWG20. The show is on Thursday night, but don’t worry, it’ll be posted as a podcast and on our YouTube channel on Friday if you can’t be there in person.

Thank you all for being here! More tubing for everyone.

Love,

Sam

I. The Emma Hayes Era starts with 4-0 victory against South Korea 🇺🇲🇰🇷

Emma Hayes ignited a new dawn in USWNT history with a 4-0 win against South Korea Saturday afternoon in Commerce City, Colo. It was incredible to watch Hayes lead with a sense of calm, and perspective throughout the week, as she set to work with the USWNT, and focused on finding joy in her first game: “I’ve visualized this moment so many times over in the last few months, and now it’s finally here, I’m going to enjoy it.”

More: ‘The Tao of USWNT coach Emma Hayes, who picks winning over everything else’

In the game itself, played before an ecstatic home crowd of more than 19,000, Littleton, Colo. native Mallory Swanson scored a brace and notched an assist in her home state, marking the first USWNT goal in 465 days for the inimitable American forward, who was painfully missed at the 2023 World Cup after tearing her patellar tendon last spring. The joy on Mal’s face says it all in this incredible photo. Tierna Davidson, who has also battled back from long-term injury in the past year, scored a double from two corners, hinting that USWNT set piece dominance could be coming back after the team struggled to capitalize there in the past cycle. The game, against an outmatched opponent, was filled with joyous moments, Golden, Colo.’s USA co-captain Lindsey Horan subbed off in the second half and handed the armband to 24-year-old Naomi Girma. The sight of Girma as US captain offered yet another glimpse of the future in Emma’s first game, and marked a deserved honor for the San Jose center back, whose steady leadership from the backline has been a beacon of calm and composure through a trying year. 

More: ‘Good start: Emma Hayes era begins with win over South Korea’

The US are now in St Paul, Minnesota, where they are prepping to play South Korea again in a second and final friendly tomorrow night. (Tuesday, June 4, 8 p.m. ET, TNT). After the final whistle, make sure you check out the TWG YouTube channel for Sam’s post-match thoughts and a full breakdown of the game.

More: From Alyssa Naeher to Cat Macario and Crystal Dunn, USWNT players have appeared on the Friendlies pod to explain why they’re so excited to have Emma Hayes as their new manager. SUBSCRIBE WHEREVER YOU GET YOUR PODS 🌸

II. Historic double-header in Denver featured US Deaf Women’s National Team against Australia ahead of Hayes debut 🇺🇲🇦🇺

Saturday’s festivities in Colorado were historic on multiple fronts. Just before Emma Hayes took to the US sideline for the first time, the US Women’s Deaf National Team beat Australia 11-0 in the first-ever doubleheader featuring a US Extended National Team and senior US National Team, with goals from five players, including a historic six goal performance for Fountain Valley, Calif.’s native Emily Spreeman. After the game, Spreeman delivered a message of inspiration: “I hope all the little Deaf girls and boys see that they can represent the U.S. one day too, and people see our ability as elite athletes and not our disability."

More: ‘The USWNT celebrated the deaf community Saturday— and starts the Emma Hayes era’

Also: Senior US National Team players and coaching staff showed support to the US Deaf National Team throughout the week. That includes a special good luck message from new US manager Emma Hayes. 

III. England fall short against France, Spain still unbeatable as Euro 2025 qualification continues 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇫🇷🇪🇸

Euro 2025 in Switzerland is just 394 days away. With Matchday Four going down tomorrow across Europe, here’s how a few of the big teams look:

i. The reigning champions of Europe, the Lionesses of England, fell to France on home soil. Beth Mead’s 31st-minute goal opened the scoring, but France responded twice from corners. In an exceptionally competitive group, France are now five points clear in first place, with Sweden in second and England in third on goal differential after Sweden beat Ireland 3-0. England will have another chance against France (Tuesday, June 4, 3 PM ET) away in Saint‑Étienne, where they’ll play without star goalkeeper Mary Earps, who left Friday’s match with a hip injury. 

More: ‘Katoto caps France comeback to hurt England’s Euro 2025 qualifying hopes’

ii. After three matchdays, Germany, France and Spain are all undefeated, having collected three wins from three games to sit atop their respective groups. 🇩🇪🇫🇷🇪🇸 The Netherlands currently leads their group with 27-year-old Dutch forward Lineth Beerensteyn’s decisive strike enough to beat Finland 1-0 on Friday night. After tomorrow evening’s match, 31-year-old Lieke Martens will hang up the boots on a storied international career for Le Oranje. The versatile PSG player has made 159 appearances and scored 62 goals for the Dutch, including three goals en route to their 2017 European Championship trophy, and two goals as part of their 2019 runner-up World Cup campaign. 🇳🇱

More: ‘Women’s European Qualifiers Matchday Three’

IV. News and Notes 📰🗞️

i. FIFA has introduced new parental protocols built to protect both players and coaches. Protocols include minimum paid leave for parents in the game. 👪

ii. Yet another Zambian footballer is moving to the NWSL. Already this year, Copper Queens star forwards Rachael Kundananji (Bay FC) and Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride) have made waves for setting the world’s first and second largest transfer fees in women’s football history. They have both already turned heads as they’ve torn into the league (Banda is tied with Sophia Smith in the golden boot race) with immediate success. Now, they’ll be joined by Zambian midfielder Grace Chanda, who plans to join Orlando from Madrid CFF. 🇿🇲

iii. As Emma Hayes takes over the USWNT, Chelsea has officially announced her replacement. The esteemed French manager and former Lyon boss, Sonia Bompastor, is set to replace Hayes in London. While at the helm of Lyon, Bompastor has won three French league titles and three Champions League trophies. 🇫🇷🏆

iv. The women’s sports star crossover stayed fresh this week, as Emma Hayes and USWNT players Hal Hersfelt, Jaedyn Shaw and Aubrey Kingsbury paid a visit to WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx. The WNBA stars acknowledged the USWNT’s fight for equal pay, and presented Hayes with a special jersey as part of the visit. 🇺🇲⚽🏀

V. Parting Shots 🥃

Australian goalkeeper Lydia Williams was honored with a traditional aboriginal cloak in her final home game with the Matildas. The 36-year-old from Katanning, Australia, has made 106 appearances for Australia, stretching back to 2005. William’s father is Noongar, and to honor her heritage, she was presented with a traditional cloak ahead of Sunday evening’s 2-0 victory in Sydney. 🇦🇺

VI. Good Reads 📚

i. From Louise Taylor in The Guardian, ‘Women in Sport’s 40 years mark both progress and need to end inequality’

ii. From Moya Dodd in The Guardian, ‘New women’s football calendar will stifle club game– FIFA must be open to dialogue’

iii. From Planet League, ‘Women’s Football and Climate Change: the players’ perspective’

iv. From Meg Swanick in The Guardian, ‘Pedal to the Metal: Trinity Rodman embraces new era with Emma Hayes’