There has been a completely different vibe since Emma Hayes made her way as the US Women’s National Team coach. From a time when the American ladies were finding it hard to move on from their 2023 World Cup upset, the arrival of the English tactician completely transformed the once-gloomy atmosphere. Not just veterans and those in their prime, but even youngsters have noticed this change. And who better to tell than Red Bull athlete Olivia Moultrie? EssentiallySports, in collaboration with Red Bull, caught up with the USWNT for an exclusive interview where the teenage sensation shared what Hayes has brought to the table for the USWNT.
Having made her debut on Dec. 2, 2023, against China PR, Moultrie needed months before finally opening her international account. And when she did she wasn’t satisfied with just one. She tallied an emphatic brace— and that too in her first career start under interim boss Twila Kilgore—on Feb. 20, 2024, as the USA played their 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup group stage opener against the Dominican Republic. It was a headline 5-0 win, with Olivia being named Player of the Match.
In fact, she also became the third-youngest player to score multiple goals in USWNT history at 18 years and 156 days, following Mia Hamm and Cindy Parlow Cone. Though this performance was enough for her to make the Emma Hayes-led 2024 Paris Olympics roster, an unfortunate injury ruled her out. It was not until the October friendlies that she finally got a chance to showcase herself to Hayes. So what impression did she make of the former Chelsea boss?
“She made a big impression,” Moultrie told host Andrew Whitelaw on the EssentiallySports exclusive. “I feel like she is just bringing a lot.” By a lot, the 19-year-old refers to qualities seen at the highest levels of European soccer. In fact, Olivia insists that Hayes operates at a level comparable to the men’s game.
Paris 2024 Olympics – Football – Women’s Gold Medal Match – Brazil vs United States – Parc des Princes, Paris, France – August 10, 2024. Emma Hayes coach of the United States ahead of the match. REUTERS/Isabel Infantes
She highlights the highly prolific, Champions League-style matches where teams like Barcelona and Manchester City showcase their tiki-taka prowess—something that makes those games “successful, entertaining, and fun to watch.” No wonder that after spending nearly 12 years in the WSL and winning over 16 trophies, Hayes has managed to instill a similar level of success and quality from the men’s game into the women’s game.
“She’s bringing those aspects of the game to the women’s game and now bringing that to the WNT. That’s really fun to see and be a part of. I think we see the game very similarly and want to play it that way. You want the ball; you want possession, patience, and just letting the game come to you and having fun with it,” emphasized the Portland Thorns midfielder.
So in a nutshell, 10/10, right Olivia? Well, we aren’t surprised. The kind of developments and the environment that Hayes has managed to build since her arrival is beyond praise. No wonder Moultrie hopes to make a return to the English tactician’s camp ASAP!
Olivia Moultrie remains impatient to reunite with Emma Hayes
After missing out on the Olympics, Olivia Moultrie only started in the second clash against Iceland. Even the next camp, where the USWNT faced England and the Netherlands, didn’t see the Santa Clarita native make the roster due to injury concerns—let alone getting selected for the 2025 January camp or the SheBelieves Cup. So, it’s only natural for her to be eager for a call-up in the next camp.
“I can’t wait to continue to grow with her… Obviously, hoping to be back in there soon,” said Moultrie in the EssentiallySports exclusive, emphasizing how being around like-minded people has fueled her hunger for success. Though the injuries weren’t her fault and left her with no choice but to miss significant time with Team USA, returning before the start of the NWSL campaign has given her a confidence boost.
Olivia Moultrie poses for a portrait in Los Angeles, California, USA on February 8, 2025. // Richard Gordon / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202503080114 // Usage for editorial use only //
In fact, the midfielder even featured in the Thorns’ opener against KC Current. Though her side lost, she scored her team’s first goal of the 2025 campaign. That’s exactly the impact Moultrie hopes to replicate on the international stage. “I had surgery at the end of the last year. So I’ve been kind of building back towards that and just being healthy and fit. And now with the end of NWSL pre-season, being back, I can’t wait for everything that’s ahead,” she concluded on the EssentiallySports exclusive interview.
Well, we don’t know about you, but after hearing Olivia Moultrie talk about her hopeful USWNT return, we’re just as eager to see it happen.
The post Exclusive: NWSL Star Olivia Moultrie Makes Honest Emma Hayes Confession Amid USWNT Call-Up Hopes appeared first on EssentiallySports.
