Responses such as “Been saying it since her hiring, Hayes out” and “I think the experimenting thing mighttttt be drawing to a close” surfaced after the USWNT’s 1-2 defeat to Brazil, directed at coach Emma Hayes. The second friendly match unfolded on April 8, 2025, at PayPal Park in San Jose, California, as Brazil aimed to exact revenge after their 0-2 defeat in the initial encounter. The USWNT surged ahead right from the start, with Catarina Macario finding the back of the net just one minute into the match.
Brazil showcased their prowess with a goal from Kerolin in the 24th minute, followed by a dramatic stoppage-time winner from Amanda Gutierres in the 95th minute. This signifies Brazil’s inaugural victory against the USWNT since 2014. This event marked a significant moment, and despite being a friendly match, numerous fans expressed skepticism regarding Emma Hayes’ approach.
At the post-match press conference, the coach addressed the critics, asserting, “Yeah, I mean first of all it’s been a really good camp and we mustn’t always measure progress by outcome. That was the youngest capped US Women’s National Team in 24 years, so what a great experience for them to go into a game which you get to feel the pressure of playing a really really difficult opponent and if I only prioritise short-term success of course I wouldn’t make that many changes, but I’m not making decisions for the short term.”
Hayes is not in pursuit of a fleeting solution. She considers her future plans carefully whenever making significant decisions for the USWNT. Additionally, Hayes highlighted that aside from captain Emily Sonnett, the entire team consisted of young and talented players, and she expressed her eagerness to observe their performance. Brazil boasts a formidable team, and allowing her younger squad to compete against one of the soccer giants provides invaluable insights for her to assess the team’s dynamics.
“I’m prioritising the progress from expanding the playing pool to getting to see what these players look like in a really difficult match. So we had a bit with Japan, we’ve had Brazil and we won’t get the opportunity to play a team like Brazil until hopefully we go to Brazil maybe next year, but I don’t want to wait another year for me to get a look at these less experienced players against a top level opponent. I don’t want to do it and I’m glad I made that decision even if you feel a little bit of short-term pain within it,” Hayes stated.
Although she acknowledges the present outcomes, her primary focus remains on the future trajectory of this team. This marks yet another instance of Hayes encountering backlash from the community. On another occasion, a notable figure from the USWNT stepped up to support the coach.
Coming to protect Emma Hayes
Many individuals within the community expressed confusion regarding Emma Hayes’ tactical decisions during the Paris Olympics. Nonetheless, former USWNT star Carli Lloyd had a different perspective. She expressed her support for Hayes’ no rotation policy in Paris, stating, “Agree with this! If players are fit enough they should all be able to play a lot of minutes.”
Moreover, she made a subtle jab at Team USA’s performance in the Tokyo Olympics, suggesting they are faring better in the current Olympics, guided by coach Hayes. “We lost in Tokyo before we even got to Tokyo,” stated Carli Lloyd. The USWNT icon addressed a fan on social media who claimed that Team USA’s defeat to Canada in the Tokyo semi-finals was a result of Alyssa Naeher’s injury.
Lloyd’s honest observation regarding the Tokyo incident sheds light on Team USA’s disappointing performance in the recent Olympic soccer tournament. Their arrival at the tournament was marked by the momentum of a recent World Cup victory. However, they performed as though they had never held the title of world champions.
The USWNT began their campaign with a disappointing 3-0 loss to Sweden. Lloyd seemingly hinted at these underwhelming performances by stating that the USA had already lost before stepping foot in Tokyo. Now, only time will reveal how these young players will perform under Hayes’ coaching strategies.
The post Emma Hayes Shuts Haters for Questioning ‘Youngest’ USWNT Team in Recent Brazil Loss appeared first on EssentiallySports.
