Hayes Praises Player Growth Ahead of SheBelieves Cup

Hayes Praises Player Growth Ahead of SheBelieves Cup Opener

As the 11th edition of the prestigious SheBelieves Cup approaches, U.S. Women’s National Team head coach Emma Hayes, fresh off her “tour of Nashville music history,” addressed the media to preview the tournament’s opener against Argentina. The conversation quickly turned to the evolution of her players, particularly those who found previous iterations of the tournament to be their toughest challenges.

Marking Progress Through Tough Competition

Hayes recalled a poignant quote from Alana Sentor following a past SheBelieves Cup match against Japan, where she described it as the hardest game of her career up to that point. This sentiment highlights the tournament’s role as a crucial benchmark for player development. Hayes emphasized her belief in the mantra, “our job is to just handle hard better,” and how she deliberately placed players into challenging “frying pan” situations to foster growth.

“I look at that as a marker as a moment that I think really, really accelerated the next phase,” Hayes stated, reflecting on the impact of such intense experiences. “Sometimes being humbled and recognizing where your gaps are become the next opportunity for growth.”

Player Development Spotlight: Alana Sentor and Others

Hayes specifically lauded Alana Sentor’s “super, super ambitious” mindset and her focus on immediate action rather than deferring goals. “She has set lofty goals for herself and she is fine to live with those things,” Hayes observed. “I’ve seen such maturity in her… I’m 12 months on thinking, ‘Oh my goodness, I’m so excited to see this year’s version of someone like Alana Sentor or Crystal Dunn or Lily Yule-Yates.'”

The coach also drew a comparison to the lead-up to the Olympics, noting that she felt clearer about a core group of 14 players then. Now, she believes the gap between the top players and the rest of the squad has significantly narrowed. “The gap up to bottom is that, and that was the aim. That is the aim always of development, of creating competition,” Hayes asserted. “I feel that we are in a much stronger position.” The current goal is to further close any remaining gaps before the qualifying campaign begins, ensuring the team is even more prepared.

Defining a Successful First Match

When asked about what constitutes a successful opening match against Argentina in a three-game tournament, Hayes stressed the equal importance of every game. “We approach every game exactly the same. You can’t have, ‘Oh, this is a bigger game.’ No, every game deserves the same attention to detail and the same preparation,” she explained.

Hayes’ expectations for the first match include the team imposing itself in a dominant manner while maintaining consistency in its increasingly pronounced game elements. Beyond the result, the tournament serves as a vital opportunity to rehearse mentality and practice ahead of upcoming qualifying campaigns, particularly for players like Sophia Smith, who are on their second or third major tournament experience.

Admiring Erica Schafer’s Coaching Acumen

During the press conference, Hayes also took a moment to praise Erica Schafer, head coach of Penn State and a former figure in U.S. Soccer. Hayes, who has known Schafer since the early 2000s, described her as a benchmark and one of the best leaders in the sport.

“She’s someone I have hugely admired. I always looked up to her as a benchmark, not just as one of the best coaches in the country, but one of the best leaders,” Hayes said. “It’s the way players speak about her. It’s the way other colleagues speak about her is a real testament to not just the quality she has but the longevity to keep doing that and to keep producing players whose characters you can clearly see have been well-shaped.” Hayes acknowledged Schafer’s significant, albeit quiet, influence on her own career.

Reflecting on Crystal Dunn’s Impact and Black Players in Soccer

The conversation also touched upon the retirement of Crystal Dunn and the broader impact of Black players on the U.S. program. Hayes, who worked with Dunn at both Chelsea and with the USWNT, called her a “little pocket rocket” who has made a significant global impact.

“Off the pitch, she’s one of my favorite people in the world,” Hayes shared. “I know I will be in Crystal’s life because we journeyed a lot together and she’s someone whose opinion I value.” Hayes is certain Dunn will continue to have a major impact, not just on soccer but on the Black community within the sport. She acknowledged the potential loneliness Dunn may have felt early in her career as one of the few Black players but highlighted her role as an inspiration and her influence on the current team’s diversity.

Hayes expressed pride in building upon the legacy of trailblazers like Dunn and emphasized her intentionality in providing opportunities and creating representative environments. “I believe in diversity. I believe in creating environments that are representative of the culture that we live in,” she stated. “Thank you for trailblazing and for having to endure probably really tough times. So appreciate you.”

Leadership in Social Issues

Addressing Sam Coffey’s recent comments about the team needing to do more in speaking out on social issues, Hayes acknowledged the challenge and complexity of such advocacy, particularly for women athletes.

“I’ve always done that in my career. It might be done slightly differently in England than it is in the U.S.,” Hayes noted. “And sometimes, I think it’s extremely challenging as a woman to be able to do those things, and it can be even harder to do that as a woman of color.” She spoke about the weariness that can come from constantly having to address difficult topics and the vitriol often faced on social media. While affirming the importance of speaking out, Hayes also stressed the need for thoughtfulness and consideration, recognizing that athletes also have lives and a desire to focus on their sport.

Source: Emma Hayes previews SheBelieves Cup opener (YouTube)