New U.S. coach Emma Hayes hasn’t always chosen the usual approach during her brief time with the team, but she’s been remarkably steady with one thing during the Paris Olympics.
In her lineup, Hayes has mostly used the same starting players in each game. Changes have only happened due to injuries, like with Tierna Davidson, or suspensions, such as Sam Coffey’s yellow-card ban for the quarterfinals.
Hayes said this approach helps build team chemistry and is partly because she only took charge of the U.S. team in May after finishing her season with Chelsea.
“I don’t believe we’d have advanced if we’d made too many changes. The relationships developing are helping us compete against top opponents in a very short time,” Hayes said before the semifinal match against Germany in Lyon.
“I haven’t had much time to work with the whole squad,” she added. “I’m still learning about everyone.”
Hayes was brought on by U.S. Soccer in November after Vlatko Andonovski left following the team’s early exit from the Women’s World Cup.
Hayes’ consistency has been effective with the team’s front three: Trinity Rodman, Mallory Swanson, and Sophia Smith, who have developed a strong connection. Hayes made headlines by leaving veteran forward Alex Morgan off the Olympic roster.
Rodman, Swanson, and Smith have scored eight of the team’s 10 goals through four games in France. Swanson and Rodman each have three goals, while Smith has two.
“She wants everyone to be creative in their own ways and lets that happen while adding her own structure and principles,” Rodman said about Hayes. “Allowing us to play freely has been very successful for the team.”
