HARRISON, N.J. — Only three months have passed since the U.S. women’s national team last faced Mexico, but it feels like a different era.
During the Gold Cup in February, the USWNT suffered a 2-0 defeat to Mexico, marking only their second loss to their southern neighbors and their first on U.S. soil. This setback was a significant low point for the program, an even bigger disappointment than their round-of-16 exit last summer in Australia and New Zealand, the earliest they’ve ever been eliminated from a World Cup or Olympics.
Reflecting on that loss from five months ago, Emma Hayes, not yet on the job at the time, saw it as an opportunity for the team to reset. “We could interject and put the right things back into place,” Hayes said. “There’s no losing, only learning, and I think there’s been a lot of that since then.”
This progress was evident on Saturday when the USWNT beat Mexico 1-0, dominating the game. Despite struggles with finishing, the team showcased its improved play. Sophia Smith scored the lone goal in the 64th minute after a slick build-up involving Trinity Rodman and Mallory Swanson. The trio, however, could have easily netted more.
Under Hayes, the USWNT has rediscovered some of its former authority. Crystal Dunn praised Hayes for elevating the team tactically. Saturday’s match was the first since Hayes announced her 18-player roster for the Paris Olympics, excluding veteran Alex Morgan in favor of a younger generation.
While the team remains a work in progress, there are clear signs of improvement. Hayes officially took over after Chelsea’s season concluded in late May, and the team is expected to keep getting better with more time under her leadership. “There’s no denying when the game opens up, we thrive. My goal is to thrive in all moments,” Hayes said. “We still have a lot of learning to do as a team… But if we use March as a reference point, then I think it’s fair to say this game was much more measured, much more controlled.”
Finishing every chance is unrealistic, but the USWNT struggled with self-sabotage at last summer’s World Cup and the Tokyo Olympics, managing just four goals at the World Cup, three of which came in the opener against Vietnam. The team often had difficulty getting the ball into the final third, with intercepted passes and overthinking near the goal area.
There were still some missed opportunities against Mexico on Saturday. In the 22nd minute, Rodman passed to Smith when she should have shot, and in the 52nd, Smith couldn’t convert despite beating the goalkeeper.
However, there’s evident dynamism in the front line of Rodman, Smith, and Swanson. When they fully harness it, they will be formidable. “I think we have that naturally, but we have been working on it for sure,” Smith said. “I think we understand each other really well… I feel like I know what Mal’s going to do… I feel like I know what Trin’s going to do. We can all work off of that.”
The game against Mexico was a good measure of progress under Hayes’ leadership. The memory of their last match against Mexico already feels distant, a positive sign for the team’s future.