Hayes Rested USA Stars: Prioritizes Rest After European Season

Emma Hayes Prioritizes Rest for US Women’s National Team Players

The coach of the United States women’s national team, Emma Hayes, has announced a strategy focused on the well-being of the players for the next training camp. The main decision is to call up a team composed almost exclusively of players who play in the domestic league, thus allowing the footballers who play in Europe to rest after a long club season. The only exception, according to Hayes, will be defender and vice-captain Naomi Girma, who recently returned to the national team after recovering from a calf injury.

This is the first and only opportunity they have to take a break between now and the World Cup in two years. The well-being of the players, rest, and recovery are important.

Emma Hayes

The US team will face Ireland in friendly matches in Colorado and Ohio at the end of June, before a match against Canada on July 2 in Washington, D.C. In their most recent friendlies, Hayes’ team defeated China and Jamaica. The decision to give the players a rest was made in collaboration with the USWNT’s performance and medical teams, considering the number of minutes played, especially since the 2023 World Cup and last year’s Olympic Games, where the United States won the gold medal. Hayes explained that players competing in Europe do not have an adequate rest period due to the match schedule. The coach highlighted the case of Emily Fox, who played in the UEFA Women’s Champions League final with Arsenal before joining the USWNT camp. Most of the players called up for the next camp will come from the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) of the United States, whose season ends at the end of November, allowing the players a considerable rest in December and January. Midfielder Rose Lavelle could be included in the squad, after rejoining Gotham FC after ankle surgery.

I really hope she’s with us at the camp. We miss her in the national team.

Emma Hayes

Lavelle was a starter on the 2019 World Cup-winning team and played an important role in obtaining the Olympic gold medal last year.

Trinity Rodman, who scored three goals in last year’s Olympics, will not be available for the upcoming matches, but Hayes expects her return to the Washington Spirit of the NWSL “sometime in July.” Rodman has been dealing with back problems that have kept her out of most training camps since the Olympics. Hayes added that he does not consider whether it is better for his players to compete in Europe or the United States. However, he has expressed the need to improve collaboration in the scheduling of matches. Hayes’ decision to rest the players who play in Europe is part of this strategy. The coach, who previously managed Chelsea, mentioned the importance of having large squads to manage international players.

We are working with the NWSL to create the best possible conditions for our players. But, no one will be happy, whether it’s the club or the national team. The reality is that there are more games than ever, but we have to work together to get it right.

Emma Hayes