Emma Hayes's USWNT looks ready to DOMINATE | The Late Sub with Claire Watkins

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This week, Claire talks through the USWNT’s first friendly under new manager Emma Hayes, with a dominant 4-0 win over South Korea. She talks through big performances from Mallory Swanson and Tierna Davidson, a midfield that looks refreshed, and her own personal picks for the Olympic roster. Then, she digs into the big stories out of the WNBA this weekend, as the Indiana Fever finally end their early gauntlet of games, the Sun go 8-0, and the conversation off the court about fouls heats up.
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The Late Sub with Claire Watkins brings you the latest news and freshest takes in women’s sports. This is the weekly rundown you’ve been missing, covering the USWNT, NWSL, WNBA, college hoops, and whatever else is popping off in women’s sports each week. Special guest appearances with the biggest names in women’s sports make The Late Sub a must-listen for every fan. Follow Claire on X/Twitter @ScoutRipley and subscribe to the Just Women’s Sports newsletter for more.
Just Women’s Sports is the leading digital media platform dedicated exclusively to women’s sports. In a world where women’s sports have been historically underfunded and under-promoted, Just Women’s Sports exists to shine a light on all the stories, athletes and moments that define and fuel the space. Through original podcasts, premium video programming, social media, editorial content, a newsletter, and exclusive merchandise and live events, Just Women’s Sports is committed to making it both easy and fun to be a women’s sports fan.
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[@PandaPanda-cn7yn]

Media seem very excited that Dunn is listed as a forward. There's so many talented forwards on the team and I don't see any point playing her up top at this point.

[@DustyBarrels464]

Exactly she cannot dribble.

[@michaelt6218]

Claire, you mentioned Swanson being happy about receiving great through-balls to set her up for shots. That seemed really clear to me after her second goal, when during the celebration it looked like she was saying to Lavelle, "You made that so easy!"

[@doja895]

This is after the 2nd game, so it's kind of a cheat that I've already seen the 'backups' vying for a spot. I think there will be a few familiar names staying home. Staub proved herself in these last 2 games. I actually trust her more back there as opposed to saurbraun or dahlkemper. I think Becky is just too old for a quick turnaround tournament. As far as the main midfield how can you not take Lily. Like I've said, I have the leg up cos I watched the 2nd game last night. She came in as a late substitution. and after catching her breath, showed a grace and fluidity that stuns you a little bit. Her passes were connecting. Her placement, like when rodman set her up for her goal, was so surprising to see from someone so young. I also saw her pop a defender on her butt as she muscled past her. She's not afraid to go head to head with someone and she doesn't do silly fouls. I've only seen highlights of her games with ajax, like Sophia said, she's a baller. Shes played against a lot of euro players, and I think she'd be an awesome asset to have in our arsenal. Sadly, this would leave off Alex and Lynn. I think shaw, rodman, Sophia, mal, macario, horan, rose, Coffey, are locks. Even tho Lily's only 16, she is so freaking good, I think she deserves a spot up front with the above group of our midfield and forwards. Alex didn't have much of an impact last night when the 'backups' took the field. Besides the dunn goal, the 3 up top weren't connecting. Alex missed goals that her younger self wouldn't. The trio up top had no chemistry. They struggled. Then the after halftime subs came on. The same up top trio as the 1st night. And o boy, was there a difference. Play picked up. They were firing on all cylinders. Smith scored a near impossible goal...and every forward player had hand, or I should say foot, in it. Mal rodman and Smith...they're looking lethal. Shaw came alive and looked dangerous again. This will be a hard pick. I think putting Lily on that roster will do so much for our team going forward. Euro national teams are competing with the US for her choice of country to play with. Our biggest competitors are the Netherlands, where Lily grew up. They have an aging team. They need young blood, how much longer can van de donk be effective? They need Lily as much as we do. So I think this will be factored in with the roster decision. How can we let such a talented player go without a fight. She outplayed Albert, Alex, and I think she will be our next rose Lavelle. The playmaker in the midfield that seems to always know where the ball is, and disrupts and delivers and scores! We have to keep her. That's my take on things, a former player and, now, an avid watcher of all things in woman's futbol, and by no means a professional analyst. KEEP LILY!!!

[@glarris1]

LILLY is the perfect 8. US has never really had a perfect 8 although obviously Horan is a pro’s pro and can do it in a pinch.

[@I_Have_The_Most_Japanese_Music]

I think you're overenthusiastic about Lilly and especially Staub.

[@malber2000]

always a delight, thanks Claire and JWS!

[@bradowen678]

Uswnt deaf is WOW

[@EmDe69]

Another great breakdown Claire Watkins and Parker Fenton. Thanks!

[@jsp1701]

I think we're going to see Hayes switch who starts at leftback between Dunn and Nightswonger, depending on the opponent. I think we'll see Nightswonger start against teams like Japan and Canada, and Dunn against more physical teams like Germany, or teams like Spain where you cant take on the vulnerability of a wingback pushing up (as Nightswonger tends to) because of their style of play and the likelihood of their ability to exploit that subsequent gap after a wingback makes high runs

[@alansmithee8831]

Hello Claire. Do not be surprised that Emma Hayes would not get into discussing tactics. If she did, I would take it all as a way to mislead an opponent. She is, like the good parent she seems to be, more likely to use distraction when in a discussion to totally change the questioners focus, without saying anything that might actually be in her plans. This might seem odd to a country that expects to get access for the press. Check out Emma's speech on receiving an award from Sports Press Writers in London, who are not known for their support for managers. The squad Emma would likely pick, based on Chelsea, would be the one which allowed as many playing styles as practical in the time before the Olympics. This may not be the best players, rather the players best able to play styles that would beat a likely opponent. She is unlikely to have a set style that opponents could plan to beat. Also, within games she uses starters and finishers. The starters might be there only to tire an opponent or distract them into thinking they had set up adequately, then the finishing players would exploit the change in tactics that they were brought on the pitch to put into effect. As I commented elsewhere, put the idea of a starting eleven of the best players and a single tactical set up "in the trash" as you Americans might say. The bit about a single player getting too many fouls was interesting. Do US teams not have "enforcers" to meat out revenge. English football has a "dirty" reputation outside the UK for olden day teams with players called "chopper" and "bite your legs" but you would not expect your favourite team to leave it all to the officials. Lastly note that Emma defended Korbin whilst distracting the audience with Pride month, which suggests she would pick her, especially since she plays club football in France.

[@kros-lt7mr]

Hi @Alansmthee8831 I find your comments interesting. I see you commenting on many of the same sites I follow. I'm still learning the finer points of the game but am always interested in the comments you provide.

[@alansmithee8831]

@@kros-lt7mr I played a team game and having won things ended up captaining a team. I listened to my dad, who had been in positions of authority and then recognised the same things he was using to make things easy looking after my neice after school, worked running a team. You cannot have different ideas, or give out different messages, but you can distract those who might. I saw this in professional managers like Emma and used it in becoming a manager at work. Check out how Emma worked on the Chelsea KZbin videos.

[@user-gn4mq9wi4j]

US has great depth up top - we don't have depth at fullback. Maybe bring back Midge Purce and convert her? (Not hot on Kreuger). Midfield is also crowded. (Horan, Lavelle, Albert, Coffey, Sonnet, Yohannes, Macario, Sullivan). We have plenty of attack in the midfield (Macario, Shaw, Lavelle) - we need an anchor at the 6 and at least 2 solid CMs.

[@DustyBarrels464]

Why not Korbin Albert? You do need to admit she can shoot and dribble better than her counterpart. I saw Coffee missed too many goals last game. She did all the gold cup I believe. Most of she believes.

[@arc57]

I agree, Albert is a very good player.

[@andrewwatts7614]

I think Albert will go. She’s a special player and will be a big player for the US going forward.

[@DustyBarrels464]

@@andrewwatts7614 She is. do you think she’s ready for that position or is Lily Johannes ready? To be honest, search her name in the KZbin app pull up a video of a woman that goes over her club games and she’ll show you her amazing pass with some backspin. I think she did it once in this game we need her in that midfield when they run at 451 defense on us clogs up everything and we need her and that midfield. I feel sorry for Emma Hayes.

[@jsp1701]

Coffey is a defensive mid(6) who is excellent at transition and switching the field, taking set pieces, and is physically stronger than Albert. Coffey's a given and likely the starting (6); instead Albert's competition for this roster is Lily Yohannes as the backup 8/double 6. imo Korbin doesn't offer anything Lily can't also provide just as well; plus Lily provides much-needed height, plays much calmer (you can see albert feeling frantic and rushing at times), has GREAT sight and off-ball movement, and also has experience playing 90min in Europe.. which has honestly been Korbin's primary advantage over the other potential midfielders who play in the NWSL. Lily having much better chemistry with the team- particularly with Nay and Cat both on the field as a vertical line through the center, as well as personality-wise off the field- is more the cherry on top of the skill cake... and chemistry is a variable that is geneuinely important for success (e.g. Barca; the 99ers, the England euros team, etc). With a roster of 18, adaptability is key, and chemistry makes a huge difference in terms of ability to effectively adapt together. If Korbin ends up as a reserve instead of on roster, its NOT because of politics, as so many will claim.

[@DustyBarrels464]

@@jsp1701 I agree with Lilly's comment but we just have two different ways of looking at it and I think coffee is the one that gets replaced. I’m sorry but coffeey place in the US without European experience Albert, however, plays in France and I think that’s something Hayes will take into consideration. That’s all I’m saying.

[@pedracine]

I’m not sure if Dunn makes the roster.

[@hehenah4308]

She’s super versatile though and emma Hayes values that heavily

[@nmikloiche]

Best take on the WNBA I've heard so far....

[@dolphmanity]

Your math isn't mathing. Dunn has a 0% chance of making the roster as a forward. I can't believe you would entertain the idea of leaving Rodman home for Dunn. That is farcical.

[@DustyBarrels464]

Exactly and this is how we got into trouble last time. Taking the best players instead of a team. I’m 100% confident that Emma Hayes to pick the best team for the United States.

[@chrisradovan7642]

South Korea is not that good compared to who we are going to face at the Olympics.

[@arc57]

I agree, but it would be tough to get a friendly with a European team when they are in the middle of their Qualifiers.

[@chrisradovan7642]

@@arc57We play all these lower ranked teams and we are doing the same thing that we did under the Vlatko era trying to make them better team than they really are. Now we look at reality the USWNT is ranked 5th something that has never occurred before the Vlatko era. Now we are in the Hayes era and I hope we don’t hype up a team just because we beat up on lower ranked teams. Are we ready to dominate that is still yet to be seen. I will wait to see when we play top teams. The fact we lost to Mexico has me hesitant about whether this current team can be as dominant as past teams. Past teams had aerial dominance as well as scoring dominance in the front line. The current version has speed dominance and not much more if that speed is neutralized not sure how our front line of youth players would score

[@williamstearns6687]

To me, you can't bring Dunn into the team as a forward rather than Williams. I understand bringing her in as a left back or not in the team at all.

[@DustyBarrels464]

Wow just wow!

[@DustyBarrels464]

Bad idea after bad idea. 1- Hayes will not bring in Lynn because Lynn can't dribble at all. Hayes tends to like forwards who can have possession. remember, it’s not about the best players. It’s about the best unit that goes out there to play.

[@DustyBarrels464]

I agree with the end here tho. Dunn has no business starting at forward if she starts tonight do me a favor and watch her horrible touches. Hayes will not start her as a forward. comparatively, to what she already has, it would be a mistake. Backline if she goes

[@PandaPanda-cn7yn]

Atlanra Dream suspended Chennedy Carter for wanting to fight her teammate, later she was waived by Sparks bc of her attitude and was out of league for a year. Clearly her character is questionable.

[@NoneofURBiz297]

The whole “competitive, I’m a competitor” argument just doesn’t fly with me. Girl is mental, needs to work on that.

[@PandaPanda-cn7yn]

@@NoneofURBiz297 Yeah, all these women who go on ESPN and other platforms could acknowledge that there's a huge target on Caitlin's back and stop with all this "it's just competitive basketball" shit. Caitlin makes more money than 99.9% of WNBA players combined, it's just stupid to state that there's no animosity from players towards her.

[@csteverice]

Dunn hasn't been impactful for the USWNT in a long time. I hardly notice her on the field.

[@BuffBillsFan83]

Macario was fantastic at the 10?? She was awful.

[@I_Have_The_Most_Japanese_Music]

Dominate? ROK has a FIFA ranking of #20. We shouldn't even by playing anyone below #12.