By Lesley Ryder
The USWNT are preparing for their final match in the 2025 SheBelieves Cup against Japan from unfamiliar territory: as underdogs. It’s just the test this young USWNT squad needs at this time of its development.
“I think it’s fair to say Japan, as a team, are more played-in than we are.” Head Coach Emma Hayes said to media ahead of the match. “Their connections and their way of playing will probably be more pronounced than ours.” But Hayes was not about to count out her squad ahead of the finale. “It doesn’t matter if you have 150+ caps, or your third cap, it’s about us playing our way, and our style, with our principles, and to execute that at another level… I expect it to be a very difficult match for us.”
Japan’s experienced squad has bowled through the competition at the Shebelieves Cup, with decisive wins against Australia and Colombia. They go into this final match as favorites to take the trophy against the young, experimental USWNT roster.
For Hayes, the creator of the “pain caves” at last summer’s Olympics, the difficulty is the point. A put-together squad like Japan can lure players in to make plays in their favor. “You have to learn to resist in the wrong moments. That takes a lot of tactical understanding, of which we haven’t been doing for very long.” Hayes explained. “It’s very taxing on the brain because dealing with overloads in different situations, which Japan will present those threats, you have to keep this muscle extremely fresh.” she added, gesturing to her forehead.
USWNT captain Lindsey Heaps echoed Hayes’ sentiment. “It’s gonna be difficult, but it’s focusing on us and what we’re gonna do, and how we’re gonna play, and know that we need to respect the opponent and their strengths, which, there’s a lot of them” she laughed, shaking her head. “But we gotta go out and do our thing tomorrow.”
The USWNT’s thing has become controlling the game through possession, and patience. The young squad will get a chance to see their patience put to the test by an equally patient, and in-form Japan side.
Two teams enter, and one team leaves a champion at the SheBelieves Cup finale tonight at 9:30 PM central time. The game will air on TBS, Max, Universo, and Peacock.