The USWNT in 2024: Year in Review

2024 was a near-perfect year for the USWNT. The United States hired a new manager, won a Gold Medal, and did so much more. Plus, we saw a change of guard as a few legends we all loved said goodbye to the sport. Many great things happened for the USWNT; here’s our year in review for the USWNT in 2024.

USWNT Wins SheBelievesCup

A special night for @sophsssmith 🆘

The 2024 @Visa SheBelieves Cup MVP 🏆 pic.twitter.com/0nImY9ZPIq

— U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team (@USWNT) April 10, 2024

Before Emma Hayes took over, there was a transitional period in which Twila Kilgore was the interim manager. Kilgore did an amazing job in charge, while Emma Hayes finished her time with Chelsea. The SheBelieves Cup was no different as the United States beat Japan 2-1 in the semifinals before defeating Canada in a dramatic penalty-shootout victory to lift the cup. This was the perfect start to the year for the USWNT and helped them build momentum as a new group together. Sophia Smith won MVP and has emerged as a superstar for the USWNT. 

Emma Hayes Becomes USWNT Manager

Emma Hayes was the perfect choice to take over for Vlatko Andonovski and it’s one of the more historic moments in the USWNT’s history. Based on the state of the program, an older group of players with a younger generation on the rise needed to be molded together in a new way. Emma Hayes and her staff did it perfectly as they began to prepare for their quest to win an Olympic Gold Medal. 

“I’M A HEART SURGEON IN THE MIDDLE OF EMERGENCY SURGERY.” ❤️

Emma Hayes on her first days in charge of the USWNT. Fascinating on culture building and transforming an organization. 🇺🇸
pic.twitter.com/yKaFMJHvOG

— The Women’s Game (@WomensGameMIB) June 4, 2024

The task in front of her would be daunting for most, but she implemented a new system and created a new identity for how the team should play, and the results spoke for themselves. 

USWNT Win Gold Medal

ANOTHER W🥇N.

Relive the @USWNT‘s historic fifth gold medal and @AlyssaNaeher‘s final Olympic match. pic.twitter.com/2mkgSd8o3V

— Team USA (@TeamUSA) December 4, 2024

Leading up to the Olympics, the USWNT recorded a 0-0 draw with Costa Rica, which wasn’t encouraging. However, the USA put that result behind them and went on an incredible run to win the Gold Medal. The Stars and Stripes defeated Zambia, Germany, and Australia by a combined 9-2 in the three group-stage games. While the group stage was about offense, the knockout rounds were about defense and keeping clean sheets. The USWNT would go on to beat Japan, Germany, and Brazil, all by the same score, 1-0. 

Legends Officially Retire from USWNT- Naeher, O’Hara, Morgan, Mewis, Sauerbrunn

ALEX MORGAN WALKS OFF THE PITCH FOR THE LAST TIME ❤️ pic.twitter.com/XRsTSyjifP

— ESPN (@espn) September 9, 2024

2024 marked the passing of the torch as numerous USWNT superstars stepped away from the game, either internationally, domestically, or both. Kelley O’Hara, Alex Morgan, and Alyssa Naeher received official send-offs. Sam Mewis sadly had knee issues that made it too difficult to return. It’s a shame we won’t see her suit up for the USWNT again. All five stars were key USWNT starters for a long time. These five played a huge role in any trophy the USWNT won over the last decade. Alyssa Naeher will still give it at least one more year in the NWSL with the Chicago Red Stars, but we’ll never see the other three again, which is very bittersweet. We can celebrate them as legends, but we won’t get to enjoy them on the pitch anymore. The biggest star of them all, Alex Morgan, might have had the best sendoff of them all.

Future Stars Receive Senior Team Debuts

As one generation leaves, the next generation can rise, which is exactly what we saw for the USWNT in 2024. The amount of young talent the USWNT has at its disposal is staggering; the program is in good hands. Lily Yohannes, Sam Staab, Hal Hershfelt, Ally Sentnor, Yasmeen Ryan, Emma Sears, Emily Sams, Eva Gaetino, and Alyssa Malonson received their first USWNT cap. 

Her goal was amazing but this ball and vision from Lily Yohannes, too… why have we had her on the bench, lol. #USWNT pic.twitter.com/7Iizsuj8PI

— mikasa (@mikasa22) June 5, 2024

Every single one of those players has a chance to make an impact in both the short term and long term. Lily Yohannes might be the most exciting prospect for this group as she’s still a teenager, but she’s already incredibly skilled. She scored on her debut, but this pass is one I cannot stop thinking about for someone of her age to be doing. 

Five Americans Make Ballon d’Or Top 30

The Ballon d’Or is a topic of contention with American fans because FIFA appears to give the same respect to USWNT stars as they do to Europe’s stars. This year’s rankings were no different, although five Americans still made the Top 30. Alyssa Naeher came in at No. 17 as the highest-ranked keeper on the list, which was well-deserved.

Trinity Rodman was listed at No. 9, which felt too low based on her year. Mallory Swanson was at No. 6, Lindsey Horan at No. 5, and Sophia Smith at No. 4. Personally, Smith should’ve been at No. 2 or No. 3, but Carolina Graham Hansen had an incredible season. Salma Parallello was the one surprise that FIFA seemed to have a little bias, but the overall rankings were fair, with those four American superstars in the Top 10. The criteria are improving, but we’re all wondering when it’ll be time for a USWNT player to win the Ballon d’Or. 

Overall, this year could not have gone better for the USWNT, and Emma Hayes is set to take the program into the future with the World Cup as the next major milestone for this group to try and achieve. Will 2025 bring the same success as 2024 did, we can only hope that their success will continue. 

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