Houston, TX—The US women’s national team set the pace for their 2025 SheBelieves Cup run with a 2-0 win against Colombia. Coach Emma Hayes stated her focus this year is on broadening the national team player pool. The 2025 SheBelieves Cup roster is a testament to this. Starting players like Lily Yohannes, Ally Setnor and Tara McKeown earned stripes this SheBelieves Cup.
Fans expected fresh faces on the tournament lineup but the final selections surprised many. USWNT coaching staff made their roster goals clear, saying investments in players were necessary. Ally Sentnor is one of those investments. In Sentnor’s first-ever SheBelieves Cup match, her smart technicality earned a goal for the team. Following Catarina Maccario’s one point lead, Sentnor sunk a second goal in the 59th minute.
Though player investment choices surprised many, the method to Hayes’ coaching style is time.
“The hardest part, in my position, is I can’t give them the things that only time takes. Let’s say you get Ally Sentnor and Cat Maccario, how many times have they played together? So Ally needs to learn what Cat’s tendencies are, what Lindsey’s are etc. The chemistry piece is the one that comes with time,” said Coach Emma Hayes.
According to Hayes, time has been the recipe for many of USWNT’s successes including goal-scoring trio, Triple Espresso.
“That’s why I don’t ever think it’s fair to say you know the Triple Espresso, for example, was so strong because they played together for so many times probably through the youth level. I think there were really good patches in our play up until the final third because of lack of chemistry.”
Kansas City player, Michelle Cooper, also debuted with the national team. Cooper’s time in January’s Futures Camp, a U-23 developmental training camp, found her a senior-team roster spot. The player earned her first cap in the 64th minute of the match and followed it up with progressive play on the right side flank.
Tara McKeown, Michelle Cooper and Gisele Thompson celebrate USWNT debut
The national team veterans are still holding down the fort. Emily Sonnett played a significant role in transitional play during the US vs. Colombia match. Lindsey Heaps’ (formerly Horan) start and a sub in for Lynn Biyendolo (formerly Williams), intentionally balanced the USWNT new and past eras.
After the Shebelieves Cup, 2025 is a USWNT “down” year with no more competitions until 2027. Coach Hayes may use the off time to build her team’s chemistry. Although, player pool decisions have been clearly favorable.
17-year-old Lily Yohannes, starting midfielder in the Colombia match, repeatedly shows how time does her well. The teen remained solid against the tactically physical Colombian team.
“[We] just tried to play our game. We knew that coming into the game, it would be physical from past games. We tried to not let that affect us and just continue playing,” said Lily Yohannes.
The women’s team won their first match of the year and have two games to come in the SheBelieves Cup. The USWNT’s future is a hopeful one. Emma Hayes knows that too.
“I think it was a really really good start to the year. And most importantly, I think so much of what we did in January, really came into fruition today.”
