Sun Oct 26 19:40:00 UTC 2025: Summary:

The USWNT suffered a surprising 2-1 loss to Portugal, exposing a lack of chemistry and disjointed play. Coach Emma Hayes views this as a valuable learning experience during a transitional period for the team, allowing them to address weaknesses before major qualifying games. Key issues include midfield dominance, attacking output, and defensive set-piece vulnerability. Hayes is focusing on teaching and integrating younger players like Eva Gaetino, emphasizing the importance of learning and team culture in preparation for the upcoming World Cup qualification tournament.

News Article:

USWNT Stumbles Against Portugal, Coach Hayes Sees “Valuable” Learning Opportunity

EAST HARTFORD, CT – The U.S. Women’s National Team suffered a shocking 2-1 defeat against Portugal on Thursday, raising questions about team cohesion during a clear period of transition. The loss, only the third in Emma Hayes’ 25-game tenure as head coach, highlighted weaknesses in set-piece defense, midfield dominance, and attacking potency.

“We are disappointed, but we are extremely optimistic,” Hayes stated, emphasizing the importance of identifying and addressing issues now, well in advance of next November’s World Cup qualification tournament.

The team, which featured several new faces, struggled to find its rhythm, with Portugal capitalizing on defensive lapses to score twice. Midfielder Lily Yohannes noted the team’s difficulty in maintaining possession after Portugal took the lead.

Hayes is using this transitional period to evaluate players and experiment with different formations. She recently called up defender Eva Gaetino from the U-23 team, highlighting the program’s role in developing future talent. Gaetino’s call-up, according to Hayes, is due to her standout performance and dedication to improvement within the U-23 environment.

The USWNT will have a chance to redeem themselves against Portugal in a rematch today, which will be followed by a match against New Zealand on Wednesday. Hayes plans to use these matches to further assess her squad and implement the lessons learned from Thursday’s defeat. “I want to look at different situations to be able to see where the players are leveling up,” Hayes said, underscoring her commitment to continuous learning and development.

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