'One of the best players I’ve ever coached' - Rose Lavelle owns the present while Lily Yohannes signals the future: Stock Up, Stock Down after trio of USWNT friendlies

She's a World Cup and Olympic champion. Everyone knew who Rose Lavelle was before this camp, of course, but with her performances, Lavelle made sure they'd remember who she was after it, too.

This was peak Lavelle. She scored in twice, netting 33 seconds into the opener before dazzling with a first-time finish from outside the box finish in the closer. In between, she impacted games in the way she has for her entire USWNT career, creatively running the show in a variety of ways.

It was throwback, in a way, from the 30-year-old midfielder, but also a reminder that there's still plenty left to give, too.

“Lavelle is one of the best players I’ve ever coached,” Hayes said on Wednesday. “I mean, that goal - not many players score that.”

Even among these younger, rising stars who fighting to replicate what she did at the 2019 World Cup, Lavelle remains a standout. Creatively, there are with her talent, and this camp was a visceral reminder of that - even as the world focuses on the next generation of USWNT stars.

Speaking of that next generation, it's getting harder to label Lily Yohannes as "next" instead of "right now." Even at 18, Yohannes doesn't just look like a USWNT player; she looks like a USWNT starter, and it might be time to acknowledge that fact.

The midfielder has seemingly taken another leap since making the move to join OL Lyonnes, and she's running games in ways that 18-years-olds shouldn't be able to. There are times, even on this international level, in which Yohannes looks like an adult among children, which is remarkable when you consider that she's still a teenager. 

She just makes everything look so easy, from long passes to receiving the ball in tight spaces. That level of technicality isn't supposed to be easy. To the contrary, it should take years to develop and refine. And just as amazing, Yohannes is still learning. 

"She plays beyond her years," Hayes said. "She has no fear to get on the ball with pressure, solve pressure, she can switch balls out, she can thread balls in behind."

There will, inevitably, be dips in form. That's natural at her age and should be expected. The thing is that, even in those valleys, she might just be better than just about everyone else. It's why, by the time World Cup qualifying rolls around, it'll likely be impossible to keep her out of the starting XI.

This isn't a reflection on Lindsey Heaps' game. She had a fantastic assist against New Zealand and, in general, continues to be a valuable leader in midfield, one that does a little bit of everything for a team that certainly needs that, given their inexperience.

But with Yohannes' ascension, the midfield has become crowded. With Lavelle balling out and Sam Coffey providing much-needed energy in a deeper role, could it be the captain that, at some point, makes way?

Fortunately, no one has to make that decision any time soon, and Hayes will be fine with putting it off. The U.S., in truth, doesn't need a set lineup until the World Cup kicks off in two years. And having multiple world-class midfielders available is a blessing.

Heaps is still in that category, and it cannot be understated just how important she has been in Yohannes' rise as her club and international teammate. It has to be said, though, that Heaps might just be building up her replacement, even if that is a few years down the line. Of course, that's what she'll hope for, anyway, as she looks to continue setting the tone as this team's midfield leader.

Expectations were always a bit heavy on Olivia Moultrie. When you're the game's youngest professional, that happens. Everyone knew Moultrie would get to a certain level, but the question was always centered around how long it would take.

Maybe it's now? Six years after turning professional, Moultrie is now a still just 20 years old. She's still, very much, an evolving player. She has developed into a goalscorer, though, one who could play her way into the mix over the next year.

“I think she's having an outstanding season,” Hayes said. “I think she's a goal threat. I played her off of the right but coming inside. I knew there would be second spaces inside the box. I think she exploited them well.”

Her goals will help. She's been scoring in bunches, both for the Portland Thorns and the USWNT, with her two goals in the win over Portugal really showcasing her game. Both finishes were wildly composed, placed shots, ones that showed maturity and poise beyond her years.

It's the type of thing you expect from a player with multiple NWSL seasons under her belt, but it's not the thing you expect from a 20-year-old. Midfield spots are going to be difficult to seize. But Moultrie, who has been in and out of the team, made her case to be involved going forward.

When you score three goals, your stock goes up. Any surprise there? Emma Sears netted her first professional hat-trick in Wednesday's thumping of New Zealand, scoring one in the first half and then two in the second half to solidify player of the match honors.

Sears routinely showcased her ability to pop up in the right place at the right time and, most importantly, put the ball in the back of the net. The attack is loaded, and there are any number of players in that group that can unleash a hat-trick on any given day.

Catarina Macario scored twice against New Zealand, Triple Espresso - Trinity Rodman, Sophia Wilson and Mallory Swanson- will be back eventually and Michelle Cooper, Ally Sentnor and Yazmeen Ryan are all in the mix, too. On this occasion, though, Sears was the standout. 

"I knew that after my first call-up to the national team, it was an opportunity that I really needed to make the most of," Sears said. "I think a lot of the advice I’ve received since coming back to soccer is to really trust the process and just remember and stay with what I’m good at, and bring that into this environment.

"As I’ve also heard from some of the more experienced players on this team, in international games, you only get a few opportunities to use in each game, so to show what you’re really great at is super important."

Let's be clear here: none of the centerbacks covered themselves in glory, particularly in the two Portugal games. While Emily Sonnett has a resume that outshines the two goals conceded in that first game, Tara McKeown doesn't, which hurts her standing in the centerback race.

Everyone is competing to partner with Naomi Girma. She is far and away the USWNT's best centerback and it could be argued that she's the team's best player. The big question leading up to the World Cup is who starts next to her. Will it be a veteran such as Sonnett or one of the younger candidates?

McKeown is among those younger players. So, too, are Jordyn Bugg, Emily Sams and Kennedy Wesley, who all played this camp. Veteran Tierna Davidson will be right there, too, when she comes back from injury. This, though, was a good chance for McKeown to really seize a spot. It just didn't happen that way.