'Our own narrative' - Olympics inaugurate Emma Hayes era, as coach seeks to restore USWNT among world’s elite

As Hayes alluded to, there's quite a past to look back on when it comes to the USWNT. That past dictates everything about this program. The expectation is always success, no matter the hurdles. That's the benchmark the legends of this team set, and that's the standard to which everyone after them will always be held.

Should the team fall short of that measure, change comes swiftly. That's what we found out last year. That's what brought Hayes to this USWNT in the first place.

The truth is this: Hayes is walking to a USWNT in need of rebuilding and reshaping. That was made abundantly clear at the 2023 World Cup, where the U.S. disappointingly turned in the worst finish in their tournament history. Coach Vlatko Andonovski paid for that with his job. Legends Megan Rapinoe and Julie Ertz rode off into the sunset. Ranked No. 2 in FIFA’s women's world rankings last December, the USWNT fell to fifth in the rankings released last month.

This is very much a new era.

Some argue that the USWNT has fallen back to the pack, that this group has lost the killer instinct that defined it for so long. Others say that investments elsewhere have leveled up other nations, that other countries finally have the resources to stand up to this U.S. program. Either way, it doesn't matter to U.S. Soccer. This isn't about why this team fell short, but how it can it be fixed.

Enter Hayes, the woman that many see as the perfect leader to get this USWNT back on track.

What makes Hayes such an interesting coach for his particular team is her standing as both familiar and as an outsider. She brings fresh ideas to this program, but she also knows exactly what she's signed up for.

The USWNT gig isn't Hayes' first foray into the U.S. landscape, after all. Her career really began here in the early 2000s, when she coached the Long Island Lady Riders and Iona Gaels on the college soccer scene. After briefly returning to England as an assistant with Arsenal, she coached the Chicago Red Stars for two years before then serving in front-office roles with the Western New York Flash and Washington Freedom, ahead of her Chelsea breakout.

Hayes has cited her challenges with the Red Stars as defining, the type of setback that made her success at Chelsea possible. And there was plenty of success at Chelsea, where Hayes became one of the best minds in the women's game. She won seven league titles and five FA Cups with the Blues, while also being repeatedly recognized for her contributions to the sport.

"I do feel like I'm coming back (to the U.S.) a more well-rounded, more experienced version of myself," Hayes said towards the end of her time at Chelsea. "I'm looking forward to sharing that. But it's in a place that I know, it is in a culture I know. I spent 10 years of my life here. This is a second home to me, so I just can't wait. I hope to do the team proud. I hope to do the country proud."

Due to her Chelsea duties, Hayes didn't step into her USWNT role until late May. And, once she did, it was made very clear how difficult this summer, in particular, would be for her.

“It feels like I'm a heart surgeon in the middle of emergency surgery," Hayes said in June. "Not because anything is wrong, but the reality is it's really, really hard for me to be on the wards or on the clinics and teaching everyone and do surgery at the same time in such a limited amount of time. Between now and the next camp, it's about bringing everybody up to that level where everybody can do the surgery, if you know what I mean.”

Over the last year, USWNT interim boss Twila Kilgore laid plenty of groundwork. Following Andonovski's departure, Kilgore stepped in to kickstart the rebuild, ushering in new stars such as Jaedyn Shaw and Jenna Nighswonger. She also began the rebuilds of Sophia Smith and Trinity Rodman, two players who didn't have the World Cup performances they'd have dreamed of.

That's just the foundation. And while Kilgore deservedly gets credit for putting it in place, Hayes still stepped into a group with so much work to be done. Her tactical approach is more flexible and, seemingly, a bit more nuanced than Andonovski's. Her views on the game are very much her own, and it takes time to implement those strategies.

Beyond those big-picture ideas, Hayes has had to focus on short-term problems. This team's attack was anemic last summer, and her ability to revive it is a big part of the reason she was brought in. Many expect her to have those answers in Paris, but this is, of course, a collaboration between coach and player, and both sides are still in the feeling-out process.

"I think there's been a better tactical understanding then I anticipated, but for me the most important thing is the ability to grasp the information really, really quickly," Hayes said of the U.S. players. "[They're] sponges, unbelievable sponges. No matter what we've thrown at them ... they've taken it on, they're absorbing it. This team is desperate to improve and is focused on the performances and the processes to do that."

As Hayes mentioned, connecting with the players is paramount, and she's already had to make some tough decisions.

The call to leave decorated veteran Alex Morgan off the Olympic roster is one that sent shockwaves through American soccer, but it's one Hayes had to make, putting the spotlight on the young stars that should lead this team into a new era. It's time to sink or swim.

The players, meanwhile, seem to have taken to Hayes already. After just two camps together, there's been abundant praise for Hayes, who - despite her brief time in charge - has put her stamp on the team. Hayes isn't some authoritarian who's arrived to shake things up, but rather a coach committed to developing connections as a path toward success.

"We all love Emma already! She's definitely got some personality," Shaw said. "She has her standards and expectations and I think that she's going to be really, really good for us. It's been challenging and hard work, but we're up for it.

"We're just continuing to trust her and learn from her and her experience. She meshes well with all of us. She's actually really funny! She can be serious at times, but she also cracks jokes here and there."

Rodman echoed those sentiments, saying that Hayes "does a really good job of just building every day. I think she’s always thinking about the present moment and what she can do. We’re learning every day, we’re building our relationships, which has been good, and it’s come so naturally. We’re in a good place right now."

It won't be easy. The results of the Paris Games won't necessarily define Hayes' tenure, but you don't get a second chance at a first impression, do you?

The Olympics are Hayes' first real test and her first real chance to prove herself to the American public. Yes, the tournament comes after just two camps - including a cagey 1-0 win over Mexico and a frustrating 0-0 draw with Costa Rica - but short turnaround or no short turnaround, this team expects to win.

To get there, there's plenty of work to do. Priority No. 1 is to configure the attack in a way that ensures that particular unit offers something, which wasn't the case last summer. The return of Mallory Swanson will help, as will the continued development of Rodman and Smith, who is looking to redeem herself after a disappointing finish to the World Cup. Add the wild card in Shaw and there's talent there, but then again, there was talent there last summer. What can Hayes do to make that talent shine?

There are midfield questions to be answered, too. Her predecessor Andonovski was often criticized for his setup of the midfield, which was at times both too defensive and not defensive enough. Sam Coffey's ascendency has helped solve the No. 6 problem, but how can Hayes gameplan stars like Lindsey Horan and Rose Lavelle into more dangerous positions more often?

Perhaps the biggest test Hayes faces, though, is one of belief.

At some point, the USWNT lost its swagger and, for this group to succeed, that confidence needs to be borderline irrational. Hayes has to get this team to the place where it can stare down the world's best and think, "We're the USWNT, and we're meant to win this game." Under Andonovski, that mentality was seemingly lost, and it needs to be rediscovered.

Can Hayes accomplish all of that in these Olympic Games? Perhaps not. But this team expects, at the very least, a medal - remember, the U.S. took bronze at the 2021 Games and it was considered a disappointment - and Hayes has to figure out how to achieve those short-term gains while still building this program toward her long-term plans.

That begins Thursday when the U.S. kickoff the group stage against Zambia in Nice, and then against Australia and Germany in the group games to come. From there, who knows?

Some may temper expectations, given the brief time Hayes has actually spent with her new squad, but make no mistake: the pressure is on. Hayes is used to it, of course, from her time at Chelsea, but this is different. The world will literally be watching this USWNT, all wondering: can Hayes do it?

If she can, look out. The U.S. a juggernaut, one that produces an insane amount of talent. The world is getting better but, for nearly three decades, the U.S. has been the best. There are numerous aspects of the program that require fine-tuning, but the potential is tantalizing - and Hayes is the one charged with realizing that potential, and reestablishing elite status for the USWNT.

She'll be looking at this Olympic run as a worthy challenge. Hayes is wildly competitive and this tournament is another chance to prove her capabilities as a world-class coach. She's built her career on making the most of such opportunities.

"Embrace it, enjoy it!" Hayes said back in May. "I want to focus on the process, I want to focus on the performance. I want to get to know the players. I want to make sure that in the limited time we have together we make the most of it. And for me, pressure is a huge privilege. We get the opportunity to go to the Olympics, and my focus is to make sure that everybody is as prepared as possibly can be."

And so it begins. After months of waiting, Hayes has arrived, and so too the Olympics. The time for preparations - brief as it was - is over. These Paris Games will be the first opportunity for Hayes to write her own narrative. What will those first few chapters look like? The world is about to find out.