COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — Emma Hayes on Saturday began her long-awaited tenure as coach of the U.S. women’s national soccer team with a 4-0 victory over South Korea.
But for all the energetic Brit will inject into a program needing fresh direction after last year’s World Cup flop, the players will determine how successful she can be. And perhaps no player is more welcoming of the future — and, in particular, the Paris Olympics — than Mallory Swanson.
After missing the World Cup with a major knee injury, the Coloradan with unpredictable moves and ruthless scoring ability continues to position herself for a glorious return to the global stage. Before a sellout crowd of 19,010, including 30 friends and family in a suite, Swanson scored in each half — her first international goals since she ruptured her patella tendon 14 months ago.
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“I was just super thankful I could play in front of them again,” Swanson said. “They were supporting me all of last year through my injury. For them to be in the stands and then see me back on the field, doing what I love, is super special.”
Set up by fellow Coloradan Sophia Smith, Swanson opened the scoring in the 34th minute with a diagonal run and one-timer from 12 yards. In the 74th, she collected Rose Lavelle’s pass and scored into the far corner.
“It’s so fun to see Mal out there,” Smith said. “She’s one of my favorite people to play with. She’s like my big sister. I watched her go through definitely a tough time, but to see her back out there being Mal, doing what Mal does, it’s a good feeling.”
Swanson also assisted on the second of Tierna Davidson’s two goals with a corner kick. A defender who had scored once in her previous 57 appearances, Davidson scored on headers in the 38th and 48th minutes.
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The teams will clash again Tuesday in St. Paul, Minn. — the last test before Hayes announces her 18-woman Olympic squad and four alternates late this month. The Americans, who have not won Olympic gold since 2012, will prepare for Paris by playing tuneups against Mexico on July 13 in Harrison, N.J., and Costa Rica on July 16 at Audi Field.
“I’m really happy with the first performance,” Hayes said, “and it’s just one step in the right direction.”
Hayes’s journey to this stage was a long one. Though she is from England, she paid her coaching dues in the United States — in boys’ and girls’ youth circles in greater New York, at Iona University and in Women’s Professional Soccer, the NWSL’s predecessor.
Hayes thrived at Chelsea, winning 16 trophies in 12 seasons, including seven first-division titles. She capped her Chelsea career in glorious style two weeks ago as the Blues won the league crown on the final day of the season for their fifth consecutive championship.
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Hayes agreed to the U.S. job in November, under the condition that she would finish the season at Chelsea and remain near her family in the wake of her father’s death last fall. The stakes are high for the U.S. Soccer Federation — it made Hayes the highest-paid women’s coach in the world — but they are long-term stakes.
Without much time to work with the team, Hayes’s Olympic expectations are tempered. Her broader aim is to position the program to win the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. The rebuilding comes as global competition in women’s soccer soars.
Between Vlatko Andonovski’s ouster and Hayes’s arrival, interim coach Twila Kilgore guided the team to a 10-1-3 record. Throughout her stint, Kilgore collaborated closely with Hayes on roster selections and tactical plans. Kilgore, an Andonovski assistant, will serve on Hayes’s staff.
Hayes said she saw no need for a seismic shift to the U.S. setup, but over the past six months several prospects have been invited to camps, and young players have inherited prominent roles. New leadership also has helped cast aside the glum vibes that followed the World Cup disappointment.
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The past week was a crash course for Hayes and her players.
“We had information kind of overload throughout the week, and so we were excited to just see how it went throughout a game,” Davidson said. “You could tell people were really antsy to get on the field and be able to connect.”
Hayes also said she had no allegiance to specific players; in other words, spots on the Olympic roster are wide open. Her first lineup reflected that, with several veterans on the bench.
“Something that is really good about Emma’s style is that she wants us to be fluid in our structured principles,” said playmaker Catarina Macario, who had not started since April 2022 while plagued by knee injuries. “She gives us a lot of freedom.”
Swanson performed with confidence and vigor, strengthening her bid to play a big role at the Olympics.
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“She’s a player I’ve always admired, so to get the opportunity to see firsthand the qualities she possesses, she’s a connector,” Hayes said. “She’s really magnetic as a human being to the way she operates in the team.”
Hayes was joined on the field after the match by her 6-year-old son, Harry, who was wearing a U.S. jersey. Though she had waited more than six months for this moment, Hayes brushed off suggestions that she is happy to put the opener behind her.
“I’m doing the job I love and get to enjoy these amazing players. I don’t feel relief from that. I just feel really energized and want to coach this group, and they want to be coached,” Hayes said. “You can see we’re building something. There’s lots of work to do. There’s lots of holes in our play, no question, but it’s a good start.”
Notes: Forward Alex Morgan did not play because of a pelvic injury but should be available Tuesday, Hayes said. ...
Center back Sam Staab, 27, made her U.S. debut as a second-half sub.
